Chuck Close: Born July 5, An American painter and photographer who achieved fame as a photorealist, through his massive-scale portraits. Though a catastrophic spinal artery collapse in 1988 left him severely paralyzed, he has continued to paint and produce work which remains sought after by museums and collectors.

Chuck Close - Writes note to himself at age 14

Chuck Close - Why he uses the grid

Chuck Close - Physical Challenges

Chuck Close - Colbert Report

Oil Painting

In the studio, working on “cell” painting.

Notice how he builds up the layers of paint in the “cells”.

This was not done with paint or a brush. How do you think it was made?

How do you think this one was made?

Project: Distorted Portraits in Chalk Pastels

Step 1 - Using a mirror, draw a self-portrait from the shoulders up on a 9x12 piece of paper. Fill up the paper! Rules to follow: Your head is egg shaped, not round or circular. Your eyes are one eyeball length apart. The length of your ear is the same distance from the top of your eyebrows to the bottom of your nose. When closed, your mouth is the same distance as the space between the center of your eyes. Your top lip is darker than the bottom lip.

The marks you make for your hair should mimic the style and curves of your own hair. For example; short curvy lines for short, curvy and wavy hair.

Step 2 - Using a ruler, create a 1x1 inch grid over your portrait.

Step 3 - On a 12x18 sheet of white drawing paper, create a distorted grid (paper is vertical) of no more than 9 sections across the top and 12 sections down the side. They new sections should be more or less than one inch, but no smaller than a ½ inch. When finished you should not have any one inch squares, and you should have the same number of lines from your first grid.

Step 4 – Redraw your self-portrait on the new grid using your first drawing as your guide. Start at one corner of the paper and work your way across the paper. Take your time!

Start in one corner and work your way across the drawing. Draw lightly so that you can erase. Think of each section of the grid as a separate drawing. Step 4 – continued….

In each section, figure out where things touch on the grid lines and make the necessary adjustments when redrawing. Adjust your lines so that they stretch or shrink accordingly to the shape of the new grid. Draw lightly! Step 4 – continued…

The Finished drawing. If this is done correctly, your second drawing should be distorted. Have another student at your table check at least 5 squares for accuracy.

Erase the lines within the face and shoulders, but not on outside. Step 4 – continued…

Step 5 - Color Using Chalk Pastels Choose three “like” colors (ex. Dark blue, medium blue, light blue). Choose a highlight color, a mid-tone color, and a shadow color. Test the colors in your sketchbook before you start on your portrait. Shadow color Mid-tone color Highlight color

Apply the highlight color to all the areas of the face that are the lightest, starting with the “whites” of the eyes. Use a mirror to identify these areas…Do NOT guess! You may use your fingers to spread and blend the pastels, but do not overdo it! Step 5 - continued…

Add the mid-tone color everywhere you see it. Make sure you wash your hands after each color. Again, use your fingers to blend. Go in a circular motion to get the best even tone. Step 5 - continued…

Add the shadow color. Blend softly and gently. Do not let your hands sit on the paper. This will smear the pastels and create unwanted finger prints! Step 5 - continued…

Color the background sections using three different “like” colors. You can color from dark to light or light to dark. When finished, your artwork needs to be sprayed with hair spray to keep the pastels from smearing. You’re finished! Nice work! Step 5 - …last part!!!