Julie Gearan creates haunting paintings of figures in motion and contemplation, often echoing heroic, historic masterworks. She has studied, worked and lived in New York, Philadelphia, Italy, Chicago and Providence, and she currently teaches part-time at RISD and at Roger Williams University. Her portrait of former RI Governor Lincoln Chafee was recently unveiled at the RI Capital Building in Providence, where it will remain on permanent display. Gearan also shows her paintings at Cade Tompkins Projects in Providence and at the Harmon Gallery in Wellfleet, MA.
Gearan was profiled in the 2014 NetWorks documentary film series, which spotlights Rhode Island artists.
Courses
Fall 2023 Courses
ILLUS 2024-04 - PAINTING I: COLOR PERCEPTION AND EXPRESSION
LevelUndergraduate
UnitIllustration
Subject Illustration
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
ILLUS 2024-04
PAINTING I: COLOR PERCEPTION AND EXPRESSION
LevelUndergraduate
UnitIllustration
Subject Illustration
PeriodFall 2023
Credits3
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: F | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PMInstructor(s): Julie GearanLocation(s): Illustration Studies Building, Room 505Enrolled / Capacity: 15Status: Open
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Students will gain an understanding of basic color characteristics and relationships through observational painting and color mixing exercises. Perceptual phenomena of space and light are directly connected with principles of color organization on the palette, color mixing procedures and adjustment of color interaction in compositions according to properties of hue, value and chromatic intensity. The associative properties of color rooted both in the natural world and in cultural precedent are explored in relation to expressive priorities. Students learn the use of the physical properties of the medium, gaining sensitivity to qualities of volume and depth, the textural character of the artwork and the sense of artistic facture. Painterly precedent from the history of art and contemporary practice will be studied for inspiration and technical insight. The primary medium for the course is oil paint, and students will be introduced to the complex layering and manipulations the medium makes possible. Water-based media such as casein or gouache will play a supporting role as vehicles for color studies and exercises in abstract color theory. The semester ends with an extended project allowing the combination of observed and invented elements and emphasizing compositional color adjustment in connection with the artist's expressive priorities.
Open to Sophomore Illustration Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Illustration
ILLUS 2024-08 - PAINTING I: COLOR PERCEPTION AND EXPRESSION
Students will gain an understanding of basic color characteristics and relationships through observational painting and color mixing exercises. Perceptual phenomena of space and light are directly connected with principles of color organization on the palette, color mixing procedures and adjustment of color interaction in compositions according to properties of hue, value and chromatic intensity. The associative properties of color rooted both in the natural world and in cultural precedent are explored in relation to expressive priorities. Students learn the use of the physical properties of the medium, gaining sensitivity to qualities of volume and depth, the textural character of the artwork and the sense of artistic facture. Painterly precedent from the history of art and contemporary practice will be studied for inspiration and technical insight. The primary medium for the course is oil paint, and students will be introduced to the complex layering and manipulations the medium makes possible. Water-based media such as casein or gouache will play a supporting role as vehicles for color studies and exercises in abstract color theory. The semester ends with an extended project allowing the combination of observed and invented elements and emphasizing compositional color adjustment in connection with the artist's expressive priorities.
