Question 2
(a) Explain the term improvisation in art.
(b) Write notes on the following terms:
- alla prima;
- mahl-stick;
- figurine;
- middle tone.
Observation
The question was attempted by many candidates, though their performance was poor. They were expected to respond to the question thus:
(a) Explanation of the term Improvisation in art
- It is the activity of making or doing something using whatever can be found to produce what is needed when the real art material is not available.
- It is the art of substituting a material or medium in place of another that is not available which will still serve the same purpose.
- Examples include the use of firewood charcoal for charcoal pencil, chewing stick for brush, colour juice from leaves/tree barks for processed colours or dye stuff.
- It is a term applicable to all areas of art.
(b) Notes on the following terms
(i) Alla prima
- It is a painting that is started and completed on the spot without breaking the process.
- It is otherwise known as wet-on-wet.
- It is also known as direct painting or all premier coup.
- It is a painting technique in which layers of wet paint are applied to previous layers of wet paint.
- It is mostly used in oil painting.
- It is a fast way of painting, because the work must be finished before the first layer dries.
- Used since the invention of oil painting.
(ii) Mahl-stick
- It is a stick with a soft leather or padded head used by painters/graphicists.
- It is used in supporting/resting the hand to steady/prevent it from shaking or staining the surface of the work.
- It is derived from the German and Dutch malstock/maalstokpainters stick- malen e.g., meaning to paint.
- It is a painting tool.
- The bulky end has a ball or wad of cotton on it, wrapped in soft leather/chamois.
- The chamois keeps the mahl-stick from skidding.
- The bulky end can be cleaned or replaced.
(iii) Figurine
- It is otherwise known as a statuette or miniature.
- It is a small modelled/carved figure representing a human, deity or animal.
- Materials and tools for production include clay, plastic, wood and sculpting tools.
- It can be produced in different media.
- Figurines can be movable.
- Can also be static.
- Examples include dolls and marquette.
(iv) Middle tone
- It is the hue of a tonal value which is half-way between light and shade.
- It is sometimes called half-tone.
- Also known as mid-tone/ medium tone.
- It is the connecting or linking hue in an artwork or design.
- It is the visual satisfaction derived when viewing a painting.
- It aims at achieving balance in a painting.
- It helps in achieving depth in a painting.
- It is neither very dark nor very light.
- It is found between shade and highlight.