Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA)

The following museum collection will be shown and explained the difference between figurative, semi-figurative and abstract paintings. 

Figurative, semi-figurative and abstract paintings

Video Viewing and appreciation

Resource Kit Overview

Your Art-making Activity: Semi-figurative Painting

Artist Introduction

Let’s explore and practice before making your semi-figurative painting. 

Exploring the overlapping effect

Based on the HKMoA collection, this series, ‘In Touch with Hong Kong Artists’, provides education materials and activity sets designed with the aim to raise the interest in artists and art and culture in Hong Kong. In this resource kit, Gaylord Chan will be introduced.

In Touch with Hong Kong Artists: Gaylord Chan

Visual Arts

The Arts

White drawing paper, paintbrushes, framed canvas, acrylic paints, brushes, mixing dish, water bottle, pencil, chalk, and various tools or other objects (e.g. pliers, key, thermosol gun, corkscrew) 

Pick a base colour to fill the canvas, applying some water to certain spots to create an unbalanced texturing effect.

Note: Avoid using pastel colours, brown, grey or black for the base.

Place the selected tool on the drawing paper. Hold the pencil vertically and trace the outline of the tool. You may make several drafts for selecting the best composition.

Selecting the best composition and draw the details of the tool. 

Cut out two “L” shapes from black paper. Use a stapler to join the angles for easier to adjust the size of the viewfinder.

The size of viewfinder should cover part of the object. The size should be in the same proportion as the dimensions of the canvas. 

Place the viewfinder on the draft, move or adjust the frame by enlarging or reducing the size of the viewfinder to select the best composition from the draft. Then, outline the inner frame to finalise the draft. 

Draw horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines on the draft.

Then do the same on the canvas with a chalk to indicate where to draw the object.

Note: Use a wet cloth to clean the lines if amendment is required.

Use a chalk to draw a magnified version of the draft on the canvas.

Select colours that provide a strong contrast to the base colour.

Dilute the paint with enough water to apply translucent washes on the surface.

Visual effects created by varied colour combinations Such as strong / weak; vigorous / calm; extruding / flat.

Note: Avoid applying thick layers of paint. Keep the colour transparency to show the characteristics of the colour-overlapping effect.

Create texturing effects with the brush and paint.

Resource Kits

Object Library

Museums

In Touch with Hong Kong Artists: Gaylord Chan

Your Art-making Activity: Semi-figurative Painting

Background Knowledge

Materials and tools