Color. Selected Student Works from the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University

Author: Qiu Baiping (Compiler)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-01-01
Features: The predecessor of our institution was the Central Academy of Arts and Design. In its early years, painting courses were established to cultivate students' fundamental abilities and enhance their artistic appreciation. Through nearly half a century of teaching practice, it has been proven that foundational painting courses such as sketching, quick sketches, and color studies play a crucial role in the entire teaching process of the academy. As the foundation for shaping, painting courses, along with decorative pattern courses as the foundation for design, as well as composition studies (including plane, spatial, and color composition) and design expression courses, form the professional foundation of the art and design discipline. Combined with professional art theory and cultural foundations, these together constitute three aspects of foundational knowledge. We metaphorically describe them as a bridge leading to the essential path of art and design. These three aspects of foundational knowledge are like the three pillars of this bridge—none can be missing. Painting is the direct way for students to engage with art and can be considered the starting point. Through painting training, students learn to observe and study subjects, gradually mastering various ways to express their emotions. At the same time, in this "cycle," they gradually develop scientific and self-suited thinking methods, continuously expanding the mental space for imagination and creativity, enhancing aesthetic awareness, and laying the foundation for future artistic development. Sketching is the foundation of foundations. Through the study of sketching and quick sketches, students gradually complete the coordination training between eye, brain, and hand in the repeated process of "observation—thinking—expression," thereby strengthening their personal artistic cultivation. Color learning not only further enhances students' artistic appreciation of color but also enables them to master the sensitivity to color and the artistic language of color, as well as the spiritual pursuit of artistic styles and color aesthetics. Over the years, the foundational painting teachers and students of our institution have made various efforts and explorations. The selected student works compiled here can be seen as an embodiment of teaching achievements, reflecting the dedication of both students and teachers. Today, the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University has evolved from an art and design college into a comprehensive art academy encompassing both pure art and art and design disciplines. The academy's future prospects are vast, and at the same time, it places new demands on our foundational education, especially foundational painting education. Through our own efforts, we will strive for new achievements.