Thorton Dial Sr. was a Black artist who lived in Alabama. He worked as a metalworker at a factory that made railroad cars. When the factory closed, he decided to make art full time. Dial’s art often focuses on Black history and racial discrimination. Dial Sr. said, “Art is like a bright star up ahead in the darkness of the world…Art is a guide for every person who is looking for something. That’s how I describe myself. Mr. Dial is a man looking for something.” What do you see when you look at this work of art?
Thornton Dial Sr. (American, 1928 – 2016), “Life Go on As Flowers,” n.d. Watercolor on paper, 29 3/4 × 22 3/4 inches. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; Gift of Ron and June Shelp. GMOA 2020.123.
In “Life Go on as Flowers,” Dial uses watercolors to show a figure with flowers. How does he layer the paints to create bouquets of flowers? Take a moment to reflect on the title of this work of art. What does “Life Go on as Flowers” mean to you? Does the title add to your understanding of the painting? Why or why not?
In this activity, you will use cupcake liners and watercolor paints to create flowers.
For this activity you will need:
- paper
- cupcake liners
- watercolors
- paintbrushes
- glue
- materials for decorating like buttons, rhinestones or pom poms
To make your bouquet:
- Press the cupcake liners flat and paint a design on them with watercolor paints. Try layering colors. What happens if you add a lot of water and swirl the colors together?
- Let the cupcake liners dry. Glue the centers to a piece of paper. Leave room to paint stems. Do you want your flowers to be bunched closely together in a bouquet or more spread out?
- Use your fingers to scrunch the edges of the liners so they do not lie flat against the paper. This will help them pop out from the background.
- Choose decorations for the center of your flowers. You can use sequins, gems, buttons, or anything small and fun you have lying around! Glue these to the center of your cupcake liners. Try giving each flower a different center!
- Paint a stem and leaves on the paper below each flower. You can even paint a vase or other details.
