What Makes a Project a Project
"I want to explore colour and emotion" names a territory, not a question.
A project has a question that could be answered wrongly.
| Not yet a project | A project |
|---|---|
| I want to explore colour and emotion | Does a passage read warmer when its neighbour cools at constant value? |
| I am interested in memory | Can a photograph be repainted from memory at intervals? |
| I want to work with my local landscape | What does the same view yield across different times of day? |
Scope and Arithmetic
Scope is decided by hours, not ambition. A semester offers 72 hours of studio time.
At nine hours per piece, you can produce eight canvases at most. Layered oil painting needs drying time. A four-layer method requires three drying gaps between sessions. Plan backwards so the work fits the calendar.
References
A reference is not just a picture you like. It is a position you are arguing with.
- Formal: solves a problem of surface, colour, or structure.
- Thematic: addresses your subject but reaches a different conclusion.
- Methodological: provides a way of working to borrow.
The Logbook
Record all decisions at the moment they are taken. Note your reasons immediately, before they evaporate. Include dates, state photos, recipes, and unexpected outcomes.
Common pitfall: writing the statement after the work is finished to describe the result.
Write your question first. Let the record show where it shifted.
Project · Scope · The · 72