PRE-COLUMBIAN COLORING TECHNIQUES INSTRUCTIONAL RESIDENCY

Availability

About this opportunity

The Mesoamerican Codex Painting Instructional Program acknowledges the rich artistic heritage of Mesoamerican codices and offers a nuanced perspective that connects traditional tlacuilo —painter-scribes trained in complex artistic traditions— painting techniques with contemporary artistic practices. This 3-week mentored production program includes 27 hours of master instruction by Arquetopia’s studio maestro, who teaches techniques historically associated with the extraction of color, the production of pigments used on amate paper, and the painting methods employed in codex creation. Instruction focuses on learning and experimentation with traditional pigments, organic and mineral color preparation, amate painting processes, line work, and related codex painting techniques. Instruction is in Spanish, though participants need not speak Spanish to successfully complete the course. Individual mentoring is provided by our directorial and curatorial staff for personalized project guidance and critique. Participants also work independently in our spaces. Instruction focuses on the preparation and use of organic and mineral pigments historically associated with codex production, including cochineal, Maya blue, earth pigments, and organic binders.

What the artist will do

Participants also experiment with painting techniques on amate paper, natural binders, folding structures, line work, compositional painting methods, and traditional techniques employed by tlacuilos in the creation of painted manuscripts.

Practical details