Fitzpatrick Grid

12 in x 36 in,

1/25

This piece was painted to represent the 6 ranges of human skin tones, arranged from type I (fairest) to VI (darkest), as originally described by Dr. Thomas Fitzpatrick, a dermatologist. The canvas is an "extreme rectangle" shape, basically in a 3-to-1 ratio for length and width. The grid was laid down starting in the corners and going through center each way, and then adding onto the grid with a ruler to keep the triangular shapes all the same size. I then filled in the matrix one Fitzpatrick scale tone at a time, each using anywhere between 8-12 distinct shades of tans and browns. I had thought of blurring the boundries between tones a bit more to make the piece less choppy, but decided in the end that keeping color families distinct better conveyed the concept of Fitzpatrick scale.