Final answer:
Painters often regard the white walls in their studios as canvases for potential creation. Edward Hopper and Ellsworth Kelly are examples of artists who used white walls in distinct ways to support their artistic visions and techniques.
Step-by-step explanation:
Painters often refer to the physical space they use for painting, including the walls, as part of their creative environment. The white wall described in the office refers to a blank space or canvas on which they project their thoughts and creativity. The question seems to draw from depictions of isolation and artistic workspace in art history, particularly with references to artists like Edward Hopper, who used office spaces and walls to convey the themes of solitude, and Ellsworth Kelly, an artist who drew inspiration from the simple forms and shadows around him. In Hopper's work such as 'Office in a Small City', he used the white wall and immensity of the office to illustrate the isolation of an individual in the modern world. Whereas Kelly's approach to white walls in his studio was as the starting point for his artwork, often applying multiple coats of white paint as a foundation for his exploration of form and color. The mention of Leonardo da Vinci's technique also highlights the preparation of a wall with a white undercoat for enhanced brightness, mirroring the preparation of a painter's canvas.
Other artists have approached the concept of space and representation in various ways, such as Kerry James Marshall in his painting 'Untitled (Studio)', challenging traditional art concepts and the control of artistic spaces. Similarly, the use of a white wall or canvas echoes through the practices of many artists as a metaphor for potential and the birthplace of art.