What goes into composing a work of art? Is it just an arrangement of shapes and values? Some folks seem to have that idea, but I consider every decision and every mark we make as a part of the composing. Here's one of my paintings done in early summer a couple of years back.
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| Sounds of Silence Oil on Canvas |
Here it is in a different light.
This says to me that even the palette of colors we select is a part of the composing process.
Next, some of the brushstrokes are smoothed out.
So far, we've not done a thing to the arrangement of shapes and values, yet each of these variations has given us a different kind of composition, another interpretation. In the second revision, even the brushstrokes play a role in how it was composed.
Then what about our choice of subject?
This time I modified the season to early fall rather than early summer. The meaning of the painting has been altered. So that tells me that even the selection of the subject is, indeed, a part of the composing process.
Okay. Let's redo the light/shadow pattern and see what happens.
Yet a different composition.
TIP: Composing is not just about shapes and arranging, but about every choice and every stroke we make. It's about the how the various components of color behave, how the tools we're using communicate, how we orchestrate every element of the process.
Happy painting,
Dianne
NEWS & UPDATES
___Speaking of orchestrating, the lessons in our new video series all do just that, especially our newest installment, Orchestrating with Intensity. In this lesson, we learn another way to shift from the routine palette towards an intentionally designed palette that is fashioned to create harmony.
___ Lesson Three, Orchestrating Intensity, now in the eStore, is another of the Decoding Harmony Series. I am especially excited about this series of video lessons. And judging from your response to them, a lot of you are, too!
___ Do you forget to clean your palette knife? If so, I have a simple solution in this week's Quick Tip on our YouTube Channel.
One word to Forum users--To keep up with what's going on daily, click on the forum title--Composing and Drawing Tips--in your Groups list on the left of your Facebook page.
___Those of you doing the video lessons can get a personal critique on your work by going to my website and sending me a message from there.
