December 5, 2015
  
 
One thing that captivates me about composing paintings is how similar the process is among all the arts and even in the creative side of science.  Further, I can't think of a single component in the composing process that is not reflected in nature as well.  Every day, there's another revelation.  Recently, I've been focusing on the rhythm of it all.

Visual Rhythms are the most ignored yet inherently intriguing of all our composing generators (my word for principles).  In music we have the waltz, tango, rhumba and many more rhythmic patterns, and in painting we have flowing rhythms, staccato rhythms and even a "bassline" 

Any painting becomes richer when the artist catches the rhythm of the subject and allows it to be central to the communication of the work.. 
Many of today's forefront painters understand and use this principle adroitly.  Observe how artist Richard Schmid orchestrates flowing rhythm in Peonies.

Richard Schmid     Peonies    Oil on Canvas




Rhythm is not something we simply observe, it's something we feel.  Just as our bodies automatically move with the rhythm of Margaret's Waltz, we can feel the repeated flowing movement in Schmid's painting.  Rhythm engages the right side of our brains and shoot straight to our hearts.  Whether it is gentle or robust, rapid or lingering, pulsating or flowing, visual rhythm exudes abundant life.

Happy painting,
Dianne

NEWS & UPDATES

BREAKING NEWS
  We have added an Art Supply Store to our eStore so that you can easily find the materials I use in the video lessons.  This is an affiliate of Amazon.com so you get the price breaks found on Amazon as well as the convenience of not having to search for supplies.  Check it out and feel free to suggest supplies you'd like us to add.       
___Yesterday, we launched Series 12, Visual Rhythm, beginning with our first lesson, Flowing Rhythm.  Upcoming lessons in the series will include weaving a bassline, creating visual staccato and rhythm in counterpoint.

___ This week's Quick Tip is about the basics of palette knife painting.
 
 
  
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