Friday, May 22, 2015

May 22, 2015 Imaginary Gardens With Real Toads/ A Check List

A Check List

(here is a check list of things an artist might ask himself as he looks at his painting)

scan the edges perhaps covering the rest of the painting (are the edges interesting?)

check the corners (because the eye will automatically go to the corners, we don't have to put interesting things there)

like reading, we 'read' a painting from left to right

move into the painting (a path is created on the lights, or on the darks)

the center of interest is created near the center but not directly in the center (this is for a regular painting or regular design, be it realistic or abstract – even abstract painting need to be aware of the rules of design, the center of interest is not for an all over painting - some rules follow us everywhere)

the rest of the painting should also be interesting (nothing should lead the viewer out of the painting)

does the painting before us resonate for us

is it fresh (a balance of bright and dull)

does it have mystery

is there a dominance (of a color, temperature, value, forms)

the artist might ask himself, again, what is he trying to say? Does the painting say it?

May 22, 2015





17 comments:

Blogoratti said...

Interesting thoughts, thanks for sharing!

Fireblossom said...

You so aced this challenge. Perfect.

brudberg said...

Wonderful and I think the same goes for a painter of words.

Sanaa Rizvi said...

This was absolutely perfect :D
Loved the depiction of an artist's mind at work :D
xoxo

Sherry Blue Sky said...

This is a really interesting look at the way an artist views her work......intriguing......

Mary said...

You know what strikes me here is how similar painting is to writing a poem!

Glenn Buttkus said...

Yes, yes, a 1000 times over, for I agree with Mary & Bjorn, your analysis can/should/does apply for word smithers painting with language, & I noticed that before & after I snap an image digitally, I am composing in the lens, letting my eye answer your lovely truthful artistic queries.

Susan said...

Indeed ... or at least some of these questions ...seeking a step beyond excellence into the heart.

Sumana Roy said...

a wonderful list poem Annell...love this glimpse into an artist's amazing mind...

Unknown said...

And as I read this, I transcribed it to writers and musicians. Fascinating list, intriguing glimpse into the mind of an artist. Hayes Spencer is Kanzensakura.

Grace said...

An interesting checklist ~

Gabriella said...

As a very amateur and very new artist, I particularly enjoyed your list poem. My favorite is 'does it have a mystery?'

C.C. said...

As someone who is most certainly NOT an artist or a painter by any stretch of the imagination, I really enjoyed this perspective---very interesting to consider what goes through the thoughts and all the different angles of looking at a piece of art during the creation process.

Katie Mia Frederick said...

Ah.. the mystery paintings are the ones I love
best.. where the artist often has no clue
of the significance of that..:)

grapeling said...

I appreciate this glimpse into the process ~

hedgewitch said...

Quite a list, both useful and with a beauty of its own.

Rosemary Nissen-Wade said...

Illuminating - thank you.

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