... my normal go-to is gel printing. However, after finishing the Stab-Me Binding from the last post, I've spent the week taking photos of my work and honing my design sense. I've always really liked abstract art, but doing it is a great deal more difficult than it looks, and part of my issue is design.
So I've taken photographs of part of my artwork, cropped and corrected them for colour and light, and then done the same again.
It's interesting that nearly every segment could be cropped more than once to create something that is pleasing to the eye.
The cropping can make a tremendous difference to the orientation of the piece as well.
And each segment of a piece can be a work of art on its own.
These look wonderful, Win, and it's so true that abstract pieces work best when you crop them and zoom in on the interesting areas. Or just turning a piece around offers a completely different perspective. I rarely think about a composition, I just eye-ball things - try it on for size - see what feels right - no rhyme or reason. That's not much help though, is it LOL? I would say, just go with your instincts! No right or wrong here!
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that instinct plays a huge part of learning to eyeball for the 'right' feeling, Zsuzsa. I think the cropping and adjusting is a way to hone that eye, although I know it's not the only one!
DeleteNow that’s A question and a half! Like you I think it’s a lifelong learning process and sometimes I feel like the more I learn the harder it is to paint! I love what you did with your pieces, taking photos, adjusting and cropping. I see so many possibilities in those pieces. What a great idea.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely a large question, isn't it? And I know that my design sense is a long way ahead of where it was some 40 years ago. I think being around John-the-eye-photographer has helped a great deal, hence the photography aspect of my process. I'm planning on keeping on keeping on. ;-)
DeleteYou know this is a difficult question and I think since I finished teaching and started planning projects for myself I have been looking for that little something that makes my Art work my own. Now most of the time I shut my eyes and hope for the best Lol! but I'm always thinking is there something I can add to this piece that will make it stand out in such a way that people who see it will say yes I know who made that and though it doesn't work for every project that idea is with me all the time. Now my main problem is that I can't stick to one style of Art so sometimes I don't let it worry me and just enjoy the process. I know why this is because for most of my working career I was planning projects for children and had to be offering a wide variety of techniques and to be honest it's a habit that I can't get out of. Which is why when you visit my desk (as I'm sure you will have noticed) there is usually something different going on. Which reminds me, I've not had my gel plates out for a while...Oh dear off I go again! Have a lovely creative week my dear, very understanding friend. Angela xXx
ReplyDeleteThat's the perfect starting point, isn't it Angela? Making your art so unique that it's immediately recognizable as 'you'. And your teaching background must give you a real heads up in that regard; I do understand about the wide variety of techniques and directions given that's something we share! Enjoy your gel printing break, I say, grinning. :D
DeleteI had to pop back because I saw your comment about the mud. I am 'Super Scrubber Women' though not sure Maisie and Stan are very impressed Lol! They would be perfectly happy to bring the mud indoors given half a chance but we do have good dog coats that cover their tummy and are easier to clean than dogs xXx
ReplyDeleteI've no doubt that Maisie and Stan are less than impressed with your scrubbing abilities - may your part of the world dry somewhat in the near future...sending warm, dry thoughts!
DeleteWouaouh! It is too beautiful Win!!
ReplyDeleteIt is true that the refocusing always brings an additional richness, especially when you work the colored textures as you do.
I don't really understand what you mean by 'perfecting my sense of design' (in French, the word 'design' means something very specific in a textile or industrial sense, and its meaning is different from the words 'drawing' or 'painting' or 'creating' something artistic), but if it's progressing in our artistic styles that you mean, I think your way is right. Sometimes I have fun working very small (postage stamp format) or very large (you have to have space); but anything that forces you to step out of your comfort zone can be good and cause you to progress.
Anyway, what you do is always a pure beauty and perfection my friend!
Take care of you please.
Refocus - what a great word, Sim. And I love your thought about changing the size of the work one does. I do find that working smaller (mini books or ATC's for example) can help hone my sense of placement. I'm not working larger right now due to a rotator cuff injury, but that's coming as soon as I heal. Sending big hugs over the waters to you - hope you remain well and happy! xo
DeleteI wish your rotator cuff injury will be soon an old souvenir Win. I send you also a big stock of hugs my friend!
DeleteMany thanks, Sim - it's on the heal, so I'm sending strong-arm hugs right back! xo
DeleteOne of my on site 'tricks' when painting on location is to take a few photos of the areas I might like to paint. Then I look at them on the small screen of my camera. It is easier to see the lights and darks of the major shapes. I wish I could say I always do a value sketch from there. I know when I do the design is more likely to succeed.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! All that yummy texture is revealed as you move in more closely. Love that last one especially.
ReplyDeleteHow do I hone my design sense? Well, I don't really know. I guess I try to work out why I don't like something and what I find pleasing. I just go with my gut to be honest. If that little voice in my head says, "It needs a red circle" I go ahead. More often than not it works but there are still 'hot mess' occasions :)
I'm with you on pleasing versus not, Tracy - my gut instinct is often the deciding factor. As for hot messes? I get those more frequently than I'd like. :D
DeleteThat's the beauty of creating abstract pieces isn't it? You can always discover a smaller painting within or rescue a larger one that doesn't appeal overall. These are all delightful pieces!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Laura - I had an instructor who said the road to hell was paved with artists who cropped their paintings, but I think he was wrong, wrong, WRONG! :D
DeleteHi Win, Your pictures are all lovely and I think art is in the eye of the beholder and like you said you can chop it up until you run out of pixels.
ReplyDeleteHowever I have found for me I need balance in a design. An example, both of your last two pictures are beautiful, but I would choose the last one because it centers your eye on the canvas instead of drawing it to the bottom and ultimately off the picture because of the heavier color weight. There is a choice like that in all your paired pictures and I would choose balance in composition...but that's just me and I'm a little off anyway maybe it's how I compensate...lol
Take care of you my friend. Hugs.
This is exactly why I love getting artists to answer questions. One of my instructors in art school was adamant that the bottom of a painting should ALWAYS be darker in order to anchor the piece, yet that was a rule I hated (and have broken more times than I can count). And most certainly you are not a little off - you are delightedly right on the money. Sending big hugs, my friend. xo
DeleteI don't think about it at all. I just do and usually find the piece is in balance. If it isn't I play around with the elements until I am happy. I just look though, I don't think about it.. if that makes sense..
ReplyDeleteCorrie xoxo
That makes perfect sense, Corrie, for isn't it the 'playing around with the elements' that hones the eye?!
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