Not all sections of a surface are equal. Movement, space, and placement can be used to suggest time. Within the composition we can infer a sequence, a past, and a future. In part, this is due to how we read. Generally, we read top to bottom, and left to right. Within a scene in a painting we often interpret things happening at the top or left side as beginning, and as they move towards the lower and the right side, they are perceived as ending. Things happening in the lower right side tend to be perceived as happening later in time. Spacing and placement can also can suggest how much future or past there is outside of the immediate scene of the painting. This isn’t true for all paintings, but it does happen in some, and you can use it in yours.
For example, the painting Christina’s World by Wyeth suggests a moment of time in the subject’s future. We connect the figure (left) to the house (right), and the tension is in the suggested attempted movement from the figure through the blank space, as the figure pulls towards the house.
In the painting below by Harry Franklin Waltman, the action has mostly already happened (represented by the figure on the left), and the figure on the right is at his end. Both Christina and the fencer are in peril, but Christina, the figure on the left side, will extend into prolonged suffering, while the fencer, the figure on the right edge of the canvas, suggests the story is at its end.
I went to Smith & Vallee Gallery to pick up what was left of my show after sales. It was a rewardingly small collection, just a few pieces left. There is one painting that I can’t believe is still here – one of my personal favorites. It received compliments from the gallery owner, and was …
Hey Artists! For the first day of our creative challenge, the suggestion was blind contour self portraits. As of 10pm Jan 1, there are 100 scribble-fabulous self portrait posts on Instagram with the #30SAL. How exciting! Now here’s your second…. Barbara Cooney Barbara Cooney (August 6, 1917 – March 10, 2000) was an American writer and …
We are very nearly done with our 30 day creative challenge. Just three more days! Today’s challenge is to design a challenge. Think of something that you’d enjoy, something unusual that unlocks your creativity. Post clear directions, suggested materials, and an example or two to Padlet. The winning entry will be given to everyone for …
Today’s TRANSCRIPTION Challenge: Maharana Sarup Singh Inspects a Prize Stallion, by Tara To learn more about this giant Indian miniature painting, visit The Met. Post it To be eligible for prizes (yes prizes!) at the end of the month, post your work to Instagram with #30sal and #indianminiature so we can find your post. To find more …
Left vs Right: sense of time in composition
Not all sections of a surface are equal. Movement, space, and placement can be used to suggest time. Within the composition we can infer a sequence, a past, and a future. In part, this is due to how we read. Generally, we read top to bottom, and left to right. Within a scene in a painting we often interpret things happening at the top or left side as beginning, and as they move towards the lower and the right side, they are perceived as ending. Things happening in the lower right side tend to be perceived as happening later in time. Spacing and placement can also can suggest how much future or past there is outside of the immediate scene of the painting. This isn’t true for all paintings, but it does happen in some, and you can use it in yours.
For example, the painting Christina’s World by Wyeth suggests a moment of time in the subject’s future. We connect the figure (left) to the house (right), and the tension is in the suggested attempted movement from the figure through the blank space, as the figure pulls towards the house.
In the painting below by Harry Franklin Waltman, the action has mostly already happened (represented by the figure on the left), and the figure on the right is at his end. Both Christina and the fencer are in peril, but Christina, the figure on the left side, will extend into prolonged suffering, while the fencer, the figure on the right edge of the canvas, suggests the story is at its end.
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I went to Smith & Vallee Gallery to pick up what was left of my show after sales. It was a rewardingly small collection, just a few pieces left. There is one painting that I can’t believe is still here – one of my personal favorites. It received compliments from the gallery owner, and was …
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Hey Artists! For the first day of our creative challenge, the suggestion was blind contour self portraits. As of 10pm Jan 1, there are 100 scribble-fabulous self portrait posts on Instagram with the #30SAL. How exciting! Now here’s your second…. Barbara Cooney Barbara Cooney (August 6, 1917 – March 10, 2000) was an American writer and …
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We are very nearly done with our 30 day creative challenge. Just three more days! Today’s challenge is to design a challenge. Think of something that you’d enjoy, something unusual that unlocks your creativity. Post clear directions, suggested materials, and an example or two to Padlet. The winning entry will be given to everyone for …
Day 28. Maharana Sarup Singh Inspects a Prize Stallion #30SAL
Today’s TRANSCRIPTION Challenge: Maharana Sarup Singh Inspects a Prize Stallion, by Tara To learn more about this giant Indian miniature painting, visit The Met. Post it To be eligible for prizes (yes prizes!) at the end of the month, post your work to Instagram with #30sal and #indianminiature so we can find your post. To find more …