Chris Harvey’s notan study in preparation for his painting 6th Floor Vancouver Library
Popularized in Sir Arthur Wesley Dow‘s book on Composition (1899), Notan is a Japanese design concept based on simplified light and dark shapes. The idea is that composition is based on value, and by waiting to introduce the distractions and complications of color and detail, an artist can work with clarified light/dark shapes to refine the underlying balance in a composition. Below are examples of notan by Sir Arthur Wesley Dow.
Create a light/dark study of a scene or abstract design. Consider composition. Fill the paper, and the space around objects. Decide what goes light and what goes dark. Feel free to change what goes light and what goes dark to improve the composition. Avoid getting distracted by line and shading, avoid sneaking in an extra tone. This is about light/dark shapes only. Materials are artists’ choice.
Thankyou for sharingyourwork! I love seeing these artworks online. People who post to Instagram or on Facebook will be eligible to win prizes (see details). No matter where you post, tag us so we can find it. #seattleartistleague #salchallenge #notan
The June SAL Challenge: Creative exercises once a day for 30 days.
A few days ago I posted the Portrait Awards for 2022. 13 artists won prizes and recognition for their artworks , but there were a few more artworks that I wanted to share. Sometimes it’s good to have an art buddy, someone you can go to museums with, someone who can critique your work and …
One year ago in March, to protect our students and teachers from a new coronavirus, the Seattle Artist League moved our classes online. The virus was declared a national emergency, and we went into quarantine. We have now been in quarantine for thirteen months. Through this year, we have met each other online to draw, …
Exercise your creativity This SAL Challenge is a vocabulary based creative challenge every day for January. Materials are artist’s choice. You can draw, paint, sew, collage, sculpt your food, anything you want. See below for today’s creative challenge. Set the timer for 20 minutes and see what happens. AGASTOPIA n. – admiration of a particular …
[image_with_animation image_url=”11473″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] The past few V. Notes have been about drypoints, and I hope you’re not sick of hearing about drypoints, because I still have more to say. Today: Drypoints! I continued to do little experiments with Nikki Barber, and this evening (yesterday by the time you read this) I …
SAL Challenge: Notan
[image_with_animation image_url=”9927″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”]
Chris Harvey’s notan study in preparation for his painting 6th Floor Vancouver Library
Popularized in Sir Arthur Wesley Dow‘s book on Composition (1899), Notan is a Japanese design concept based on simplified light and dark shapes. The idea is that composition is based on value, and by waiting to introduce the distractions and complications of color and detail, an artist can work with clarified light/dark shapes to refine the underlying balance in a composition. Below are examples of notan by Sir Arthur Wesley Dow.
[image_with_animation image_url=”9928″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”]
Create a light/dark study of a scene or abstract design. Consider composition. Fill the paper, and the space around objects. Decide what goes light and what goes dark. Feel free to change what goes light and what goes dark to improve the composition. Avoid getting distracted by line and shading, avoid sneaking in an extra tone. This is about light/dark shapes only. Materials are artists’ choice.
Thank you for sharing your work! I love seeing these artworks online. People who post to Instagram or on Facebook will be eligible to win prizes (see details). No matter where you post, tag us so we can find it. #seattleartistleague #salchallenge #notan
The June SAL Challenge: Creative exercises once a day for 30 days.
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A few days ago I posted the Portrait Awards for 2022. 13 artists won prizes and recognition for their artworks , but there were a few more artworks that I wanted to share. Sometimes it’s good to have an art buddy, someone you can go to museums with, someone who can critique your work and …
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One year ago in March, to protect our students and teachers from a new coronavirus, the Seattle Artist League moved our classes online. The virus was declared a national emergency, and we went into quarantine. We have now been in quarantine for thirteen months. Through this year, we have met each other online to draw, …
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Exercise your creativity This SAL Challenge is a vocabulary based creative challenge every day for January. Materials are artist’s choice. You can draw, paint, sew, collage, sculpt your food, anything you want. See below for today’s creative challenge. Set the timer for 20 minutes and see what happens. AGASTOPIA n. – admiration of a particular …
My first drypoints!
[image_with_animation image_url=”11473″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] The past few V. Notes have been about drypoints, and I hope you’re not sick of hearing about drypoints, because I still have more to say. Today: Drypoints! I continued to do little experiments with Nikki Barber, and this evening (yesterday by the time you read this) I …