In the last post called Yogurt Holds the Blueberry, I talked about thinking of everything in a composition as an active shape, painting the spaces between things, instead of painting an object floating on nothing.
If we are painting the space between things, we start to see the “background” as an active shape on the page. Instead of an object on a background, it is one shape pushing up against another shape, like two friends sitting shoulder to shoulder. In real life, a house would fall over if it was pressing against still air, but a painting is color on paper. How would you paint still air as it presses into a building, to hold it in place?
In this way, instead of negative space, you can imagine that everything in your painting holds every other thing in place. This doesn’t work automatically, and not all shapes push back equally. They require some attention from the artist to activate each shape and make it work. When activated, a “blank” shape can push into a painted shape, and hold it there. Do you see it?
Take a look at these watercolors by Morandi, and see what you think about the idea we’re calling “yogurt holds the blueberry.”
My email inbox has been slow lately. Everyone must be getting ready for the holiday. There is a pile of Christmas presents that need to get wrapped. They’re blocking the door of my apartment, and spilling into the recycling bin. It’s a delightful mess, all the little contained and uncontainable bits. I said goodbye to …
[image_with_animation image_url=”7520″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Pictured above: Lagos Elephant House, Nigeria Draw, paint, or collage the view outside your window. Replace the buildings with animals. Option for collaboration: one person draw the scene, the other draw the animals. Take a picture of your drawing and add it to this post our Facebook page. Tag: #salchallenge Important: Save …
[image_with_animation image_url=”6263″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Richard Tuttle Richard Tuttle is an American known for his small, odd, subtle, and intimate works. Sometimes, his art incites the viewer to decide what distinguishes art from trash. See “untitled” drawing above, and the gem below. Tuttle was a very close friend of minimalist painter Agnes Martin. ” …
Hey there. I wanted to send out a little personal thank you about V. Notes, this unusual and personal blog series of thoughts and ideas related to art. Initially started as a way to give my painting students more information outside of class, V. Notes now has over 1,000 readers. Many subscribers are part of …
Morandi’s Watercolors
In the last post called Yogurt Holds the Blueberry, I talked about thinking of everything in a composition as an active shape, painting the spaces between things, instead of painting an object floating on nothing.
If we are painting the space between things, we start to see the “background” as an active shape on the page. Instead of an object on a background, it is one shape pushing up against another shape, like two friends sitting shoulder to shoulder. In real life, a house would fall over if it was pressing against still air, but a painting is color on paper. How would you paint still air as it presses into a building, to hold it in place?
In this way, instead of negative space, you can imagine that everything in your painting holds every other thing in place. This doesn’t work automatically, and not all shapes push back equally. They require some attention from the artist to activate each shape and make it work. When activated, a “blank” shape can push into a painted shape, and hold it there. Do you see it?
Take a look at these watercolors by Morandi, and see what you think about the idea we’re calling “yogurt holds the blueberry.”
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My email inbox has been slow lately. Everyone must be getting ready for the holiday. There is a pile of Christmas presents that need to get wrapped. They’re blocking the door of my apartment, and spilling into the recycling bin. It’s a delightful mess, all the little contained and uncontainable bits. I said goodbye to …
SAL Challenge Day 5: Zoo View
[image_with_animation image_url=”7520″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Pictured above: Lagos Elephant House, Nigeria Draw, paint, or collage the view outside your window. Replace the buildings with animals. Option for collaboration: one person draw the scene, the other draw the animals. Take a picture of your drawing and add it to this post our Facebook page. Tag: #salchallenge Important: Save …
Richard Tuttle
[image_with_animation image_url=”6263″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Richard Tuttle Richard Tuttle is an American known for his small, odd, subtle, and intimate works. Sometimes, his art incites the viewer to decide what distinguishes art from trash. See “untitled” drawing above, and the gem below. Tuttle was a very close friend of minimalist painter Agnes Martin. ” …
A note about V. Notes
Hey there. I wanted to send out a little personal thank you about V. Notes, this unusual and personal blog series of thoughts and ideas related to art. Initially started as a way to give my painting students more information outside of class, V. Notes now has over 1,000 readers. Many subscribers are part of …