In most dynamic compositions, the artist uses contrast and diagonal or serpentine pathways to lead the viewer in and around the painting. Morandi did the opposite with his still lifes. He grouped similar dust covered objects together to become one object instead of several interacting objects. He minimized differences to create a sense of quiet stillness and unity. Then he put these objects in the middle of an almost-square composition, with ample space around them. This is called a static composition, and while it doesn’t command and direct the viewer’s attention immediately, it does whisper to a viewer to slow down, lean in, and notice the smallest moments of subtlety.
Most of Morandi’s still life bottles are clustered together in the middle of the canvas, with a lot of space around them. See how in the unusual painting shown here, even though there’s an object touching the right edge of the canvas, the object is almost the same color as the background, with lines across that imitate the horizon line, so it’s barely there at all. Look below at the painting with the object removed.
Morandi’s still life vs Photoshop manipulation
In the Photoshopped image below, notice how I haven’t changed the colors much but I have removed the brush strokes that give the painting subtle variations in color and value. See how the absolute flatness causes our gaze to jump around impatiently, while the subtle variations slow us down to look?
Morandi’s still life vs Photoshop manipulation comparing subtle color and value variation vs flat color
Look what happens when I flatten the colors and straighten the warble in the lines in the image below.
Morandi’s still life vs Photoshop manipulation comparing subtle variation vs straight and flat Both images manipulated in Photoshop to show effects of decreasing vs increasing contrast in color and value Morandi still life paintings
Day 10: Morandi #30SAL
Today’s COMPOSITIONAL challenge: Create a still life in which objects are grouped and sized similarly.
Tips: See how quiet you can get your creation to be. Without repeating the same object multiple times, minimize differences in similar objects. Compress value, color, line, shape, size, and form. Work within a nearly square-ish format, and allow a lot of space between your objects and the edge of your composition.
As usual, media for this creative challenge is artist’s choice. You can draw, paint, collage, assemblage, photograph, or play with your food.
Post your work
To be eligible for prizes (yes prizes!) at the end of the month, post your work to Instagram with #30sal.
Deadline for posting: 3 days after each post.
January prize winners will be announced in February.
Post to Instagram with #30SAL so we can find it.
To find more followers for your page, you can cut/paste these to your post:
Andre Breton – Writer André Breton (French: [ɑ̃dʁe bʁətɔ̃]; 19 February 1896 – 28 September 1966) was a French writer, poet, and anti-fascist. He is known best as the founder of Surrealism. His writings include the first Surrealist Manifesto (Manifeste du surréalisme) of 1924, in which he defined surrealism as “pure psychic automatism”. [divider line_type=”Full …
From my window, the smoke gives a terrible, surreal beauty to the landscape. A dampened and compressed eerie glow. There is a weight to it. What do you see? CALL FOR ART: SMOKE I’ve received great submissions for this show! There’s still time to send in yours. Email artwork of any media you have documenting this smoke …
COMING SOON TO A WALL NEAR YOU! We’re getting ready to paint our name on the side of the building, and ended up finding this little gem of a video about the disappearing art of sign painting. I’m disappointed that human hands so rarely touch the common objects in my life, dismayed that makers of things …
I resisted buying an iPad for years. I didn’t need it. I didn’t want it. I prided myself on using actual materials for actual paintings, and maintaining old style slow time in this instant digital world. The truth is, I don’t actually make many actual paintings. I’m actually very busy. If I were go to …
Day 10: Morandi #30SAL
In most dynamic compositions, the artist uses contrast and diagonal or serpentine pathways to lead the viewer in and around the painting. Morandi did the opposite with his still lifes. He grouped similar dust covered objects together to become one object instead of several interacting objects. He minimized differences to create a sense of quiet stillness and unity. Then he put these objects in the middle of an almost-square composition, with ample space around them. This is called a static composition, and while it doesn’t command and direct the viewer’s attention immediately, it does whisper to a viewer to slow down, lean in, and notice the smallest moments of subtlety.
Most of Morandi’s still life bottles are clustered together in the middle of the canvas, with a lot of space around them. See how in the unusual painting shown here, even though there’s an object touching the right edge of the canvas, the object is almost the same color as the background, with lines across that imitate the horizon line, so it’s barely there at all. Look below at the painting with the object removed.
In the Photoshopped image below, notice how I haven’t changed the colors much but I have removed the brush strokes that give the painting subtle variations in color and value. See how the absolute flatness causes our gaze to jump around impatiently, while the subtle variations slow us down to look?
Look what happens when I flatten the colors and straighten the warble in the lines in the image below.
Day 10: Morandi #30SAL
Today’s COMPOSITIONAL challenge: Create a still life in which objects are grouped and sized similarly.
Tips: See how quiet you can get your creation to be. Without repeating the same object multiple times, minimize differences in similar objects. Compress value, color, line, shape, size, and form. Work within a nearly square-ish format, and allow a lot of space between your objects and the edge of your composition.
As usual, media for this creative challenge is artist’s choice. You can draw, paint, collage, assemblage, photograph, or play with your food.
Post your work
To be eligible for prizes (yes prizes!) at the end of the month, post your work to Instagram with #30sal.
Deadline for posting: 3 days after each post.
January prize winners will be announced in February.
Post to Instagram with #30SAL so we can find it.
To find more followers for your page, you can cut/paste these to your post:
#30sal #morandi #composition #vnotes #creativechallenge #januarychallenge #drawingchallenge #drawing #art #sketch #artchallenge #artist #draw #artistsoninstagram #sketchbook #instaart #artwork #drawingoftheday #dailydrawing #inkdrawing #drawingsketch #artoftheday #creativity
Padlet
Don’t have Instagram? You can post your work to Padlet.
DAY 10: MORANDI
DAY 9: SCRIBBLE LINE
Day 8: REVERSE COLLAGE
Don’t Delay!
Deadline for submissions: 3 days after each challenge post. January prize winners will be announced in February.
To learn more about the 30SAL Challenge, click here.
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