A tangent is bothersome touching of images or shapes. You might call a tangent the painting's harassment because it creates an uneasiness within the viewer, even if
unconsciously, sorta like fingernails on a chalkboard once you become aware of them.
COMMON TANGENTS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
Tangents happen when the edges of two shapes touch.
Solution: Either overlap the shapes or put some space between them.
A tangent happens when a vertical shape intersects the apex of another
Solution: Shift one shape or the other so there is no overlap at the
apex.
A tangent results when a vertical shape aligns with the apex of another shape.
Solution: Shift your vantage point or at least, shift the image in front causing the tangent.
When a shape's edge touches the edge of your painting, you've got a tangent.
Solution: Either crop inside the image, suggesting the rest of the image is outside the format or bring it comfortably INSIDE the
painting.
If a symmetrical shape is cut in half at the edge of the painting, it causes a tangent.
Solution: Either bring the entire image inside the picture plane or crop in a place other than the halfway point of the symmetrical shape or
at a joint of an animal or person.
When a closed shape such as a sphere, triangle or square hugs a corner in equal sizes, it's a tangent.
Solution: Crop the image so that the horizontal and vertical edges are different sizes.
The edge of a horizontal shape or vertical hides behind a vertical shape.
Solution: Either have shape behind follow through and be visible on the other side of the vertical shape or put some space between
them.
The edge of one shape aligns or continues with the edge of another.
Solution: Change the vantage point so that edges of different shapes don't align.
Vertical shapes appears to be growing out of the body of an animal or person like antlers.
Solution: Change the value or change or move the bothersome shapes. The solution to this problem will depend upon the subject. The idea,
though, is to change it somehow so that the background shape is shifted to the distance.
I'm sure there are other tangents, but these are the major ones that plague us. It's a good idea, while our work is in-progress, to occasionally step back and scan it for tangents.
They can sneak in on us without the least warning.
ENJOY A TANGENT-FREE WEEKEND!
You can access the archive of all my newsletters at anytime by going HERE. |
|
|
|
