• Special message: Our September Live Chat on YouTube will be September 17 at 2 pm Eastern. Why not put it on your calendar now! Have you noticed in YouTube chats that I can really get hot under the collar when the word "rule" is used regarding painting? That's because for me, rules are restrictions. They carry a negative implication and often a threat. They can cause us to fear rather than thrive. Yet to flourish in a civilized society, rules are necessary for us to live in relative harmony with one another. And while playing games, regulations are needed to prevent a free-for-all that can end in chaos. Traffic rules are a must to prevent us from crashing into one another or killing ourselves
speeding. But rules in painting can only cause tension and restrict our creativity! They are like fences that block us in. A rule is a regulation that sets boundaries. It is accompanied by consequences, even punishment, if the boundary is disregarded. The rule often implies an enforcer who controls or has power over those being ruled and who delegates the punishment when the rule is broken. "Never do this" and "always do that" are the messages within the rule. You "must or else" is the threat. This kind of restriction can produce creativity only when one is finding a way around the rule without getting caught for breaking it. Perhaps some could argue that artists can thrive within that perimeter. After all, we know the old adage: First learn it then break it! How many times have we artists been told that! But there is a freer and more uplifting and productive way! We can change our attitudes by substituting words. Rather than "rules", call the principles "tools". Learn how to use them as tools rather than
trying to obey them as rules. That can make a huge difference in the quality of our experience. TOOLS FOR ARTISTS, NOT RULES! A tool is something that we use to carry out a function. Its only limitation is the skill of its user within what's possible for the tool. The implication of a tool is action and results. If I strike a nail into wood with a hammer, the nail will penetrate the wood. There is no fear unless my thumb happens to be where the hammer hits. But tools can't do their job if the user
of the tool is not observing the techniques that enable it to work. Painting skills use techniques that give the artist mastery when applying paint to a surface. Composing images uses techniques, too. Creating compelling compositions is easy when we learn the
techniques for using the composing tools. When building a house, there are results we want--we want a sound and durable structure, we want rooms, we want doors and windows, etc. The techniques builders use with their tools determine those results and how well they work. When we are building a painting, there are also results we want--we look for unity, order, balance and harmony. The tools we use to get those things are selecting and placing, contrasting, emphasizing, repeating & varying and others. Our techniques for using these tools determine our results. We don't have to memorize all these, just like a builder doesn't have to memorize his skills. Instead, one at a time we learn to use them. Beginning next week, the first Saturday in September, I will begin a Series on the joy and freedom of Learning to Use Composing Tools! Enjoy a delightful weekend! During my Language of Painting series, I explained the role of our visual elements. If you'd like to review those roles to better understand the behavior of elements, here are the links to each of those
discussions: Color --Value -- Shape -- Texture -- Size -- Line and Direction
You can access the archive of all my newsletters (as well as the Quick Tips and other stuff) at any time by going HERE.
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