Dan at the Village Frame Shoppe has offered me this space in his newsletter for sharing methods and techniques I've learned along the way. Ponder, test, use, or disregard anything here-stay with what "feels right" and augments your own work, but don't compromise. For this article, I'd like to briefly discuss composition. There are many good books on this subject and studying, along with practice, should be a part of every artist's routine. Here are two thoughts for your consideration: · A well-known artist once shared with me his definition of "composition" as "the orderly placement of things in a defined area." Think about that the next time you are laying out your work. Allow all those formulas for sky to land ratios, or diagonals, horizontals, verticals, and the golden mean, to fall into the background. Let those wonderful things support your "orderly placement of things in a defined area." · I was at a photographer's art show a while back. His subject matter was not out of the ordinary, but his pictures were very pleasing to look at because of his masterly use of composition. Later, we compared notes about composition; when I asked him his "secret," he said, "Cropping, Harald, cropping. When all else fails, crop it!" I know I've "cropped" a few of my watercolors, and the result has always improved the composition. Enjoy art! Next time, a few words about attitude, mindset, and how art is sometimes downright depressing.
Harald Aksdal
AksdalArt.com
Born in Haugesund, Norway and educated in the United States as an architect, Harald retired from architecture in 2005 to pursue a career as an artist. Harald's original paintings and prints can be found in galleries throughout Vermont.
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