Art / Composition

The first and last rule of art is
 "Never give up"

Keith  O'Connor  My  Writings on Art
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last update

feb  19  2000
 

 
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This is the second in a series of four sections that I am developing in unison. Even though they are at the  work in progress stage I have been asked by fellow artists to present them as is. Every few days I work on one or more of them I will often edit what I have previously written.

I have defined art as the creation or invention of linked and sequential pattern which extends over all aspects of the composed field. This definition builds a strong link between the concepts of art and composition.
 

This is a very procedureal  sounding definition. Art is performed by humans and as such much reflect the complexity of our  human interaction with living.. We humans exist as conscious entities switching between  the binary states of mortality (limited possibilities) and immortality (unlimited possibilities). Art is a language and as such must be capable of reflecting  this human dialectic.

Many terms have been used to describe art, eg., representational; calssical;  neoclassical; expresionistic; impresionistic abstract etc., but there is only one high art and that art reflects the human dialectic. Decorative art is one side of limited possibilities.

****************Going to have to think this one through, I am equating high art with unlimited possibilities and decorative art with limited possibilities. Wall paper has limited possibilities. I must define possibilities in this context.************

______I will continue to develop this thumbnail________
 
 

There are two major types of composition. The Greek artists designed by area, an example of which is the golden section. The details of design by area will be discussed in due course. The Renaissance artists designed by inter related lines that spanned and swirled over the surface. The details of this design by line will be discussed in due course.

Two other aspects of design must be introduced before we begin to discuss the inter relatedness; they are called open form and closed form.

Another ideal to develop: consider this for opening: Composition is the field upon which the aesthetic ideas of shape, colour, form, and texture relationships are pitted against the scientific objectives of immitative representation. For example continuous space theory includes, (perspective, atmospherics, light etc) subordinate the expressive qualities of individual forms to a single theory, much like the one god theory. This is also reflects the conflict between painting as window (look out into the world), and painting as object .

consider the impact of "looking out into the world" vers "the world is looking back at you".



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