Engaging in the process of making representational art requires unlearning and relearning how to see. Known objects, places, and people are deconstructed down to a series of basic formal arrangements of shape and color. The mind is removed from the process of observation; the eye is connected straight to the hand, and by extension the pencil or brush. Form is returned to its pure, unbiased, abstract state. For these reasons, it is a foundational skillset to have in the creative process.
When subject matter is distilled and recognizable features are lost, the work becomes about composition. Composition is proportion, scale, and movement conveyed through the juxtaposition of positive and negative space. It is with the careful employment of these variables that representational art looks real, and abstract art looks evocative. Further, it is essential to a captivating photograph; it is the basis of compelling graphic design; and it is a defining quality of great architecture.
Architect, Artist, Writer
Architect, Artist, Writer