Friday, January 28, 2011

"Dust and Thunder" Update: Maintaining a Focal Point

While recently developing a couple of preliminary layouts for future drawings, I've continued to work on Dust and Thunder.  Below is a photograph taken late this week, during one of its many (smile) "ugly phases".


During my recent research and readings about composition both online and in books, I am increasingly intrigued by the many ways in which an artist can create a dynamic composition by the handling of certain aspects of a drawing / painting -- color, contrast, edge control, and temperature, to name but a few.  More specifically as applied to this current drawing, I have been giving a great deal of consideration to how controlling contrast can help to define my focal point.  The focal point of a drawing / painting should have the strongest contrast of edges.  This can be achieved not only through the use of color and / or value, but also through edge control, with hard edges providing the greatest contrast.  Areas of high contrast other than the focal point, can actually pull the viewer's eye away from the focal point.  For this reason hard edges throughout an image (guilty!) can be problematic.

In Dust and Thunder my plan is for the area of the appaloosa (spotted) horse to be the focal point.  As I develop the background colors and foreground foliage, as well as continue to define some edges and soften others, it should become more clear as to how I am attempting to use the above information to do this.  I'm interested to see how the conscious application of the principles pertaining to contrast may effect my drawing, both on this piece and in the future.

Thanks for reading.
  

        

11 comments:

  1. This is such an amazing, unique piece, Lynda. When I first look at this piece, I tend to look at the dark horse to the left and the spotted horse to the right, and then all of the others. Well done.

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  2. Hey Pete, thanks.....and I am patiently awaiting that painting that I know is welling up in you! : )

    Thankyou Holly, and I probably am not giving the dark horse you referenced his 'due'. He is so dominant in my photo references, my plan has been to downplay him a bit as I develop the remainder of this piece -- but as you reminded me, he may continue to be the dominant player. It is always interesting to hear how a 'fresh eye' moves around the piece (I tend to lose all objectivity after staring at something so long), so I really appreciate hearing that from you. I'll be interested to know if that changes as the piece nears completion.

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  3. Beautiful, and I looke forward to seeing how you apply some of the design concepts you mentioned above to finish this piece. Good stuff!

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  4. Wonderful as always Lynda! Apaloosas were always my favorite horse growing up. I can't wait to see the next step, and as Cindy stated how you apply the concepts to your piece.

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  5. I am so enjoying watching this drawing develop!

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  6. Apaloosas were my favorite horse when I was growing up too! I like the dark silhouettes of the horses and beautiful backlighting. So dramatic!

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  7. Cindy and Dianna.....thanks gals, and that makes three of us! I'm very interested to see how this one settles out; if I'm able to capture the lighting and movement the way I envision it. Either way, it will be a tremendous education. : )

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  8. Debbi.....sometimes I am enjoying watching it develop, and sometimes.....NOT. hahahaha (just had to get my whine in!) Thanks.

    Thanks Kendra. While working thru this piece, I have developed quite an affinity for this appy. BTW, love the promo piece for the show you and Debbi are having: the two works chosen for it look wonderful together.

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  9. This is a very informative post Lynda. I sent a link of this one to some of my colored pencil students. Hope you don't mind!

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  10. Thanks, Barb; and I do not mind at all. I am learning so much through the process of this piece in conjunction with the research I am doing, and hope others can gain from my 'travels' also. In my next post my aim is to show more specifically how I am attempting to apply the principles I wrote of.

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