Apr 13 2009
Museums and Artists.
Many times while visiting museums throughout the country and in Europe, I would see artists set up with easel, paints and brushes, copying works. They did this tirelessly throughout many years, and yet it was not to copy, but to practice and get an understanding of how the great masters solved the design problems as they sought to transform everything they saw into forms and lines. It is no surprise that these masters thought like designers: most of them were such people; engineers, doctors, architects, builders. In order to have a story, there must be dominance; for without dominance of something, then everything is commonplace and boring. Hence, when we look at figures, we look for a dominant character of the pose: strength, empathy, sadness, kindness, and brutality - whatever. Then we use color combinations which are often associated with those characteristics and perhaps some which are not.
Look at a painting as a visual journey; one that the artist tries to keep you on for as long as possible. The designer first seeks out a focal point, then a way to “connect the dots” to lead you to that point; and then something to keep you there. Along the journey should be resting points to allow the viewer a chance for a breather; and then a continued path; and hopefully, a path for you to continue around the painting again – enjoying a second, or even a third view. With each additional view, the artist should show you something that you missed on the first or second trip.
