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It’s all in how you arrange the thing… the careful balance of the design is the motion.
-Andrew Wyeth
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I read this quote from the late Andrew Wyeth then looked over a large group of his work, examining each piece with these words in mind. I could really see the importance of the placement of the elements in his work, how it was the characteristic that truly defined his work. It was this that gave his work a poetic feel.
His use of negative space is masterful, the empty areas taking on an important role in the overall feel of the work. Placing the central character, the focal point of the picture, in any in any other spot would change the whole piece, would make it feel less.
It would feel off balance, at least in the form that Wyeth defined it. That balance is his signature.
And I think that is true for many artists. This idea of balance and motion makes up the artist’s eye. Every artist has a slightly different way of seeing things which creates their own unique visual voice.
Myself, when I feel stuck or blocked or feel that I have painted myself into a creative dead end, I look back at older work. It is often the balance and motion with the composition that affect me the most. It serves as a reminder to not lose sight of this idea of balance, to not focus too much on other parts of the painting that, while important, may not have as much effect on the overall impact of the piece.
Balance in the design creates motion. Good advice from Mr. Wyeth.
Redtree Times 