Algrave Star Trails
One of the most amazing things to photograph is Star Trails. In essence, it is a photograph of the Earth's spin on its axis - as shown to us by…
The Biophilia Effect
The Hypothesis called Biophilia Effect is summarised in 'The Universal Principals of Design' as, "Environments rich in nature views and imagery reduce stress and enhance focus and concentration." Edward Osborne…
Op Art
Op Art is short for Optical Art. It refers to art that creates a perceptual illusion in the frame. This is usually achieved by the calculated placement of a repeated…
Flow
Flow is something I think about a lot. Am I in it? How do I get into it? Am I going with it? Am I resisting it? When I think…
Editing, Judgement, and Discernment
Have you ever heard the expression, There are no bad ideas in brainstorming? I think of stream of consciousness writing as a form of brainstorming. It's not to say there…
Art and the Gender Gap
Is there a difference between men and women when it comes to art? Well, yes. Historically artists who have made the most significant impact on the world have been male.…
Pleasing Planar Symmetry
As a photographer, we learn right away that repeating patterns make for interesting images. Every workshop has you looking for and making photos where the pattern repeats. We love seeing…
Ambiguously Intriguing
An artist is always wondering how to push the envelope and create something that engages the audience. While there are many ways of making captivating images, there is one in…
The Radical Abstractionists
Abstract Painters and paintings are among the many topics that have captured my interests lately. Abstractionists were part of a movement that gave the middle finger to the established way…
mandala
Rotation Symmetry
I had a silly thought that symmetry was simple. After all, the basic element is a simple shape, so it should stand to reason that a symmetry operation would be…
The Building Blocks of Repeated Patterns
In 2014, Richard and I visited the palace of Alhambra in Granada, Spain. There, I was captivated by the intricate geometric designs and symmetrical patterns created by the Moors. Some…
Sizing Up The Triangle
I am thinking again about the Triangle. Along with the Circle and the Square, the Triangle is one of the basic shapes which are the building blocks of our known…
Layering For Depth
Digital artists heavily use image layering to build a finished work. It is a natural way of bringing ideas together and presenting them with poetic intentions. I've approached this subject…
Abstract Expressionism and Photography
In the 1950s a movement called Abstract Expressionism gained ground in the world of art. Painters like Willem De Kooning, Jackson Pollock, and Robert Motherwell were at the head of…
Circling The Circle
You already know what a circle is, and you have been drawing it since you learned how to hold a crayon. The Circle is one of the foundational designs from which…
Capturing Motion in Stillness
We are aware of how our bodies move and are used to people and things moving around us all the time. This means that we have an idea of movement.…
The First Rule of Art
The first rule of art is to have fun. Understanding composition, design, harmony, perspective is important.Also, you need to learn the rules to break them. That is true. But if…
Horror Vacui
In visual art, 'Horror Vacui' refers to filling an entire space with detail. It also means 'fear of empty space'.The Italian critic Mario Praz used this term to describe the…
Distribution in Composition
Here is a tool to make your abstracts more meaningful.Particularly in abstracts, the distribution of elements in the frame facilitates the viewer’s eye across the image. The eye is drawn…
Sizing Up the Picture
We associate shapes, colors, sizes, placement of objects in images with our life experiences. Red is associated with blood and fire. Sharp edges are seen as threatening, like the edge…
The Golden Ratio
The Golden Ratio is a design ratio that structures the nature of form. It is a mathematical sequence that frequently appears in nature and is found in art and design.…
Symbolize This
I am fond of using symbols in my art. I’ve use birds a lot. In fact, people who know my work assume the birds they see in my photographs are…
The Appropriateness of Appropriation!
Hold on to your hats! I am about to make a case for stealing. There is actually an art term for it. It is appropriately called - Appropriation. In fact,…
The Juxtaposition of This and That
Juxtaposition is when one element is placed next to another in such a way that a new relationship is created. In visual art, Juxtaposition can be used to express philosophical,…