More Insight into our Visual Language
Most often, gradation is taught as a way of using value to create roundness in images, but many artists use gradation as a method for guiding the eye into the painting. So,
gradation can also be used as a visual path in our compositions.
Gradation is a gradual change from one characteristic into another. In a smooth gradation, there is no place along the gradation where we can see that change taking place. In an
incremental gradation, though, intervals of change are visible.
Any kind of visual movement creates a visual path. The movement that gradation produces is gradual and can be made by any one or a combination of our visual elements--shape, hue, value,
intensity, size, texture, direction, and line.
Camille Corot uses gradation of hue to bring us into this piece.
Edgar Degas employs gradation of size in this The Ballet Class.
And N.C. Wyeth guides us into The Scythers with gradation of texture, size, hue, and value in the field, and he uses size and value in the
people.
One of the beautiful things about our composing principles is that none of them work in isolation. Rather, just like a section of instruments in an orchestra, they work in
concert with one another, giving each other support at times, and taking the lead at other times.
Visual paths are, in a way, the conductor of the orchestra. We can find their potential wherever we look, then strengthen the richness of our paintings by using them to
guide how we arrange our composing.
Pay a visit to Scott Christensen's website. Carefully examine his paintings. Look for where he uses gradation in one form or another to pull your eye into the piece.
During my Language of Painting series, I explained the role of our visual elements. If you'd like to review those roles to better understand the behavior of elements, here are the links to each of those
discussions: Color --Value -- Shape -- Texture -- Size -- Line and Direction
Enjoy a weekend of discovering paths!
You can access the archive of all my newsletters at any time by going HERE.
|
