Embroidered Collage

I enjoy reading design and composition books.  It makes art feel a bit like building with legos.  I imagine that many people wouldn't enjoy the comparison, but I loved my construction toys as a child and I did go into engineering for a reason, after all.

There wasn't much for me in this chapter because I'd already thought about most of it, such as the shapes of squares and rectangles and the use of organizing principles such as rhythm, visual balance, and unity versus variety.  But there was one key point that I found extremely helpful.

After Mitchell's explanation, examples, and questions I understood the concept of an all-over composition much better, which allowed me to feel more justified in the way my compositions turn out.  I keep trying to think about clear focal points and paths that lead the eye.  But there doesn't have to be a clear focal point as long as the eye movement stays within the picture frame.  I had read something of the sort before, but this time it clicked.  Maybe now instead of fighting against this tendency I can really work into it.  It meshes well with the pattern and texture concept too.

Previously I blogged about other parts of Finding Your Visual Voice, beginning with an overall book review and followed by chapters on Inspiration and Subject Matter and Art Elements.