You may recall that I am currently taking an online course on composition. This is week 4 and I am beginning to remember why I don’t like taking courses! People who know me would certainly agree that I am strong willed. People who know me well would even say I am pig-headed. I include myself in those. I do not like to be told what to do, unless I am also told the reason why. And even then, I resist. In this case, we have been taught to represent things in an image as "masses" rather than individual items. The idea is that most images, especially landscapes, contain way too much information to make an interesting painting, and learning to see masses is a way to simplify an image to build a better painting. So far, so good. But this week we are learning how to guide the viewer’s eye where we want it to go, by changing some of the lightness or darkness of some of the items in the image to create a center of interest. Again, good, makes sense. Where I start to resist is that I don’t agree with what the teacher is saying about how what he has done in his example guides the eye. I literally don’t see it. I don’t seem to be the only one resisting because I have seen some comments to that effect from other participants. That is comforting to a certain extent. Another thing that is adding to my resistance is that I really don’t like the images that we are asked to work with. I don't generally paint landscapes unless there is something very inspiring about them. And these don’t inspire me one bit! They are photos that were taken by the teacher on a trip, and he knows that the road bends behind those bushes because he has been there. But I wasn’t, and I have no attachment to this image. This is actually a good thing when I think of it, because it alerts me as to how viewers of my paintings could react, or not react, when they have no emotional attachment to the image itself. I must remember this for future paintings! I am not a quitter, but right now I am not enjoying the course at all, and I did consider stopping the course now, and simply take away what I have learned so far. I would like to start some paintings, but this course is taking up too much of my time for that right now and stressing me out. But then I remembered I read or saw somewhere that when you are feeling uncomfortable with new things, that could be a sign that a breakthrough is near. So I plod on! Next week I believe we will be using our own images, so maybe that will help. Wish me luck! P.S. Here is an article on learning and discomfort: https://www.fastcompany.com/40560075/no-pain-no-brain-gain-why-learning-demands-a-little-discomfort
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AuthorMy name is Claire Bureau. Archives
March 2023
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