SHADES OF AUGUST
24" × 36" (61cm × 91cm), acrylic and textural mediums on canvas
AROUND TEN YEARS AGO, when I first started dabbling in art, I just plunged in headfirst with no regard to what was supposed to go where, how or when. It was a similar approach to the way a child takes to most things in life, with a natural curiosity unencumbered by authoritative rules. I feel like I still dive into my art with that same instinct and fearless approach, however, as I grow, I am starting to recognize what makes one painting of mine more successful than another. When I’m stuck and something is not working, I look to the elements of art and principles of design for guidance.
While we aren’t going to study what each of these sets of guideposts means in depth, I want to at least share a basic definition with you so that you can refer back to them when you are in need of direction. When looking up these fundamental elements and principles for the book, I noticed that depending on where you look, they vary. Many times elements and principles overlap with one another depending on which resource you consult.
“Uncertainty is a very good thing: it’s the beginning of an investigation, and the investigation should never end.”
— TIM CROUCH