THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF DUMB DESIGN IDEASONE FOR EACH EYE
Here is another of our Dutch tyros efforts. As additional biographical information becomes available on this artist I am sure we shall learn that every aspect of his life was as misguided and poorly conceived as his art. And Oh! the poor helpmate who must have contended with his foolishness and pretended to have pride in an artist of so limited ability. How vexed she must have been when other artist's wives rode in elegant carriages and wore their truncated shifts of padded organza! The illusion of love must have been hard to maintain, but it is the ability of caring women to bear the burden of a useless man with only continual complaint as a rod for his correction.
Like every one of his works, this one contains a dreadful error. Mistakes in painting preexist their commission. They are out there just waiting to be made. Their legions are so great that I can only catalogue them in wonderment.
We have only to look at this picture to recognize its chief error, the painting has two trees each being of equal importance in the tableau. Such a fault destroys our viewers attention as his eye travels betwixt the two, confounded, unable to light upon one and know it for the subject. A painting having but a single tree of great import, and with its brothers subordinated to it, would be a finer thing than this mistaken daub.
Again, a greater effect made be had by the inclusion of but a single subject. Better then, to forswear a second tree and include but the one, for it is impossible to command all of nature on a single canvas, better to choose but a single prize from her unfettered bodice. Nor can I think other than that:
A PAINTING MUST HAVE BUT A SINGLE SUBJECT, IT MAY CONTAIN OTHER ELEMENTS BUT THEY MUST BE SUBORDINATED TO THE SUBJECT AND SUPPORT ITS ROLL.
Like every one of his works, this one contains a dreadful error. Mistakes in painting preexist their commission. They are out there just waiting to be made. Their legions are so great that I can only catalogue them in wonderment.
We have only to look at this picture to recognize its chief error, the painting has two trees each being of equal importance in the tableau. Such a fault destroys our viewers attention as his eye travels betwixt the two, confounded, unable to light upon one and know it for the subject. A painting having but a single tree of great import, and with its brothers subordinated to it, would be a finer thing than this mistaken daub.
Again, a greater effect made be had by the inclusion of but a single subject. Better then, to forswear a second tree and include but the one, for it is impossible to command all of nature on a single canvas, better to choose but a single prize from her unfettered bodice. Nor can I think other than that:
A PAINTING MUST HAVE BUT A SINGLE SUBJECT, IT MAY CONTAIN OTHER ELEMENTS BUT THEY MUST BE SUBORDINATED TO THE SUBJECT AND SUPPORT ITS ROLL.
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12 comments:
Of all the useful things in the boundaries of your blog, I've been struck this last year by the realization that far above everything else in importance, is design. Design, design, design. It's also interesting that you are one of the few teacher/painters I've seen stress this particular fact over and over again from different, er, angles.....or maybe I've not been hanging out in the right places. Regardless, when I view paintings now, over and over, I see more than anything, or not, design. It's making all the difference in the world, more than I can write. Thank you, as always.
Oh how forlorn we might find ourselves, bereft of such beneficial instruction, as we are now engaged in reading! How many hours might we have squandered in such foolish choices, and having thus vainly spent our efforts, to toss the product aside as worthless!!
Better far to take heed, and having forethought as to what many pitfalls await the uninstructed, by such forethought avoid disaster.
Amen!
If ONLY you could have gone to Holland in a time machine to slap this guy silly in a workshop before it was too late.
Why are all these paintings done like under paintings? Could he have possibly been sketching examples of what NOT to do for a class and hid them away to trick us all? maybe not. But I did love your hilarious editorial and agree his Help Meet must have been very upset. Though certainly she saw a bad sketch or two BEFORE marrying him-you know-they say the signs are always there...
rules are made to be broken!
has this poor helpmate no other options but to stay in this "designless" marriage. i would think it would be better to be in a shelter alone than married to this man.
youve got us all involved in this drama stape!
The more I paint landscapes the more it becomes about design.
................Stape
Deb;
Nicely said.
.........Stape
Marian;
Thanks.
................Stape
My3Starz ;
They were married in a period of his life when he fancied himself a toper.
..............Stape
meera;
Break all you like.
..............Stape
Mike;
There is more to this drama I believe.
...............Stape
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