Notice that the red shape is "ONE FLOWER WITH SEVERAL CENTERS." If you have a few large forms underlying your composition you will be able to elaborate with any amount of detail without destroying your original simple, strong design. Ed Whitney said, "Decide the essence of a thing - then explain it with the fewest possible strokes." Ernest Hemingway said, "You can leave out what you know, but you can't leave out what you don't know." [Many instructors say, "Simplify, simplify!" -which is good advice, but my experience has been that, starting out, at least, I had to put EVERYTHING in including the KITCHEN SINK to learn, only gradually, WHAT could be left out. The KITCHEN SINK might, of course, turn out to be the best thing in the composition.] This idea, seen from another angle, was told to me by a friend who used to laugh himself silly telling me, "An old lady, when asked what she meant, said: 'How do I know what I MEAN until I've SAID it?'" Student Works |
Percy PhilosophyThis is the page where I plan to share my insights and experiences with creativity Archives
November 2014
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