Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Formulas


Notes From my Tree Journal

One of the problems with rules is that conditions can change very quickly. Nothing is set in stone when it comes to nature. The minute you have a painting formula or rule set in your mind, it is instantly broken.  When I first started to study the Notan concept in design, all of my paintings looked obvious and formulaic. I was trying so hard to study the rules that my paintings became predictable. It wasn't until about a year later that I actually began to use Notan as part of my tool box successfully, in a more natural way. I hear and read all kinds of rules for painting from others, like never using black, etc. but I usually ignore these. I've never been a rule follower. Part of observing nature has taught me that nothing you think is set in stone will ever stay that way.

2 comments:

  1. One thing everyone can be assured of, Linda: your painted trees rest on lots of observation!You are an "eye", are you not?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks so much Marie. Yes, I have spent about 25 years painting on location and about 50 years observing nature.
    Love,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.