Splatters of Clay

One of the most common uses of line is to define shape. We can draw circles, squares, triangles, etc. it gets really interesting when we begin drawing contour lines. I have always thought of contour lines as the outline of something. Out of curiosity I looked up the definition and found it interesting. One definition said, "a line connecting points of equal elevation." This is of course referring to contour lines on a map, but if we take the idea and apply it to drawing it makes one think. Contour lines when grouped together are meant to show elevation changes or depth, but a single contour line is actually flat. When we look at contour line in drawing as the outline of something, it is flat. It's a silhouette. There is no space, no depth. Despite this lack of depth, a well drawn contour line will still define the shape and communicate ideas, and even emotion. And of course you play with perception in fun ways. This optical illusion is a classic for teaching perspective

When I teach art I always want to start with line, but very quickly we can move into one of the other elements of art. It is always a challenge for me to decide what to teach second. It shows the immediate complexity of art and that the elements of art are not art. Rather they are a representation of what is going on when we create art work. We identify these elements of art so we can break it down and simplify it in order to explain and teach it. So today I will write about space. As an art element space is emptiness. It might be referred to as white space, distance, depth, negative space, etc. It is the part of the art work things are not. This may sound funny to some, but the artist is as conscious of space as they are of the places where things are. To save ourselves from falling too far down the rabbit hole, for now we will think of space as three dimensional or depth. In 2-D art this is largely an illusion, and it is super fun. Here is depth in three lines. Draw one l

Of the seven basic elements of art, line is perhaps the most fundamental. Even when line is intentionally avoided, such as in some of the works of Leonardo Di Vinci, line is still heralded by the sort of brutal and exuberance avoidance of it. Its importance is even acknowledge in common speak. If you encourage artistic effort in someone who does not see themselves with any art skill, they might say, “I can’t even draw a straight line.” I actually kind of laugh at that statement. Who cares about strait lines, the crooked squiggly ones are usually more interesting anyway. The point is that even a non-artistic person accepts the importance of line as a basic element of art. Last Friday, we went to the Portland Museum of Art. They have many really nice pieces of art. We did not even make it to their American art section before my kids pooped out. But we did walk through their current animal display. I made my kids look at The Bull by Pablo Picasso. Eleven lines! What was even bett

When I started this blog, I really wanted it to be mostly about art. Obviously I have deviated from this intent talking of such things as religion, politics, nature, and family. But all these things relate to art if in an indirect way. Art is expression. It is expression of life and humanity, of dreams and thoughts and emotion. These are the subjects of art. However I do want to address some of the technical aspects of art. So we start with the basics. All art uses at least one of seven basic elements: Line Shape Value Color Texture Space Form It does not really matter whether the art is 2D or 3D it will still employ one or more of these elements, though admittedly some of them may be more prone to certain media. For example, color might be difficult to portray if one is only using charcoal or graphite. In subsequent blogs, I will talk in greater detail about each of these elements and some of the techniques for using them.

In 2 Nephi 26:33 it says, "... and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile." In the 2017 October General Conference of the LDS Church Elder Quinton L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, " Anyone who claims superiority under the Father’s plan because of characteristics like race, sex, nationality, language, or economic circumstances is morally wrong and does not understand the Lord’s true purpose for all of our Father’s children." I contrast this with recent statements regarding Haiti from that boss baby who so recently purchased the US presidency. Oh where is our captain? Where is the leader who gives confidence and faith? Where is a one worthy to be called a man, worthy to guide our nation? I see him not. We are left in the hands of another. A child, an ignorant one who joys in hate, revels in destruction, who seeks to tear

In their song, Dangling Conversations, Simon and Garfunkel have this line: And you read your Emily Dickinson And I my Robert Frost And we note our place with book markers That measure what we've lost There is value in the unread book. There is inherent hope in what might be discovered or learned. While not yet read a book still holds the possibility of being great, of changing you for the better, of lifting your imagination to new heights. The moment you crack the cover and begin to read, that hope starts to diminish. Each turned paged marks a small loss. More often than not, the book will not be great, maybe good or entertaining, or a complete disappointment, but not great. And the hope dies or goes to sleep. Even if the book is great and feels like the discovery of a treasure, once read it becomes a known thing and hope disappears. With every book read something is lost. Should we just give up on reading then? Avoiding the continued bashing and splatter of hope? No. We