Composition - examples of note

[Jeanine Jackson]

Pass the tissues, Mike! Wow!

Coming back to the original composition subject, could it be said that within a single-subject painting, we find primary compositonal elements that can and should be counted?
In the exquisite Burne-Jones drawing you so kindly posted for me, I saw the whole, and following the initial "Ahhhh" response, I saw a composition of two eyes and a muzzle (mouth and base of nose as one element) forming a gorgeous triangle.

Ant:
We are in the midst of a post-Ernesto power outtage in CT. It is a clear reminder of how dependent we have become on tech. I'm going to log off, conserve batteries and go paint!

[Mike McCarty]

Jeanine,

Thanks for taking the hurricane heat off us Floridians.

could it be said that within a single-subject painting, we find primary compositional elements that can and should be counted?

As I continue here, practicing without a license - I'm not sure that "counting" is the necessary exercise. In the E B-J pencil drawing, his

[Michele Rushworth]

[quote]mechanisms to focus the viewer

[Allan Rahbek]

Originally Posted by Michele Rushworth

Can anyone think of others?

Point where lines are crossed or getting close, triangles pointing and anything happening in the middle part of the composition, as opposed to the outer parts along the frame.

Ps. Thoughts about the "Golden Section".
If the compositional center of interest is placed in the center of the picture it tends to lock the focus to that point because there is no natural direction to go. The eyes have found the "true" center of interest and no need to go anywhere else!
The Golden Section is an unbalanced division that encourage the eyes to search around and in that way incorporate the whole painting in the center of interest.
The golden section is a center that is closer to the middle than to the frame.

[Mike McCarty]

Finally, the bus!

I dodged a couple of beer bottles, and took a peach right to the kisser, but all is well again in mudville tonight.


From The Sporting News of January 20, 1906

Casey at the Bat
by ERNEST LAWRENCE THAYER

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day;
The score stood four to two with but one inning more to play.
And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,
A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game.
A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest
Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
They thought if only Casey could but get a whack at that --
We'd put up even money now with Casey at the bat.

But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake.
And the former was a lulu and the latter was a cake;
So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat.
For there seemed but little chance of Casey's getting to the bat.
But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all,
And Blake, the much despised, tore the cover off the ball;
And when the dust had lifted, and the men saw what had occurred,
There was Johnnie safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third.

Then from 5,000 throats and more there rose a lusty yell;
It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
It knocked upon the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,
For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.

There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place,
There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile on Casey's face.
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,
No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat.

Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt;
Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt.
Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,
Defiance gleamed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip.

And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
And Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped --
"That ain't my style," said Casey. "Strike one," the umpire said.

From the benches, bleak with people, there went up a muffled roar,
Like the beating of the storm waves on a worn and distant shore.
"Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted someone in the stands,
And it's likely they'd have killed him had not Casey raised his hand.

With a smile of Christian charity great Casey's visage shone;
He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
He signaled to the pitcher and once more the spheroid flew;
But Casey still ignored it and the umpire said, "Strike two."

"Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands, and the echo answered fraud;
But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed.

They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again.

The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clinched in hate;
He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate.
And now the pitcher holds the ball and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.

Oh! somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville -- mighty Casey has struck out.

[SB Wang]

How do you describe or distinguish the style of Rembrandt,Vermeer, Sargent and Bouguereau?

[Allan Rahbek]

Originally Posted by SB Wang

How do you describe or distinguish the style of Rembrandt,Vermeer, Sargent and Bouguereau?

I don't, I can look at those masters paintings forever and never finish experiencing new quality's.
It is not possible for me to frame them and say; that's how they are.
Of cause, if I had taken lectures I would have had some phrases to nail them to the art history, but I don't think that's good enough.

My point is that; if one really understand a thing one will be able to do it, and I don't paint like Rembrandt or Sargent