Precision: Step 5
Now that I’ve got one quadrant of the picture to basic completion, I thought I’d include a visual breakdown of my overall composition.
Attached is an image that illustrates the composition I’m working with, in abstract form. As I finish more of the painting, you should be able to see it fit in generally with this abstract design. If I were an abstract painter, my painting wouldn’t need to go any further than this simple design, and the composition would be essentially the same as my finished realistic one. Of course, the content and theme would then be lost, and my friend, Josh Petty, would probably be a lot less happy with the results of his modeling for me.
Notice that the composition is, for the most part, divided into quadrants. Notice also that visual flow is going to be provided by different devices: color, similarity of form, and the diagonal cross cutting of an actual object within the painting (the guitar neck).
The upper left quadrant (the buildings) and the lower right quadrant (the wine bottle and glass) are connected visually by sharing elements of color, complexity (you’ll have to wait to see the lower quadrant), and a strong vertical use of line and form. Flow between these areas is going to be created by use of the color blue, which will join them together. The other two quadrants provide balance to the first two by being simple (no complex details), and by lacking any blue color.
These areas–the upper right and lower left–are in balance with each other not by being similar in value, but in being opposite; dark versus light. The dark bottom area helps to anchor the composition and create more visual balance, but will hopefully not be too heavy in contrast to the very light quadrant opposite it. Flow between these two quadrants will be created by the neck of the guitar, which will traverse the distance between them.
I’ve also included a second image, which shows the upper right quadrant, which is an Italianate sort of textured, stucco wall. This will fall into place when I get the decorative tiles on the wall’s base done, as well as the reddish Spanish tiles on the floor. That, combined with the wine and glass, are meant to go hand in had with the sort of modern version of an Italian Renaissance visual theme, which is again reiterated by the guitar and, as you will see, the rolling locks of the somewhat cherub-like figure. All these things, including the forthcoming splash of bright blue shirt, are meant to drive home a subtle “Renaissance” feeling in the picture. For me, the skyscrapers in the background are a great addition to that visual theme.
