ART
The last Art & Soul Insider newsletter the Principle of Design, balance, was talked about. Remember that the Principles of Design are how we organize or use the parts, line, shape, colour, value, space, form and texture. This week we will look at Contrast. Contrasting lines are horizontal and vertical lines or straight, thin lines versus wavy, thick lines.
As for shapes, contrasting shapes are geometric and organic.
The highest contrast between colours is complimentary colours. The reason for this is because they are directly across the colour wheel from each other. While for values it would be between black and white.
The greatest contrast for space would between a void (a lot of open space) and an object.
The contrast of form can be seen as a contrast in texture as well. Below the two forms are different from each other, due to the textures each form has. One is rough, while another part is smooth or soft.
So the question arises, why is contrast important in art? Contrast allows us to see the differences between objects that we have created/painted. Contrast allows us to see the objects. If everything was too similar (in line, shape, colour, space, texture etc.), the piece of artwork would be visually boring to the eye. This is why contrast is important.
Next month, we’ll look at unity!
SOUL
October was the month of Thankfulness. I say this because we have the Canadian Thanksgiving. And yet this time of thankfulness started many, many moons ago, with the pagan and the farmers bringing in the harvest and being thankful for the bounty being brought in. After months and months of hard work during the spring, summer and fall, they were finally able to rest when the harvest was in.
Over this past century, we have gotten away from the earth and its cycles, that we forget that this was a time of celebration and gratitude. I find that we can become so absorbed with our lives and our comings and goings that we forget to pause and to be thankful. In fact, it was common, in the past, for families to sit together and say Grace before they ate. This Grace was a prayer of thankfulness for the food. Present day meals are often said now without the words of thanks.
They say gratitude, and your act of gratitude, can bring a positive means in your life. Perhaps Grace is a small act to bring forward now. Maybe there are other ways to bring gratitude into our lives:
- Saying words of gratitude for the day, before you lay down for bed
- Have a gratitude journal, beside your bed, and write down three things you are grateful for the day that has transpired.
- Write a note/text/email/card to someone you are thankful for their presence in your life.
- Give something to someone to show your gratefulness.
- Look around you and give thanks to those things that are in your environment.
- Be an active listener. Show your gratitude by really listening to what they have to say.
- Give out compliments.
- Whenever you buy something, utter thanks under your breath.
- Be thoughtful towards others.
- Perform an act of kindness.
- Help others.
These are small ways that we can bring gratefulness back into our lives. But these small acts have a compound effect for the positive. May you consider adding them into your life.
Light & Love,
Barbara
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