Series 11:  Visual Rhythms

S11 L4 Rhythm in Counterpoint – Download

[typography font=”Cantarell” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]In this lesson, S11L4 Rhythm in Counterpoint  of  VISUAL RHYTHMS,  Dianne uses as her subject a cluster of grapes to show how one direction of rhythm can be countered by another. In this case, the asterisk movement of the grapes is countered by the repetition of horizontal light on each grape. This strategy is reminiscent of counterpoint in music where two different tunes play simultaneously, each supporting the other. [/typography].

[typography font=”Cantarell” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]  Visual Rhythms are the most ignored yet inherently intriguing of all our composing generators.  Just as in music we have the waltz, tango, rhumba and many more rhythmic patterns, in painting we have flowing rhythms, staccato rhythms and even a “bassline”  Any painting becomes richer when the artist catches the rhythm of the subject and allows it to be central to the communication of the work..  [/typography]

[typography font=”Cantarell” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]Many of today’s  painters understand and use this principle adroitly.  Observe how artist Doug Braithwaite uses the vertical and horizontal counterpoint in his painting, Joy Walking and how Dianne uses it diagonal counterpoint in her painting, Once a King.[/typography]