Series 14: Orchestrating Visual Paths
S14 L4 Guide with Gradation – Download
Gradation is a subtle, gentle way to guide the eye.
[typography font=”Cantarell” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]In this lesson, S14L4 Guide with Gradation of the ORCHESTRATING VISUAL PATHS series, using as her subject a open space with sky and earth, Dianne demonstrates how we can use gradation to create a visual path where no obvious path exists.
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[typography font=”Cantarell” size=”24″ size_format=”px”] A visual path is a tool for leading the way through a composition, keeping the attention within the work. Among ways we create these paths are placement or repetition of images, the colors we select, and with value contrasts or the direction of strong linear elements. Often these paths are found in the subject matter, ready for us to use or even exploit–and if not, we create them.
Among Dianne’s passions about painting and teaching painting is how composing principles can expand creative freedom if the artist transcends the “rule” idea and instead, transforms the principle into a tool that opens creative doors. Exploring creative ways to use visual paths is one portal for doing just that.
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[typography font=”Cantarell” size=”24″ size_format=”px”] A delightful example of how Richard Schmid uses gradation to create a visual path is found in his painting, Zorro. Also, take a look at how Qiang Huang uses the principle in his still life located on the top left of his still life page.. Also see how Dianne uses blue as a circular path in her painting, Downtown Tate City.[/typography]
