Series 33: STEELYARD BALANCE
Emphasis on the Axis – S33L1 Download
This lesson is S33L1, Emphasis on the Axis of the STEELYARD BALANCE Series. Using as her subject an old tree on a lawn next to a forest, Dianne explores how we can add emphasis to a vertical axis while finding simple ways to give weight to areas near it then balance those with lighter weights further away from it.
Balance is about visual stability, a necessity to prevent our paintings from feeling topsy-turvy. The steelyard balance, invented by the Romans centuries ago, moves the vertical axis from the center to one side, providing the ability to balance heavy weights near the axis with lighter weights located further away from the axis.
The four lessons in this series explore how steelyard balance works and how using it creatively can enrich to our paintings.
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Rather than becoming refined paintings, all these lessons are studies, each showing a different approach for using a composing principle. Dianne’s approach to teaching is to show you ways to think about making choices and decisions so that you can work these into your own unique approach to painting.
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