A New Quote

"A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light."

How do you interpret this quote? To me, in the technical sense, it says that one of the most important elements to art is light. If you think about it, the way that light hits a subject will greatly affect the way that you perceive it. A skilled painter will paint a picture with a consistent light source. Showing features such as reflections, depth and color variations all based on that light source. In photography,  we know that lighting plays a major role in a photograph. It not only affects the quality but it can also change your perception and how it makes you feel.

Visual arts are highly dependent on lighting and of course with no light we would never see them but could this concept also apply to other types of art such as writing or performing. In another sense, maybe it does. Writing, poetry, novels, film, music, theater and many other arts often feature subjects that were in the shadows and we want to shed light on them to draw attention to them for bad or good. It may be to solve a problem or to start an uproar. In either case bringing light to most any subject can create thoughtful analysis and possible change. Is this part of what art is about?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Art of Australia : Introduction

First Visit: Clyfford Still Museum

The Art of Transportation