Creating Art with Heart

Here's a recent article I wrote for my artist friend, Gretchen:

Hello, Gretchen. You asked if I would be willing to contribute to your blog at heartaday with an article. Initially, I wasn’t quite sure where your readers might take interest, so I thought this overview might prove insightful and strike some discussion. To begin, I want to congratulate you on choosing to express your art with the HeArt a Day Series.

Reflections. Back in art school, I recall seeing a book that was a series of photos from Europe that consisted of a series of shots of simply, doors. And on the surface it would seem boring and a waste of time viewing much less shooting, but what it revealed was surprising.

Results. The door book viewing provided a portal of reference to people across the diversity of cultures, life styles, values, and position. And while some doors were magnificent with carving and ornamentation - others were profound in their simplicity, color and utility.

Variation on a Theme is an expression that is found in many art forms including music. The masterful works of Johann Sebastian Bach and Beethoven were often expressed with compositions based on a fugue theme that is woven throughout a composition. Today repeating themes are evident in current rap and hip hop music with the use of pre-ecorded audio loops and tracks that overlay the lead vocals. Da Da Da Dum…

One graphic element that occurs in many of your HeArt works I have seen is the spiral element. In a series you may choose to keep some aspects of each work the same – such as size, substrate, media, and a signature element (like your spiral) and alter other criteria such as color, pattern, scale.

The Medium is the message. Or create a series within a series of one design rendered with charcoal, pastel, watercolor and acrylic on different surfaces which will illustrate the range of expression each media brings to the table (easel).

Tell a story. The reason behind your choice of a heart form may be the most significant to center your expression through it. What does it represent to you, your life & family. Is is always happy or sometimes melancholy? How would it be seen thru someone other than yourself? A child? A grandparent? Shakespeare said; How do I love thee? Let me count thy ways….

Best wishes on your journey, Kent

Kent Looft is an author, artist and marketing consultant at Designarts, Inc.
http://www.designartsaz.com/
www.artifactsgallery.blogspot.com/
kent@designartsaz.com

Creating Art with Heart