I hadn’t meant to stop when I checked a link on JigZone. Something caught my eye and I clicked on it.  I am not sure who create this jigsaw.  Please let me know this image is yours and I will credit!

I was attracted to this image called Kayaks on the Beach because it was so well composed. To understand what I mean view this video.

The Golden Mean is a mathematical formulae artists (and many others) use to divide up a canvas so that the composition is appealing.

I have divided the scene into the proportions for you to the right so that you can see that the artist has

• created a main focal point of interest
• seemed to divide the painting into 2 equal halves of contrasting colour (sand and blue)
• augmented this division with a strip of dark green mountain that divides the canvas working the colour composition into an analogous trilogy
• has disturbed the simplicity of the tranquil scene by arranging a analogous triangle superimposed (literally) on to te serene and still scene
• the triangle seems to have been deliberately laid out to lead the eye toward the peak of the triangle

The formality of the composition enticed me to think this was a painting and not a photograph.

Critique Question:

• Can we paint with a camera?

Blogging Exercise:

1. Go out into nature and take a photo that you can work with.
2. Try your best to compose it according to the Golden Mean in the camera viewer.
3. Take it back to you studio and further work on the composition in Photoshop or another editor.
4. When you are very happy with the composition draw it onto a canvas and paint the painting.

Resources:  

• Jennifer Kyrnin, About.com Guide.  Using the Golden Mean.
• Kayaks on the Beach  Jigzone.com  (Please claim credit if this photo is yours)
• JigZone.  Registration.   HowTo.
• Hilbig,C (2013) Yes You Too Can Learn to Draw. (Please comment)
• Global Citizens Creative Arts Text. Insights and Activities.
• Teachers Pay Teachers. Open Market Place for Educators
• How to Make Online Jigsaws   Printable Worksheet  PDF
• Video on the Golden Mean.  Uploaded to Youtube by Angie Greek (2007)