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Balance

In composition as in life balance is the key.

At times I enjoy working with informal balance and push the composition to the edge of chaos. I would be hard pressed to explain how these compositions work. Suffice it to say, I rely on the elements and principles of design to keep me out of trouble.

In most of my work I prefer to use formal balance, using symmetry and classical proportions. However I am always careful to tweak the composition a bit to avoid it becoming too balanced.. to find the subtleties of balance is a challenging process, but very satisfying.

I feel drawn again lately to the calm and security of formal balance. Here is the grisaille under painting for Sub Rosa. The two coyote skulls are balanced, but I do not want them to be identical, so one has open jaw, the other is closed. It is amazing how this subtle difference in the forms throws the composition off balance, I plan to use the weight of the shadows and reflections to tip the scale back into balance.