Panda, Artist Robert Bateman

Panda, Artist Robert Bateman

Beautiful wildlife picture of a giant panda. The composition combined all of Gestalt principles to create unity. The grouping of objects, the repeated bamboo leaves, the proximity between the panda and other visual elements, the implied movement of the water (continuity and closure) and the physical outer edge of the composition (containment) creates this wonderful, playful and restful image of panda in its own element, HAPPY.

Closure

Closure

Closure - it is the mind's inclination to connect fragmentary information to produce a complete form.

While the artist used simple and crude shapes, the viewer's  mind automatically connects the fragmentary information creating a complete picture to know that it is a panda holding a bamboo shoots. 

Continuity

Continuity

Continuity - a fluid connection among compositional parts which can be actual or implied.

In this abstract painting, each shape touches an adjoining shape which creates actual continuity. Color distribution further emphasize implied continuity by echoing the orange color from the left-hand lower corner upward towards right. This visual pathway creates a feeling a movement.

Gestalt Study Repetition, Artist Andy Warhol

 Gestalt Study Repetition, Artist Andy Warhol

Repetition occurs when we use the same visual element or effect over and over. Here the visual images of shoes are repeated over and over. The repeated images created a cohesive design despite differences in color, size and shape.

Gestalt Study Containment, Artist Andy Warhol

Gestalt Study Containment, Artist Andy Warhol

The outer edge of the painting creates the first containment. The edge of the can creates the second 

containment.  The resulting unity from the containments  clearly sends a strong message to the viewers of the artist's message.

Line and Shape Abstraction

Line and Shape Abstraction 

The circles are repeated in varying sizes, created depth for the viewer. The radiating lines from the center of the circles further creates outward movement. The blue value in scale combined with white created a feeling of calm and dreamy state. 

Abstraction Study, Artist Wassily Kandinsky

Abstraction Study, Artist Wassily Kandinsky

With simple geometric forms (circle within square) in repeated pattern, combined with bold and contrasting color, this piece calls out fun and happy feeling. 

Abstraction Study Artist Henri Matisse "Goldfish and Palette"

Abstraction Study Artist Henri Matisse  "Goldfish and Palette"


This picture uses simple lines and contrasting colors to tell a simple subject. The clean lines formed flattened shapes with distorted columns. The objects are abstract and symbolic. 

Abstraction Study, Artist Liu Cunhui

Abstraction Study, Artist Liu Cunhui

The diagonal brush lines and strokes created energy and flow in this painting. The fuzzed edges still enabled the viewers to see outlines of flowers, leaves and branches. The single red patch on the upper left-hand corner created a focal point, further balanced by two small red seals bearing the artist name. While the plant is growing down ward towards the lower left-hand corner, the viewers can feel the drastic movement of the objects in the picture.

 

Abstraction study Artist Picasso, Pablo "Skull and Pitcher"

Abstraction study Artist Picasso, Pablo "Skull and Pitcher"

With crisp lines forming geometric shapes and bold color, the skull and pitcher stands on a table balancing each other. Except the table, everything seem to be on a flat surface, yet the darker background makes both the skull and pitcher standout in the foreground.

Abstraction Study Artist Henri Matisse "The Plum Blossoms"

Abstraction Study Artist Henri Matisse "The Plum Blossoms"

The artist use of strong and bold colors draws viewers attention into the canvas. The lady's face is blanked out and the line of the table all indicate abstraction. You can tell with the general forms of objects but non are representational. The ocher color as the dark background and tall height and relative large area of the plum blossoms made it the focal point of the painting.

Line, shape and space

With few simple stroke and varying length, width and value variation, an organic painting has come to life. The leaves are darker in the front and then diluted to a light gray color to create depth. The value distribution also helps to make the bamboos appear 3-dimensional. The brush strokes further created texture on the surfaces of the bamboo sticks to create the illusion of light coming from the upper right hand corner. 

Value and Volume artist Istvan Orosz

The artist skillfully utilized line,shading, hatching, contour, value and contrast to create this mysterious island. The light contrast  with darker value made the moon stood out and becomes the focal point, while value created illusory of volume of the mountains on both sides.

Shape and light artist Johannes Vermeer

The artist used black background and light to create contrast and illusion of shape and space. The sharp and crisp contrast lines brings the girl to the foreground. The pearl ear ring became the focal point in the whole picture.

Pen and Ink organic shape

Organic spots in different sizes and clustered tiny dots are used to create this growling jaguar with a stern stare. There are areas such as the ears and neck where hatching creates dimension. Both gradation and contrast helps with illusionary space and perception.  Bigger spots on the Jaw and smaller spots on the head also helps with creation of space. 

geometric shape study artist Nacho Gil

1. Using repetitive triangle shapes in varying sizes, the artist created an organic form - a zebra. The strong contrast between black and white further emphasizes illusionary space, dimension and content meaning.

Line Study artist Escher

This picture combines line, contour, value, contrast to create a 3D world  in a 2D design. The contrast between the hand and the globe, the gradation all help create illusionary space.

Line Study artist Heidi Vaught

By creating closed space with lines, we are able to see depth, shape and dimension. With close distance between lines on the lower right-hand corner and increasing in length towards the upper left-hand corned, it gives a impression of energy, upward flow and movement.

Line study artist Mary Jo Maraldo

DREAM - this Chinese calligraphy uses of negative and positive value of continuous curved and overlapping lines generate contrast, energy and flow.  It draws the viewer to this dramatic abstract character to see its meaning - dream.

Line study artist Irina Grabarnik

The simple black continues curvy line establishes shape, flow, contrast and clear topic for the subject. The variation on the thickness of the line helps in creating dimension of the human figure.

Line study

This reminds me of Escher's drawing, with a combination of straight and curve lines, the artist is able to create space,energy and movement. The use of single color on a white background creates focus, continuity and contrast. The length of lines starts with shorter length and increases towards the lower right-hand corner also helps with space and perspective illusion.