Creating Limits on Off the Wall Friday

Woman with Folded Arms, Picasso

 I wanted to say a big thank you for all the lovely comments last week.  I'm still working my way through the hop.  It's so fun to see what everyone is doing! Also, I'm still smarting about the fact that I didn't catch on to the theme "Get on Board with Sewing".  It really isn't a bad idea to set "limits" or
"rules" when you pick a project. I remember when Elizabeth Barton first brought up the idea to me of setting limits within a piece.  LIMITS?!?!  Why would you want to limit yourself when there are so many great choices.  She explained that not only does it narrow down the choices you need to make, but it inevitably would make the piece stronger.  With a little luck, you might even find that elusive voice that artists are always trying to nail down.

The Old Guitarist, Picasso

For proof of this, you just have to look at the work of great artists in history.  

Picasso's Blue Period (1901-1904) where he limited his work to blues, blue-greens, and small accents of warm colors.  The limited palette not only made for a strong series but also lent itself perfectly to the melancholy mood he intended.  

But you don't have to make your limits about color.  You can choose to make them about shape like Paul Klee.  

New Harmony, Klee

Flora On the Sand, Klee

City Night, Okeeffe

Of course, you can always limit your work by subject like Georgia O'Keeffe. (And no I'm not going for the obvious choice of her "not female genitalia" flowers but her cityscapes that I love as well)

Radiator Building, OKeeffe 

• So those are just a few quick examples that I thought of from the top of my head.  I highly suggest you play around with this idea yourself.  

• #1  Research an artist you love
• #2 Notice the Limits they chose in their work
• #3 Use those to guide you to your own rules
• #4 Design your piece
• #5 Do it again

It's been a while since blogger has given me so much trouble getting this post laid out - so I apologize about the mess...but you get the point.  Make up some rules .... stick to them....see what you get!

So What Have You Been Up to Creatively?

 

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