Isolating a Subject: Photography, Art and Writing

Details can often overwhelm the viewer- it is the creative's job to isolate and show only the necessary elements that speak to his/her intent.

Photography: From Grand to Mundane

There are two extremes I have experienced with photography: the overwhelming beauty of a grand landscape that has so many elements that are obvious and have been photographed from unlimited angles and perspectives. The expert to the novice can use a point and shoot and create various levels of a masterpiece: nature is an incredible artist in its own right.

The second extreme is the mundane. It is when everything is gray, nothing jumps out and inspires. A bright day at the time when the sun is at it's highest and the bare trees of winter have already removed all its autumn glory.

These are both challenging times for a photographer and when isolation is key to discovering things everyone sees but may not notice. The key to isolating a subject is color that jumps out of a bland background, a part of a landscape that others might see as the whole picture-angles and perspective can be dramatic points to tell a story.

Art: From Leading a Viewer to a Point

Why do we create art? What are we trying to say? In my opinion, the viewer always has the final call on what they interpret from their own experiences but the artist begins with a feeling or impetus that started the whole process of creating.

This impetus doesn't have to be too deep either, it could be the feeling of cold, a memory of a winter day or the sun on your face that described colors and textures that inspired the finished work. A part of the soul of the arist should sign the work, what the viewer does with the vision is then up to them.

Isolation has become a process for me lately. I have been isolating light in scene, not for the feeling of colors and brightness but instead a feeling of mysterious light that hopefully the viewer has to wonder how light eminates from a 2-D image.

In my recent pastels, all studies for the next group of oils that I am starting-light is the key. Just like painting water, light is not something that is tangible in its own-you paint how the light reacts in the evironment. You are painting around the light and allowing the light to show itself. My intent is for the viewer to try to understand where the light is coming from-that is my task and continue to isolate light until it becomes its own bold entity.

Words: Feelings and Thoughts

Isolating feelings and thoughts is the basis for all creation and especially words. The key is to find the feeling amidst all the details we struggle with every day.

I have always written freely, no crafting of poetry as the words come in an organic way and usually I just try to stay out of the way of the process.

Feelings are a constant stream of emotions, thoughts, ideas and the key to capturing them is to organize them without destroying their raw state.

I am currently on a mission, this is why this post is on LinkedIn-sometimes we need to learn how to isolate all the chaos of why we create, who we are and what our purpose is. I have just recently started a journey to discover some freedom from the chaos in my creating.

With the help of Kira Day and The Passion Centre-I think I might be on to something in the new year. Her wisdoms have already spawned a new series of poetry called The Landlord.

How do you navigate creativity? Personal life. thoughts and feelings-how has the process you have used changed the ease in finding purpose and getting closer to your goals?