HARMONY
Harmony happens when all the elements in the painting's are in tune with one another. In an orchestra, if one of the violins is out of tune it throws an unpleasant dissonance into the piece being played. One of the worst ear-assaults is a piano out of tune. No matter how masterful the pianist, if the instrument is not tuned, the music can be nerve-wrecking.
The major element in a painting that creates harmony is color. And the major tuning has to do with the temperature of light. In representational painting, if we perceive all the colors to be illuminated by the same light, we instinctively feel the painting to be in tune.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aQ_LkUYuHUAyfyIWjuuRNCMUwwK-g3QJhLREKJZdIkGvMwpFWbQcjAeGpKqjkrYt3Xtru6o2F1IFD3lymLNfnmouMTGNHiEEwX2-Hh2pO6KmFYg72YleSuMVA53yN0EjoGJ3tm5_7dg/s320/CharlesReid-Gloucesterfisherman.jpg)
A similar type of harmony is found with Lilli Pell's painting below.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQU_Xwd1fWSuVnQXJTDpQHKH-KUrFnhO4gex2yrVfOJRXiFUxLIpklImDChGzbteQlzYI0-DTYTqUeq6n1eqIbX02cEEphJm3CEHCq6deROmX27DrFH1owEn1X6Oz2cdPWWUblIxpxBYg/s320/Lilli+Pell+Mountain+Retreat.jpg)
One emerging painter who continues to amaze me with her ability to harmonize is Karen Jurick. Look at this recent painting by Karen.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXPubU4Qsyk-xc3qRw4TkPxyVRTdAEMwaoVfjv_c4bHty55B18X9vZZUkqFARpwtnqUcppPTZRmP6gzd4tu2N8wkt7rQJ2NwErsFoYivB8nr9Wsfq2z12nx77nijRxu7vRKCwEyL4PE0/s320/karen+jurick+mapquest.jpg)
As you move from blog to blog, website to website, and gallery to gallery, if something about a painting bothers you, look first to see if it feels out of tune. Keep in mind, though, that a painting can have many color contrasts and still be in tune. It is when those colors get out of harmony with one another that we feel a sense of visual irritation.
So what does the artist do to achieve harmony? Observe! And respond to what's being seen rather than to guess what one is looking out.
UNITY
Unity means belonging together or a oneness. A family might be made up of diverse personalities, various sizes of people, different eye colors and skin shades, but if the family agrees upon one strong attitude, that manner of thinking can give it unity. In an art work, when many diverse parts are made to fit together, then piece has unity.
Unity, I believe, is an overall motive for composing a painting. In next week's tutorial, I will begin to discuss different methods artists use to achieve this motive.
See you then.
3 comments:
Lovely blog Dianne!
I could spend hours, no, days reading this blog, Dianne, so interesting, helpful, informative, you are so clever. Say 'analyse' to me and I go comatose!
I stopped by to thank you for the nomination on Makingamark blog. I feel so thrilled and honoured and absolutely chuffed to bits! Thank you, thank you.
Thanks, Tina.
Thanks, Sharon.
You'd be surprised at how few artists want to read about composing, not to mention think about it. For me it is fun. The balance is to compose first, then create within that set-up. It is deadly to think about composing throughout the painting--a sure way to kill it.
My pleasure to nominate your painting for MAM. It is one of the most compelling paintings I've seen on the web.
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