As an artist, I create works two dimensionally on canvas. And as a painter, I paint to express myself, my ideas, and the way I see our world. When painting, I am mindful of how elements of composition, such as color, line, shape, balance, etc., come together to create a pleasing whole. Even though I don’t normally concern myself with consciously establishing a focal point, a focal point seems to come into being one way or another in my paintings, depending on the subject I have chosen to work with.
For example, in my animal portraits, the eye is always the focal point. There is where you discover the animal’s soul and personality. In my sailboat paintings, the sailboat image is the focal point. It is an image with greater meaning than where it is placed on the canvas because for me, the sailboat is a metaphor for our lives and the many places we can find ourselves in.
“Marking the Spot”
In the abstract paintings featured in my blogs, the focal point is spiritual. In these paintings, the focal point is not necessarily a location in the painting, but where the viewer unconsciously experiences all the elements coming together, inspiring a personal and often emotional response to the painting. In this way, the focal point is actually outside of the painting, not within it, because the focal point is in you, the viewer.
Your own feeling and reaction to what you see is the heart and soul of these paintings, just as it is for me when I paint them. The elements, such as color, line and shape convey a message, like dancers in a contemporary or modern dance.
The expression of our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual parts converge in our daily lives, creating a basic message about who we are. Sometimes that message or “focal point” of who we are seems to only be outside of us for others to see – but always ends up settling within us, emotionally or spiritually in some way.
As a life coach, I understand the importance of “the how, the where, the why, and the what,” working as compositional elements in my client’s lives. These elements in our lives – elements such people, places, events, weather, health, etc., combine in a variety of ways at different times to bring focus to particular needs and desires and issues that need resolving or celebrating. We not only live our lives in time and space, but two and three dimensionally as well – and spiritually – creating “focal points of meaning” each day.
One way to think of the place where all the these elements meet is as if that place were an “X”, like marking a place on a map; the place of goals, convergence, and integration; as if to say “X marks the spot” of everything I am today.
If I were to ask you, “where for you does X mark the spot?” in your life today, what would you say? Where do the many elements of your life come together to create the meaning? Are you aware of what you really want? Is it within you or outside of you? Is it material or spiritual? Does it bring you peace as you contemplate it now? Are you creating your life with positive intentions for growth, purpose, and meaning?
Maybe you need guidance to reach the goals where an “X” is found and embraced in you. I can help you create for yourself a more satisfying and fulfilling life picture, either artistically or personally or both. Call or email me if you would like to explore this idea more.
May you creatively find focus in all this day brings you!
Diane
**** If you would like to experience adventure and fun as you learn about creating focusboth artistically and personally ….. Please consider participating in one of my “Painting Your Journey” Workshops this year at Ghost Ranch the end of August, or on Maui, Hawaii the end of October. You don’t have to be an artist or a painter to come and learn and grow, and you will likely become a greater artist of your soul during the week long journey. For workshop information, visit my website at www.dianeolsenstudio.com/workshops or give me call.
