Curly Kale Hidden Leaf

Curly Kale Hidden Leaf

8x10 Mixed Media 

This study of kale leaves focuses on the tender hidden leaves shaded away from the everyday passerby. I especially liked this choice as it reminded me of the storybook illustrators of the golden age of storybook illustrations. Kay Neilsen, Maxfield Parrish are two of my favorites. One could almost picture a gnome stepping out from the shadows with some special treasure he found on the  forest floor. 

 I composed this painting so the direction of the leaves would control the viewer's eye and draw the viewer  into the vortex of the painting. The light and dark contrasts are also intended to achieve this. Thanks for viewing my blog. If you are interested in purchasing this painting please contact me.

Curly Kale

Curly Kale

20x36 Mixed Media

The undulating leaves of  purple kale make me think of a dancer's swirling skirt swaying with her movements. I intended for the composition to control the viewer's eye in and out of the swirling forms. This painting was one in a series completed for my thesis show. I played with various design systems within the book by Jay Hambidge and the concepts of dynamic symmetry. I taught myself a lot about composition while working on my thesis. There is not enough emphasis put on composition in the schools, it is much more about expression.  Thanks for viewing my blog! If you are interested in purchasing this painting please contact me. Prints of this painting are available at Fineartamerica.com , http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/donna+page/all