the most important thing: discover your subject; discover yourself; discover your self

The Most Important Thing:Discover Your Subject; Discover Yourself;

Discover Your Self

Suggestions for Engaging in Artistry and Writing

There are two messages in this presentation

The first message is about composition

In photography, there are two important elements:

In photography, there are two important elements:

1. Composition

In photography, there are two important elements:

1. Composition2. Exposure

Composition

• Composition is all about deciding what to include in the photograph

Composition

• Composition is all about deciding what to include in the photograph

• And, just as importantly, what not to include

Details—Exposure • Exposure refers to the getting the

lighting levels right and dealing with all the technical details, such as lighting, tone, colour balance and levels • While these details are

important, far more important is the element of composition

Composition• Composition is all about knowing

your subject, knowing your subject, developing a thesis, having a story

Composition

• Composition is all about knowing your subject, knowing your subject, developing a thesis, having a storyoAll of these are just different

ways of saying the same thing:

Composition• Composition is all about knowing

your subject, knowing your subject, developing a thesis, having a storyoAll of these are just different ways

of saying the same thing: oYou cannot begin to create a piece

of art until you know what you are trying to say

Composition

The most important factor in producing good art or writing is to know what you are trying to say

Composition

• To know what your message is

Composition

• To know what your message is• To know what your thesis is

Composition

• To know what your message is• To know what your thesis is• To be able to create a thesis

statement

Composition

• To know what your message is• To know what your thesis is• To be able to create a thesis

statement• To know what your story is

Composition

Does this make sense? Any questions?

Composition

Get ready, because here comes an interesting point ...

Composition

One of the ways you can discover your subject or thesis is to

engage in the art making process!

Composition

To discover what you want to write about, write!

Composition

To discover what you want to draw, draw!

Composition

To discover what you want to paint, paint

Composition

To discover how you want to dance, dance!

Composition

• In writing, this is known as “pre-writing”

• In painting, drawing, music, dance, and other arts, this is known as doing “studies”

Composition"I wish you could see the two watercolours I have brought back with me, for you would realize that they are watercolours just like any other watercolours. They may still be full of imperfections, que soit, I am the first to say that I am still very dissatisfied with them, and yet they are quite different from what I have done before and look fresher and brighter. That doesn't alter the fact, however, that they must get fresher and brighter still, but one can't do everything one wants just like that. It will come little by little.“--Vincent Van Gogh

Composition

Composition

Composition

Composition

Composition

• You need to focus on your subject, your story

Composition

• You need to focus on your subject, your story

FocusFocusFocusFocus

Composition

• Engaging in the art process can itself can help you figure out what you want to say• Let yourself go • Just let the ideas come tumbling out• Let things flood into your mind, your

thoughts and your emotions

Composition

• So, two take away messages:

Composition1. Have a vision of what you want to

create; it is a vision that translates into having a subject, to having a story

It is a vision that should also be big, vast, and connect your stories with the stories of others, with the worldwide story, the cosmic story

Composition1. Practice

Practice Practice

PracticePractice

... And never forget your vision, your story

Coming next ...2. Part two

Discovering a subject is really about discovering you, discovering You ...

Discovering you and You is really about discovering how you fit in with the big picture, the grand scheme of the cosmos

Coming next ...3. Part three

Details, details