July turned out to be a month of digital art work for me. I am working on a workbook at the moment for our InnerPrints book.  Like any other creative work, digital art is also very time consuming.  I am loving it however as it allows me the opportunity to really explore the realm of layering, a theme that has been prevalent in my work for many years now. Below is an example of one of my very early layered landscape works.

Waterloo Bay : Kadira Jennings

Here is one of my latest multi layered, digital artworks -an image incorporating The Buddha and visual symbolism and references to time, place

World Within

beauty, creativity and eternity.

Last week I was discussing the artistic device of contrast in relation to not only art but Life in general.

Contained within contrast is the idea of balance or harmony, the harmonious interaction of sometimes opposing forces, flavours, or things in contrast. Harmony/balance may be achieved in any number of ways, although in art the most balanced visual arrangement of pieces is not necessarily one where the pieces are equally balanced.  Balance more particularly often brings to mind the figure of justice holding her equally balanced scales.

Justice With Sword And Scales

In art however harmony is often achieved by a counterbalance of something small in a larger opposing area, perhaps a complimentary colour or shape. how do you bring harmony into your Life, your Art.

Blue trees counterbalanced with orange light

We can apply these principles to our lives as well. Often we think we are required to do something big to get noticed.  But is that true?  What are we all seeking…… connection, recognition, love, joy, happiness?  What are the things that truly delight us? Often it is something small – that touch of red in a green painting  – a bunch of flowers given unexpectedly, a hand written card posted in the mail for no special reason.

When was the last time you created delight in your life with a small act of harmony?

Pix Credits: Justice, Flower Bunches

Blue Trees: Painting , Kadira Jennings

Continuing on with Monday’s thoughts, I’d like to share some observations on the similarities between life and design concepts.

One particular aspect of this is the creative element of contrast.  Our world is filled with contrast – light-dark, soft-hard, rough-smooth, sweet-sour, etc. as through the senses, life vibrates inwards. Life without contrast can be bland, tepid, boring, flat.

Life Can Be Flat

Of course too much contrast can leave us feeling quite the opposite.

Too Much Contrast

Therefore we need that other design element to counteract either ends of this scale and that is balance or harmony.

In Art, as in Life, we create harmony often through a counter-weighted balance of opposites.  Hence the term – ‘add a little spice to your life’.

In green paintings, a tiny splash or two of red (the complimentary or opposite colour to green) creates interest and life that would otherwise be lacking.

• Where do you need more or less ‘spice in your life or art work?’
• How might you use contrast to achieve this?

Pix Credits – The Morgue File – Life Can Be Flat, Too Much Contrast

I have come to the conclusion that Life and Art are so closely intertwined as to be inseparable.

Intertwined Ropes

The more I teach art and participate in the development of my own creativity, the deeper my understanding of this becomes.

Although many people don’t realize it, participating in any form of creativity whatsoever – is ALWAYS an act of self development.  Perhaps this is why we find so many people refusing to acknowledge their creative potential and denying themselves through that oft repeated phrase;

“But I have no talent!” I refuse to accept this and challenge everyone to examine that statement by asking the question – “Is that true?”

We all have talents of some kind which are often dismissed.  The ability to draw a smile to someones lips or make people laugh are talents.

What is your greatest talent?

Pix Credit: The Morgue File