Six Minutes of Fun and Adventure

The following applies to the… following. The numbers one through ten signify a word’s definition as stated by the mighty –tionary of Dic. However the letter “A” signifies a far more pertinent delineation of said word. And if the playground rule that “first is the worst, second is the best, and third is the one with the hairy chest” is adhered to, I think you will find that my interpretation is indeed, the best and does not have in any way, shape, or form follicles growing upon it’s pectorals. I hereby certify that this statement is for true and take this oath developed by Reverend Lovejoy. “If I withhold the truth may I go straight to Hell where I will eat naught but burning hot coals and drink naught but burning hot cola; where fiery demons will punch me in the back; where my soul will be chopped into confetti and strewn upon a parade of murderers and single mothers; where my tongue will be torn out by ravenous birds.”

x ­insert signature of Author
witness insert signature of witness

1. Balance: an aesthetically pleasing integration of elements
A. A situation where the figurative “weight” or focus of a composition is (relatively) evenly distributed. No portion of a piece of work should accentuate an awkward empty space or an underdeveloped aspect. That is not to say that the piece should not have a focal point; simply that the viewer’s attention should not be forced to that point due to lack of complexity.

2. Symmetry: correspondence in size, shape, and relative position of parts on opposite sides of a dividing line or median plane or about a center or axis
A. Symmetry is the easiest way to create balance. It is characterized by the same lines, shapes, and colors along one or more axes. If you were to place paint on a piece of paper and fold that paper in half, you would see an example of this when you unfolded the page. However, you could not achieve the same result with a headshot of David Bowie.

3. Asymmetry: not symmetrical
A. Just the opposite of above definition. There are only so many things you can say about symmetry and its arch-nemesis, asymmetry. You could say that things that do not portray the characteristics of symmetry must invariably be asymmetrical. That is, things that are not the same along any axis are asymmetrical. Example: Adrien Brody’s nose.

4. Movement: the quality (as in a painting or sculpture) of representing or suggesting motion
A. “The quality (as in a painting or sculpture) of representing or suggesting motion,” that’s a fairly competent definition. But movement can also make a piece seem to be more than it is. Movement can make a 2-dimensional composition seem alive, vibrant, and full of vigor. Movement is essential for bringing a piece to life (Dr. Frankenstein, How to Succeed Where God Has Failed, pg 1).

5. Isolation: the condition of being isolated
A. An aspect that is singled out in such a way that calls attention to itself or appears to be taking a time-out from the rest of the page. An object or subject may appear to be isolated through a variety of methods from contrasting color to stark value differences. Also: a particular feeling given from a composition, similar to what Tom Hanks recently felt in the summer blockbuster Cast Away.

6. Progression: a continuous and connected series
A. This can be somewhat related to movement and sometimes aids in portraying movement, although a slightly different type. Progression helps the viewer’s eye to naturally move from one point to the next by gradually changing size and/or color. Thus, making the work seem to “flow.” Luckily Art has no gender.

7. 2-D: lacking depth of characterization
A. Marked by length and width but lacking definition of the z-axis. This gives the project a flat appearance. Often times the illusion of 3-dimensionality may be produced on a 2-dimensional surface through the use of perspective.

8. 3-D: giving the illusion of depth or varying distances -- used of an image or a pictorial representation especially when this illusion is enhanced by stereoscopic means
A. Anything that is not numbered in dimensionality 1, 2, 4, or based in theoretical physics is most likely 3 dimensional, unless that dimensionality has a negative sign in front of it which is simply preposterous. Three dimensional objects have a certain air of je ne sais quoi… tangibility about them. They are measurable on three axes (length, width, and depth).

9. Art: the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects
A. This is, in my opinion, the hardest of this list to define. I think more than skill, creative imagination, and even experience; it requires talent, motivation, and a desire for self-expression. I feel that if the artist defines his or her work as Art then it is. I think Artist’s define Art, not the other way around.

10. Composition: the act or process of composing specifically: arrangement into specific proportion or relation and especially into artistic form
A. A cohesive body expressing creativity, imagination, political, social, ethical, and/or other views the artist desires to covey. A composition should utilize a combination of technique and medium to evoke the desired thoughts, emotions, and/or Ewoks. Yes, they are possible to manifest. It just requires blood, sweat, and a little elbow grease. You combine them in a two quart casserole dish with three cups of flour, two of sugar, and one liter of unicorn tears. Bake at 350 for 45 min. or until your up to your knees in little midget bears.