Skip to Content
The Pocket Universal Principles of Art
book

The Pocket Universal Principles of Art

by John A Parks
December 2017
Intermediate to advanced content levelIntermediate to advanced
208 pages
3h 39m
English
Rockport Publishers
Content preview from The Pocket Universal Principles of Art

074 Restraint

Unlike film or illustration, which often seek to entertain and dazzle, fine art can work well when the viewer feels that something is withheld or understated. A sense of mystery can spark the imagination.

STRATEGIES

• Severely pared-down information and stripped-out detail

• A limited palette forcing a few colors to do the work of many can convey a sense of quiet

• Non-showy, quiet execution, such as evenness of brushing and avoidance of bravura technique

• Choice of subject matter that avoids considerable visual drama

• Introduction of deliberate ambiguities by not fully defining elements. Edges may be disguised or missing while shapes are selected that are not readily readable

Eugène Carrière (1849–1906)

Alphonse Daudet, 1893. ...

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.
Start your free trial

You might also like

The Daily Book of Art

The Daily Book of Art

Colin Gilbert, Dylan Gilbert, Elizabeth T. Gilbert, Gabriel Guzman, Rebecca Razo, Sharon Robinson, Amy Runyen, David Schmidt
Art of Drawing People

Art of Drawing People

Debra Kauffman Yaun, William F. Powell, Ken Goldman, Walter Foster

Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9781631595431