| "There are no rules in art". This is a quote from | | | | principles of their designs are from those that I |
| Wassily Kandinsky, the recognized father of | | | | have been trained to follow. We are going to |
| modern abstract painting. I beg to differ with | | | | start looking at the rules of Western Art. They |
| Kandinsky. In looking at his body of work from | | | | are called the Principles and Elements of Design |
| the beginning of his painting career, you can | | | | and there are a total of fifteen of them. |
| clearly see that at the beginning he most definitely | | | | The first and foremost rule is that of Unity. A |
| followed the rules of Western Art. He created | | | | piece of art must stand alone and not depend on |
| many fairly conventional paintings that met the | | | | any of its surroundings to make its statement. |
| traditional rules of good painting. As he | | | | We put a frame around our art work to create a |
| progressed, he began to break the rules, but not | | | | separation of the piece from the rest of the |
| all of them. He would often throw away one rule, | | | | world. An abstract painting looks very different |
| but follow others and produce an intriguing painting | | | | when it lacks a frame. In critiquing art, most art |
| that was totally original. The job of the artist is to | | | | instructors put a mat around the art to create |
| thoroughly know the rules, so that he or she can | | | | that separation before looking at the work. When |
| consciously decide which to keep and which to | | | | the piece is matted and framed, you can more |
| break to create an original, personal statement. | | | | clearly see if it holds together as one entity. The |
| The artist must have the ability to vary from the | | | | concept of unity describes not only the separation |
| rules but still create an abstract painting that | | | | of the work of art from its environment but also |
| reaches the soul of the viewer. An analogy to this | | | | the relationship between the individual parts of the |
| statement can be seen in the sport and art of | | | | piece and the whole composition. Unity refers to a |
| figure skating. The skater must follow rules guided | | | | sense that everything in a piece of work belongs |
| by gravity and her anatomy's ability to perform | | | | there, and makes a whole piece. The way to |
| specific moves. However, each skater puts her | | | | judge that as a viewer is to let your eyes |
| own unique style into those moves, making her | | | | wander over the piece and note the path your |
| performance a personal and unique work of art. | | | | eyes follow. Do your eyes wander out of the |
| As a viewer of figure skating, it is helpful to know | | | | picture? Do they follow a path around the picture |
| the rules so that you can enjoy the uniqueness of | | | | and return to a certain spot? Are they drawn to |
| an individual skater's application of those rules and | | | | one particular point? What draws your interest? |
| to appreciate it when she makes changes to | | | | These are questions that only you as the viewer |
| elevate her performance to the level of art. In | | | | can answer. An effective artist will manipulate the |
| viewing abstract paintings, it is also important to | | | | path your eyes take through the painting: keeping |
| know the rules so that you can appreciate an | | | | your interest, not boring you, giving you delightful |
| artist's creative variations from the accepted | | | | areas to explore. If an abstract painting is |
| rules. | | | | successful, you should have a feeling of harmony |
| It is important to remember that we are talking | | | | between all parts of the artwork creating a sense |
| about Western Art. If you were to look at art | | | | of completeness. Take some time to look at |
| from another culture, you would need to learn a | | | | some paintings to see where your eyes take you. |
| completely different set of rules. I had the | | | | I invite you to look at both traditional and abstract |
| experience of working on a piece of art based on | | | | paintings on my website: Some may successfully |
| Northwestern Indian art. I had to study the | | | | exhibit a sense of unity. You be the judge. |
| principals of the artistic culture of the Indians in | | | | In my next article, Understanding Abstract |
| order to do justice to my work based on their | | | | Paintings - Part VI, we will explore the principle of |
| art. I came to appreciate the beauty of their | | | | Balance. |
| work and to understand how different the | | | | |