Examples of paintings overlaid with Dynamic Symmetry Armatures. This section will continue to be expanded. For more information on armatures and composition visit the Workshop Page or Karen's blog.
Abiquiu Cliff Abstraction, PAPNM Award with Dynamic Symmetry
Title
Abiquiu Cliff Abstraction, PAPNM Award with Dynamic Symmetry
Size
10x16
Material
Oil
Price
Judge,Qiang Huang's comments: "This painting is unique. The asymmetric color shapes are on top of a symmetric geometrical pattern, showing a mathematical beauty."
Abiquiu Cliff Abstraction, PAPNM Award with Dynamic Symmetry 10x16
Turbulent Lands with Golden Spiral Intermediate Phase
Title
Turbulent Lands with Golden Spiral Intermediate Phase
Size
15x25
Material
Oil
Price
This photo was taken before the painting was finished but one can see how the armature was employed.
Turbulent Lands with Golden Spiral Intermediate Phase 15x25
Land Abstraction I. Dynamic Symmetry with a Spiral
Title
Land Abstraction I. Dynamic Symmetry with a Spiral
Size
8x13 Aspect Ratio 1.625
Material
Oil
Price
BREAK-THROUGH new painting. Juried into the 2024 New Mexico Masterworks Exhibit: Mar 22-Apr 14. Abstracting the land in New Mexico:
Land Abstraction I had its origin in another painting; I wasn’t happy with it so I used a squeegee to restate straight edges, applying dappled color while doing so. I liked the result and retitled the painting to incorporate “abstract”. Visit my blog post on the development details of this painting: Anatomy of Land Abstraction I .
ARMATURE: Near PHI Aspect Ratio (1.618) (13/8=1.625). I would like to use this size in the field more often; not too large and not too small. but very close to my favorite size's aspect ratio, 1.6 (10x16). In fact 8 and 13 are part of the Fibonacci Series, 1,1,2,3,5,8,13, 21, ... The focal point was designed to be at the upper right polar point, the 'eye' of the spiral. A secondary focal point can be seen near the upper left polar point (if the spiral were superimposed).
More information about the PHI Armature.
Land Abstraction I. Dynamic Symmetry with a Spiral 8x13 Aspect Ratio 1.625
Luminous Lands VI Northern Lights PHI Dynamic Symmetry plus Spiral
Title
Luminous Lands VI Northern Lights PHI Dynamic Symmetry plus Spiral
Size
15x24
Material
Oil
Price
This painting of the Taos Gorge Overlook anticipated the recent sightings of the Northern Lights in the New Mexican Skies. The intent at the time of the painting was to place the main focal point near the eye of the golden spiral at the upper right, where the brightest part of the sky meets the mountain.
ARMATURE: We do see the focal point near the eye of the whirling squares. We also note how the river parallels the "Sinister" diagonal. The 24:15 Aspect Ratio (1.6) is close enough to the PHI Golden Mean of 1.618... to use its armature. A panel similar in size would be a 13x21 (two Fibonacci numbers) with a closer aspect ratio of 1.615... .
Luminous Lands VI Northern Lights PHI Dynamic Symmetry plus Spiral 15x24
Land Fusion - Los Alamos PHI Dynamic Symmetry
Title
Land Fusion - Los Alamos PHI Dynamic Symmetry
Size
15x25
Material
Oil
Price
Continued series with more abstract landscapes. Painted from photographs and smaller on-location studies of the dramatic cliffs of Los Alamos. Tools used include a squeegee (straight edge), brushes, palette knife and wedge to mark the lines during the painting process.
Armature: Painted over the Dynamic Symmetry Armature plus golden spiral with polar point in the upper left. The intention was to create the focal point on the upper left, with secondary focal points at other intersections of the armature lines. Note how the hill line from the upper left parallels the main ('sinister') diagonal. I wanted to stop the eye from falling off the lower right of the painting with some shadowy areas there. Straight edge tools helped identify the armature lines while painting.The Aspect Ratio is 25/15 = 5/3 = 1.666... near PHI = 1.618...
More information about the PHI armature.
Cropped version of the Taos Gorge Painting. Still a 5:4 aspect ratio, but smaller than the 20x16 painting. Would this be a better painting? We could trim the painting - or do another version this time using the dynamic symmetry++ armature.