Title

Chama Red Hills Dynamic Symmetry plus Golden Spiral

Size

10x16 Aspect Ratio 1.6 near golden mean

Price

En plein air. Painted on the edge from the side of the Chama River Overlook. On exhibit with the Santa Fe Pleinarians at Joe's Dining and Art on Rodeo Road in Santa Fe, July-December, 2024

Expanded Dynamic Symmetry Armature plus Fibonacci Spiral with eye at the upper right (focal point). Another “PHI”, near-Golden, painting, with potential focal points at the intersections of the main diagonals with their reciprocals (also the eyes of the spirals). The diagonals seem to parallel the main hill line leading back to the right cliff focal point. We see the repeated motif of the shadows and light forms aligning with the spiral.

The Golden Spiral is approximated by the Fibonacci or Whirling Squares' Spiral. The whirling squares are constructed within rectangles as they rotate around the eye of a spiral. Note in passing that the squares formed here have side lengths, successive Fibonacci terms: 0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13 (in reverse), etc, where each term is the sum of the previous two terms. The ratios of successive Fibonacci terms get closer and closer to the Golden Mean (1.168...): 2/1 = 2, 3/2 = 1.5, 5/3 - 1.666.., 8/5 = 1.6, 13/8=1.625, 21/13=1.615..., 34/21=1.619..., 55/34=1.6176..,

The Golden Spiral has been hailed since antiquity by artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci as the most beautiful, perhaps because it can be seen throughout nature (galaxy and fern spirals, Nautilus Shell, the human body, etc.).

Title

Cliff Abstracton with Expanded Dynamic Symmetry

Size

18x24 4:3 Aspect Ratio

Price

Capturing the texture and the chroma of the cliffs of New Mexico. Tools used: squeegee, painters' trowel, Catalyst wedge, palette knives and paint brushes. Expanded dynamic symmetry: rebated squares plus embedded similar rectangles - armatures used over the centuries by master artists to align important parts of the image.

Title

Diablo Canyon Root 5 Overlapping PHI Rectangles

Size

10x22.36

Price

I am eager to do a painting of Diablo Canyon with a 1: Root 5 aspect ratio using Root 5 Overlapping PHI rectangles. An approximate panel size for this Dynami Root 5 proportion might be 10x22 or 10x23 since the square root of 5 is 2.236.... According to the panel supply store, Masterpiece Panels, good Root 5 panel sizes are: 4x9 and 8x18 with ratio, 2.25 or 9x20, with ratio, 2.22.. I have nice 10x22 frames that I ordered a while back along with 10x22 panels that I could coat with gesso or linen glued to the panels. I will try them first and then order linen on panels of this size from Masterpiece or Raymar for a more professional panel or at least one requiring less work.

Title

Turbulent Lands Dynamic Symmetry plus Spiral

Size

15x25

Price

The main hill leads up to the right along the Baroque Diagonal passing through the eye of the Spiral, the intentional location of the focus of the painting. The secondary focus is across the painting at the upper left polar point. For this painting, the Dynamic Symmetry Armature was an important tool (along with the spiral). A squeegee was employed to lay out the straight edges along the armature’s lines). This photo was taken before the painting was finished but one can see how the armature was employed.

Title

Santa Fe River Turbulence with Harmonic Armature

Size

10x16.18

Price

Harmonic Armature Grid. The Harmonic Armature grid is a popular alternative to the Dynamic Symmetry grid. It can be used for any proportion canvas. It's an extension of the rule of thirds (ROT) as the intersections of the main diagonals with the diagonals from the corners to the midpoint on the edges are at the ROT sweet spots. For more information visit my blog. I am currently studying and comparing the benefits of each grid.

Title

Santa Fe River Turbulence Dynamic Symmetry Plus

Size

10x16.18

Price

NFS

Dynamic Symmetry Grid over the painting. Includes the perpendicular crossing lines and main diagonals. Verticals are dropped from the crossing at the top and bottom. The intersection of the main diagonals with the perpendicular crossing lines are the Golden Points. Other verticals are completion of the square off the sides - also known as the rebated square.

Title

SF River Turbulence Fibonacci Spiral

Size

10x16.18

Price

NFS

Title

SF River Turbulence-Golden Triangle

Size

10x16.18

Price

NFS

Title

SF Turbulence Single Point Perspective

Size

10x16.18

Price

NFS

Title

SF River Turbulence- PHI System

Size

10x16.18

Price

NFS

Title

Aspen Glory Harmonic Armature

Size

9x12 4:3 Aspect Ratio

Price

Title

Aspen Glory I Dynamic Symmetry

Size

9x12 4:3 Aspect Ratio

Price

Expanded Dynamic Symmetry with Similar Rectangles and Rebated Squares plus horizontals and verticals

Title

Aspen Season I

Size

10x8 Aspect Ratio - 5:4

Price

$450

Expanded Dynamic Symmetry Armature with Rebated Squares and Self-similar Forms

Title

Aspen Season II

Size

20x16 Aspect Ratio 5:4

Price

$850

Dynamic Symmetry Armature - Expanded with Rebatement and Self-similar forms. The intent was that the focal point be in the lower left with the highest contrast - ear the intersection of the main diagonal with its reciprocal. Aspen Season I and II have the same aspect ratio.

Title

Happy Trails Dynamic Symmetry

Size

9x12 4:3 aspect ratio

Price

The armature was drawn on the panel before painting the scene. I lined up the trail parallel with a diagonal. I intended for the juncture of the end of the trail (vanishing point) and the background mountain to be the focal point. and the trail does seem to meander toward it.

Title

Chromatic Lands I 5:4 Dynamic Symmetry Armature

Size

8x10

Price

$450

In this painting, the darker ‘path’ is an s-shape leading to the cliff in the distance. This is a well- known device to lead the viewer’s eye to a focal point. Chromatic Lands I is a favorite painting due to its range of colors and its textures.

Armature: standard dynamic symmetry armature for a painting with a 5:4 aspect ratio. I did not consciously use this armature when designing this particular painting. I can use it to analyze the design. For an in-depth analysis visit my blog post: Chromatic Lands I Analysis.

Back to original painting =>

Title

Land Abstraction II - Dynamic Symmetry Armature

Size

8x16 Aspect Ratio 2:1

Price

$550

Abstracting the landscape of New Mexico.

Dynamic Symmetry Armature with (dotted) rabatment lines, that in the case of a 2:1 (Root 4:1) aspect ratio do cut the painting in half. We like the way the main diagonal from the upper left touches the top of the cliff. The middle cliff accidentally lies at the center line; this might make the painting too centered. But we liked the painting as is and didn’t want to make any changes. It does seem as if there are two focal point: the two cliffs just above and to the left of the center of the painting. Directional lines lead the viewer around the painting up and down the hills and cliffs. We think that the viewer can find a place to rest in the skies.

Title

Chromatic Lands I - 5:4 Two PHI Grids side by side

Size

8x10

Price

$450

A slight modification of the DS grid, showing how two vertical PHI grids almost fit inside a 5:4 Dynamic Symmetry grid. The painting has aspect ratio, 1.25. the two vertical golden rectangles each with an aspect ration of .618 indicate how they would fit (1.25 is close to twice .618).

Title

Turbulent Winds II Dynamic Symmetry

Size

12x16

Price

4:3 Aspect Ratio, What is the focal point? The right tree commands the most attention. Would the painting be improved if its yellow blossoms were brighter, drawing the eye to that area? The direction of the branches are parallel with the main (baroque) diagonal. If we used an expanded Armature with additional verticals, we might find the trees aligning with these verticals. The main branches do seem to align with diagonals or reciprocals though. There seems to be a lot of motion in this painting and that was the intent.

Title

Chromatic Lands II Dynamic Symmetry Armature

Size

8x10

Price

The meeting of the sky with the mountains is the focal point or area. The lower right reciprocal line leads up to the Baroque Diagonal with the intersection located at a high contrast area in this focal area. One of the most important points is for the viewer's eye to travel around the painting. Chromatic Lands II encourages the viewer to follow the foreground tree line alonga a reciprocal up to the upper right clouds and then, follow down and around the painting.

Title

Chromatic Lands II - PHI Spiral

Size

8x13

Price

We intended the focal area to be the eye of the spiral, with foliage along the spiral to lead the viewer’s eye to that point. The ‘S’ of the path should also lead the eye around the painting. We note again the 8 and 13 are part of the standard Fibonacci series, with the ratios tending toward PHI = 1.618…(13/8 = 1.625, …, 21/13 = 1.615…, etc.)

Title

Chromatic Lands - Two PHI Grids side by side

Size

8x10

Price

A slight modification of the DS grid, showing how two vertical PHI grids almost fit inside a 5:4 Dynamic Symmetry grid. In fact, if the painting were 1x1.25 (5:4 aspect ratio) then since the golden rectangles are 1x0.618..., we find that the two vertical golden rectangles are 1x.618.. + 1x.618 ..= 1x1.236 (close to 1x1.25)!!

Title

Chromatic Lands II PHI Dynamic Symmetry plus Spiral

Size

8x13 Aspect Ratio 1.625 near PHI

Price

We intended the focal area to be the eye of the spiral, with foliage along the spiral to lead the viewer’s eye to that point. The ‘S’ of the path should also lead the eye around the painting. We note again the 8 and 13 are part of the standard Fibonacci series, with the ratios tending toward PHI = 1.618…(13/8 = 1.625, …, 21/13 = 1.615…, etc.)

Title

Chromatic Lands III 5:4 Dynamic Symmetry Armature

Size

8x10

Price

$400

Part of a series to capture the brilliant chroma of the fall in the Jemez and Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

We did not use this armature when designing this painting; we were concentrating on the curves of the hills and of course the use of chroma. One could find points in the picture plain that when joined would create lines and curves following the armature. We do note that the top ridge seems to go through or close to the upper "eyes"

Title

Chromatic Lands III 5:4 Dynamic Symmetry Armature with Rebated Squares

Size

8x10

Price

$400

Part of a series to capture the brilliant chroma of the fall in the Jemez and Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Armature: The dotted diagonal lines are the diagonals of the constructed squares (they cross each other at 90 degrees). The rabatment lines provide additional directional lines that add to the movement of the painting.

Title

Chromatic Lands IV 5:4 Dynamic Symmetry

Size

8x10 5:4

Price

$400

Part of a series to capture the brilliant Chroma of the fall in the Jemez and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. This version also captures the undulations of the hills.

In reality, this armature was not used when designing this painting. Would it have been improved if more of the hill lines followed the dynamic symmetry lines? And there's no clear focal point. To be analyzed further. However, we feel that this painting does illustrate dramatic chroma as well as undulating movement. Note how the reciprocal touches the top of the far right tree. Also, the hill line from the lower left lies along the main 'baroque' diagonal.

Title

Land Abstraction I. Expanded+ Dynamic Symmetry with a Spiral

Size

8x13 Aspect Ratio 1.625

Price

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.

Title

Dawn - Los Alamos Dynamic Symmetry Armature plus Golden Spiral

Size

10x16

Price

$600

"En plein air" at dawn on the road to Los Alamos.

Armature: Dynamic Symmetry Armature plus the Fibonacci Spiral. Dawn - Los Alamos was planned explicitly to follow the Dynamic Symmetry Armature plus the Golden Spiral. The dramatic contrast at dawn of the left cliff and the sky was painted at the upper left polar point, the eye of the spiral. The edge of the right cliff parallels the Baroque Diagonal, while the edge of the left cliff leads down along the Sinister Diagonal.

Title

Land Abstraction V Dynamic Symmetry

Size

4:3 Aspect Ratio

Price

Basic Dynamic Symmetry plus Rebatement.

Title

Luminous Lands I PHI Dynamic Symmetry plus Spiral

Size

12x19 Aspect Ratio PHI

Price

$750

Dynamic Symmetry Armature plus Fibonacci Spiral with eye at the upper right. Another “PHI”, near-Golden, painting, with two obvious focal points at the intersections of the main diagonals with their reciprocals. The diagonals seem to parallel the main path leading back to the mountains and the light curve crossing it up to the right cliff focal point. We see the repeated motif of the shadows and light forms paralleling the diagonal from the lower left up to the right.
Note the near-PHI aspect ratio: 19/12=1.5833...

More information about this PHI Armature.

Title

Luminous Lands II Dynamic Symmetry Armature

Size

12x16

Price

The light illuminates the lands of the Southwest. As with Luminous Lands I, this painting began with flat color blocks, with brighter colors in the foreground. Then the colors were modified with lighter or grayer colors to show form. We attempted to stop the eye from falling off the lower right corner by placing a shadow there.

Dynamic Symmetry Grid with Added Rabatment lines.The Baroque diagonal crosses its lower right reciprocal at a good focal point, a point with higher contrast (intentional), between the darker (small) tree and the light edge of the main cliff. The line of the cliff leads down to this focal point. Note again that the pathway is almost parallel to a main diagonal.

Title

Luminous Lands III - 4:3 Dynamic Symmetry Armature

Size

9x12

Price

Dynamic Symmetry Grid with Added Rabatment lines.The intent was that the upper right cliff ‘polar’ point would be the focal point, the left part of the right line of cliffs. A main diagonal leads up to this cliff. The bushes along the hillside seem to lead up to this point also, as do the bushes at the bottom of the left-hand group of cliffs. Also, the top of the left-hand mountain ridge leads down to this focal point, especially as we have introduced a curve that brings the eye down toward the focal point. Naturally, the direction of the sunlight dictates the direction of the shadows also.

Title

Luminous Lands IV Root 4:1- Dynamic Symmetry Armature

Size

Price

Dynamic Symmetry Armature plus Rebated Squares. From time to time we like to use a wider format such as the popular 2:1 (Root 4:1) format. The proportion often works well with a landscape. Unfortunately, the Dynamic Symmetry armature puts the polar points of the wider format too close to the corners for our taste. But the intersections of the diagonals with their reciprocals don’t have to be the focal points. In this armature, four other intersections stand out as possible focal points In any case, when I designed this particular painting, The right-hand main tree was designed to lie within the main area of interest. It should be dark enough to throw the back mountains into the distance. In addition, the golden light on the ground plane leads the eye around the painting.

Title

Luminous Waters I Dynamic Symmetry

Size

12x16 Aspect Ratio 4:3

Price

The intent was that the focal point be the cliff over the water with its contrast with the bright sky. The river leads back to it. The lines of the painting don't align particularly closely with the Armature, but perhaps close enough (full disclosure; the painting was designed with the river leading back to the high contrast area but not using an armature).

Title

Luminous Waters II Basic Dynamic Symmetry Armature

Size

16x20 5:4 Aspect Ratio

Price

This was painted before using the Dynamic Symmetry Armature as a guide. It's interesting though how some major elements line up with the armature: the path zig-zags up along the diagonals; the river bank and the hilltop align on horizontals. And some trees line up along verticals in the armature.

Title

Luminous Lands VI Northern Lights PHI Dynamic Symmetry plus Spiral

Size

15x24

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... .


Link to more information about this PHI Armature.

Title

Luminous Lands VII PHI Dynamic Symmetry plus Spiral

Size

8x13

Price

Painting withoutArmature.1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21... is the beginning of the Fibonacci Series, whose ratios tend toward the Golden Mean, PHI = 1.618... 8 and 13 are part of this series. Near-PHI Aspect Ratio

Title

Turbulent Lands I PHI Dynamic Symmetry plus Spiral

Size

10x16

Price

$600

Painting sold at the Karen Wray Gallery May 31, 2024. On the road to Los Alamos. The road is lined with canyons and cliffs, a beautiful welcome to Los Alamos. One can see fusion at work with the sun illuminating this turbulent landscape. Circumstances prevented me from painting this in the field, but I spent much time thinking about the proportion and the subject based on photographs I took of the cliffs going up to Los Alamos. You can read a detailed account of the development of this painting on the Radical Impressionist: A Mathematician Paints' blog at: Painting in Los Alamos .

Armature: Golden spiral superimposed on a dynamic symmetry armature, with the focus on the polar point at the upper left. Aspect Ratio 1.6. Note the approximate golden proportion of 16:10 (versus 16.18.. to 10). More information about this PHI Armature.

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Title

Land Fusion - Los Alamos PHI Dynamic Symmetry

Size

15x25

Price

$1200

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.

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Title

Turbulent Lands VI Dynamic Symmetry

Size

11x14 near Root PHI

Price

Aspect Ratio-14/11 = 1.2727... while root PHI = Root 1.619... = 1.2720.. I painted Turbulent Lands VI before I started using the dynamic symmetry armature. Perhaps the shadow from the right cliff could have been more aligned with the baroque diagonal. The bottom of the cliff aligns nicely with the planned horizon line.

Title

Turbulent Lands VII Dynamic Symmetry plus Spiral

Size

10x16

Price

The left hill lines up nicely with the sinister diagonal, which leads through a potential focal point on the upper left-the eye of the golden spiral. Note how the tops of the cliffs also line up nicely with the horizontal line through the focal point. The spiral begins at the right cliff, directing the eye to follow the spiral down and then up to the left. But again, as always, is the composition such that the viewer is encouraged to wander around the painting without exiting from it?

Title

Turbulent Waters I Dynamic Symmetry

Size

12x16

Price

Link to the Painting without Armature. Dynamic Symmetry Armature. The top edge of the waterfall parallels the 'Baroque' diagonal, a diagonal that is considered 'uplifting'. The upper left intersection of the other diagonal with its reciprocal (which is itself parallel to the waterfall) is a good focal point in this painting; it touches the waterfall. We might consider the 'diamond' below it the 'focal area' though. Perhaps, in addition, an expanded dynamic symmetry armature would capture more parallels.

Title

Turbulent Waters I Dynamic Symmetry plus Rabatment

Size

12x16 Aspect Ratio 4:3

Price

The top edge of the waterfall is parallel to the Baroque Diagonal (from the lower left corner to the upper right corner). This Diagonal is considered uplifting. Every time I look at this armature, more is revealed; I need to develop a full blog post on the armature for Turbulent Waters I,

Title

Turbulent Waters II PHI Dynamic Symmetry plus Spiral

Size

12x19

Price

In this painting, the focal point (waterfall) was placed a little below the upper right polar point. The artist is free to choose the focal point(s) from many candidates. We felt that pushing it up to the upper right more would not allow room for the background. Perhaps we could have painted this from the stream bed rather than from the top of the slight hill and the waterfall would have ‘fallen’ into the polar point. Near Golden Mean Ratio: 19/12 = 1.5833...near enough to PHI = 1.618... to use the spiral armature.
More information about this PHI Armature.

Title

Turbulent Waters III - 4:3 Dynamic Symmetry Armature plus Rabatment

Size

9x12

Price

Layers of armature: dynamic symmetry, rebated squares, horizontals between intersection points. The focal area was chosen to be the area around the intersection of the main sinister diagonal (upper left down to lower right corners) and its upper right reciprocal, the perpendicular line from the upper right corner through this diagonal. Note the line of the waterfall leading to this focal area. Perhaps a tree at the top lying along the vertical through this focal point would have helped with the composition. As it turns out, the top trio of trees in the center seem to point to a focal point in the center. In fact, perhaps the main part of the waterfall as a whole is the focal area. Or perhaps if we were to move the waterfall down to the right then there would be no ambiguity as to the focal point. And it would be at the location of the most dynamic thrust or play between the main diagonal and its reciprocal (a future painting).. We note in passing that the emphasis on the sinister diagonal versus the 'baroque' diagonal is said to lead to a more active or turbulent artwork.

Title

Turbulent Waters IV Expanded Dynamic Symmetry

Size

8x10 5:4 Aspect Ratio

Price

Title

Turbulent Waters V PHI DS Armature

Size

10x16 PHI Aspect Ratio

Price

The armature was used in the planning with the intention that the top of the waterfall would lie at the upper right polar point. I wanted to include more background trees in the painting so that more room at the top was needed. The good news is that in fact the top of the waterfall lies at what is called the "Golden Point", the intersection of the square and the smaller self-similar rectangle on the upper right. This was a point often used in the Renaissance for a focal point.

Title

Turbulent Waters VI Expanded Dynamic Symmetry

Size

12x16 4:3 Aspect Ratio

Price

This version is very similar to the smaller 8x10 Turbulent Waters III. Both paintings align nicely with many of the lines in their armatures. Perhaps water and rock (and tree) paintings lend themselves particularly well to analysis with the Dynamic Symmetry armature.

Title

Turbulent Winds I Dynamic Symmetry

Size

9x12

Price

4:3 Aspect Ratio, We wanted the tree to be the focus, and determined from the armature that the focal point would be the bright yellow cluster near the lower left intersection of the diagonal and its reciprocal. We then used the grid to orient the tree branches so that they lead the eye to this focal point. The red flowers lead down to this focal point. An additional look at the painting though, indicates another good focal point, just above it at the upper left intersection of a diagonal with its reciprocal. And even further, perhaps we can consider the diamond shape dictated by these two points as the focal 'area'. Strokes in the sky also lead to down to this focal 'area'. Would the painting have been improved if the top of the ‘grassy’ area were lower, bringing the horizon down a bit? But the sky and the mountains seem to take up a different amount of space. Also, would it have helped if the mountain edges were along a grid line? (It's ok to move mountains).

Back.

Title

Turbulent Winds III Expanded Dynamic Symmetry

Size

12x16. Aspect ration 4:3

Price

To be studied further; previous notes indicate that I used an informal subdivision armature for this painting. I hope I have a photo of it.

Title

Yellow Cliffs PHI Dynamic Symmetry plus Spiral

Size

15x24

Price

$1200

Full disclosure: I utilized chat gdp to help with the wording here. "Upon traversing Monastery Road, the commanding presence of the yellow cliffs on the right beckons the artist's gaze, evoking an irresistible urge to capture their essence upon canvas. Utilizing near golden mean dimensions for the painting, I orchestrated a composition designed to guide the viewer's eye along a journey across the canvas, following the subtle curvature of the implied golden spiral. Each brushstroke was meticulously placed to accentuate points of interest, with a deliberate emphasis on the point of sharpest contrast near the right-most dominant cliff, ensuring a captivating visual experience that resonates with the discerning collector".

Armature: The Golden Spiral was a significant part of the design of this painting. The Spiral begins at the upper left and continues down to the bottom center and back up to the upper right. The polar point of the spiral is seen at the upper right. It could have been a little lower. At the time I painted this, I was not utilizing the Dynamic Symmetry armature. However it's noteworthy that many of the cliff lines do seem to align with armature lines. Aspect Ratio, 24/15=1.6 near PHI. More information about the PHI Armature.

Link back to Painting =>

Title

Santa Fe River Turbulence Armature

Size

10x16 Aspect Ratio near PHI

Price

I painted this before using the Dynamic Symmetry Armature. However, I was very much aware of using the Golden Spiral to design the painting; the rocks were located to fall on the spiral with the waterfall at the eye of the sprial.

Title

Taos Gorge Fusion Dynamic Symmetry Armature plus Rebatement

Size

20x16

Price

We did not design this painting using an armature. But it's interesting to see how it does or doesn't align with the lines and diagonals of the dynamic symmetry armature. Also, could the painting have been improved if we had used the armature? We do note that the gorge is parallel to a lower reciprocal line. Can we identify other parallels? The focal point of the brightest light in the sky is not one of the normal focal points Perhaps a focal point is in the gorge itself and the sky is a secondary focal point. However, we did not emphasize any of the intersections of main diagonals with reciprocals. Should we have done so? We did further analysis of this painting with the armature in PhotoShop: Painting with smaller Armature in Photoshop.

Title

Black Mesa DS Armature

Size

12x16 Aspect Ratio 4:3

Price

$700

"En plein air" over two days in July 2023 and Feb 2024 at the White Rocks Overlook Park. The Black Mesa in the San Ildefonso Pueblo stands out when looking out toward the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range.
Armature:
I used the expanded Dynamic Symmetry Armature in the design phase. The Black Mesa is located at the intersection of the "baroque" diagonal with its perpendicular reciprocal, at the upper right. Note also how the main cliff aligns with the diagonal of the right rebated square. This cliff is slightly steeper than the "sinister" diagonal.
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Title

Diablo Canyon with Chamisa Dynamic Symmetry

Size

Price

Expanded Dynamic Symmetry Armature to include similar rectangles as well as rebatement.

Title

Ashley Pond II Expanded Dynamic Symmetry Armature

Size

9x12

Price

Title

Ashley Pond Los Alamos Expanded Dynamic Symmetry

Size

12x16 Aspect Ratio 4:3

Price

$700

"En plein air" during the Los Alamos Paint Out sponsored by the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico in Aug 2023. This pond in the middle of town was named after a prominent resident of Los Alamos. Painting at the edge of the pond was delightful. Cool breezes could be felt off the pond even during 90 degree weather. (Of course, there was a pavilion for cover).
Armature: I used a 4:3 Dynamic Symmetry Armature for the design. Sinister Diagonal: Main diagonal from the upper left corner to the lower right corner. The main cliff in the painting follows this line. Baroque Diagonal (uplifting): Main diagonal from the lower left corner to the upper right corner, leading the eye up to the main tree on the other side of the pond, a focal point. Horizon line: Horizontal line through the lower intersections of the main diagonals with their reciprocals (lines perpendicular to the main diagonals).
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Title

Diablo Canyon 8x16 DS

Size

8x16

Price

Title

Diablo Canyon 8x16

Size

8x16 2 to 1 Aspect Ratio

Price

Root 4 Dynamic Symmetry Armature

Title

Diablo Canyon Expanded DS Vertical

Size

14x11 1.2727.. Aspect Ratio

Price

Root PHI Armature 1.270... Aspect Ratio

Title

Diablo Canyon Root PHI Expanded DS

Size

11x14

Price

Sold at the 2014 Annual Plein Air Painters of NM Show. Now applying this armature to analyze the composition. This has been one of my favorite Diablo Canyon paintings over the years.

Title

Deviil's Canyon Expanded DS Armature++

Size

9x12

Price

4 to 3 Armature

Title

Diablo Canyon meets Sedona Expanced DS Armature++

Size

18x24

Price

One of my largest Diablo Canyon paintings with full expanded Dynamic Symmetry Armature plius added horizontals and verticals.

Title

Blowin' in the Wind with Expanded Dynamic Symmetry

Size

8x10 5:4 Aspect Ratio

Price

Title

Diablo Canyon Evening 4 to 3 Expanded DS++

Size

12x16

Price

Recent painting of Diablo Canyon Donated at the 2022 LCCF Show..

Title

Diablo Canyon Morning 4 to 3 Expanded DS++

Size

9x12

Price