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."

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.

Title

Chromatic Lands IV 5:4 Dynamic Symmetry

Size

8x10 5:4

Material

Oil

Price

Part of a series to capture the brilliant Chroma of the fall in the Mountains of New Mexico. 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

Cliff Abstracton with Dynamic Symmetry and Rebated Squares Armatures

Size

18x24 4:3 Aspect Ratio

Material

Oil

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

Aspen Glory Harmonic Armature

Size

9x12 4:3 Aspect Ratio

Material

Oil

Price

Title

Aspen Glory I Dynamic Symmetry

Size

9x12 4:3 Aspect Ratio

Material

Oil

Price

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

Title

Cliffs of New Mexico with Basic Dynamic Symmetry

Size

12x16

Material

Oil

Price

The cliffs of New Mexico continue to astound one. Basic Dynamic Symmetry Armature with Aspect Ratio, 1.333...

Title

Chromatic Lands I 5:4 Dynamic Symmetry Armature

Size

8x10

Material

Oil

Price

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: Basic 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 alternate Armature see: Link to Painting with Combined PHI Armatures =>

For an in-depth analysis visit my blog post: Chromatic Lands I Analysis.

Back to original painting =>

Title

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

Size

8x10

Material

Oil

Price

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).

Back to original painting =>

Back to Painting BASIC Armature =>

Title

Chromatic Lands III 5:4 Dynamic Symmetry Armature

Size

8x10

Material

Oil

Price

Part of a series to capture the brilliant chroma of the fall in the Mountains of New Mexico..

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

Material

Oil

Price

Part of a series to capture the brilliant chroma of the fall in the Mountains. == of New Mexico.

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 V with Side by Side PHI Dynamic Symmetry

Size

8x10

Material

Oil

Price

Side by Side PHI Dynamic Symmetry Artmatures

Title

Chromatic Lands V Dynamic Symmetry Armature

Size

8x10

Material

Oil

Price

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. Turbulent Lands III encourages the viewer to follow the foreground tree line along a reciprocal up to the upper right clouds and then, follow down and around the painting.

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.

Available at the Karen Wray Fine Art Gallery - (505) 660-6382 : www.karenwrayfineart.com.

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... .


Link to more information about this PHI Armature.

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.

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Title

Taos Gorge Fusion Dynamic Symmetry Armature CROPPED

Size

5:4 aspect Ratio

Material

Oil

Price

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.

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Title

Black Mesa DS Armature

Size

12x16 Aspect Ratio 4:3

Material

Oil

Price

"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

Ashley Pond II Dynamic Symmetry and Rebated Squares Armatures

Size

9x12

Material

Oil

Price

Title

Ashley Pond Los Alamos Dynamic Symmetry and Rebated Squares Armatures

Size

12x16 Aspect Ratio 4:3

Material

Oil

Price

"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).
Back to original painting =>

Title

Blowin' in the Wind with Dynamic Symmetry and Rebated Squares Armatures

Size

8x10 5:4 Aspect Ratio

Material

Oil

Price