In this short blog, you will learn one simple technique used by the greatest masters of all times. Remembering this next time you visit a museum will greatly change the way you perceive and understand Art. My purpose is to educate young artists, as well as viewers, about the methods used by the masters.
The image of Queen Nefertiti, in profile, is a good example of artwork made by a high master. We are used to seeing this image printed 2 dimensionally in books, but to be certain, it's a 3-dimensional sculpture and what I am going to teach you works from any angle of view.
In a recent blog post, I introduced how the masters use “triggers” to lure us in to their work. There we find hidden geometry, make connections, and get a better idea of how the work was actually designed.
The first type of trigger I call “The Given Line”. This is a very obvious straight line. Often, it is the longest straight line found in the artwork. Looking back at the profile of Queen Nefertiti, the we can easily discover the given line. In this case it is both the most obvious and the longest straight line forming the silhouette. Can you see it?
Once you have found it, use a “straight edge" to extend the line as far as it will go, in both directions, beyond the boundaries of the sculpture. Look for other such lines and extend them in the same way. Typically, a master will provide you with the necessary “givens” you need to continue with deductive reasoning. It's up to you to connect the dots.
What should you expect to find? You will find what the master intended people to find. All kinds of brilliant structures, puzzles, and mysteries. A masterpiece, like life itself, is full of beautiful mysteries. With a little knowledge and willingness you can begin to unlock these secrets with a great deal of satisfaction. I encourage you to try it - Not only in Art and artifacts, but in Nature itself.
Self-discovery is priceless.
- Thomas Edward Hoppe