What type are you – soft edged or hard edged? I love art images and paintings with soft blurred edges ….. I wondered why. What type are you most drawn to?
Wandering through the galleries I instinctively am drawn into some artworks, but seem blocked from others. I wondered why. For a while I was absolutely certain it all due to the colours used! Sometime later, I thought it had to be the Light.
As time progresses, I’m more and more aware that the images that invite me in with welcoming arms are those with a higher ratio of soft blurred edges. That’s not to say that colour and light tones don’t play a role, they most certainly do. They’re just not the deciding factor for me.
Our innate personalities can influence edge dominance in our paintings and artworks.
Some artists are naturally outgoing and friendly. Some of my artist friends are fantastic hosts and hostesses, having mastered the art of hospitality with grace and ease. Its just who they are. These artists do seem to have more soft edge dominance in their work.
One can perhaps infer that the way an artist uses edges in their artworks coincides with their character and personality … or with what is going on with them in their life at that moment in time.
What if an artist feels the need for more structure, disciple, order in life? Thus, without really thinking about it, are using predominately harder, sharper edges to create that structure in their artworks.
By creating a painting realm of dominant soft edges, the artist may be creating a more welcoming world of gentleness that may not exist for them at that juncture in time. I think personally, with all the global events of late, I probably am in a way creating a realm that is just a little more kinder and gentler. Perhaps!
Gallery images comparing gentle soft edges vs. hard defined edges
Lives change. Life circumstances fluctuate, health may decline and rise again. Many situations occur to influence the mind, emotions and heart that may cause a change in edge dominance over time.
When I gaze upon a dominantly soft edged painting, I still. It is zen. Calming and relaxing, a contentedness fills me. There is peacefulness in the soft edges that I do not find in hard, sharp, bristly edges.
The lovely soft edges create an unequalled serenity and harmony that I can become lost in.
When I look at hard edged paintings, even though I’m not drawn to them, I will look beyond my discomfort.
I think about them. The artist. The individual. What their life must have been like.
Where they lived, what other things they enjoyed. What prompted their Edges, subjects, colours, tonal keys, the media used. I reflect for a moment on what events and circumstances may have prompted the style of art I’m looking at.
What is interesting, I’ve noticed that I accept a much higher ratio of sharp edges in photograph images than I will find comfortable in paintings.
Anyone else ever thought about how you use your edges and how your preference is linked to your unique quirks and traits? I wonder……..
