by Lynne Ayers

I’ve been mining my photographs, trying to gauge what it is about a specific photo that appeals to me. The intention is to try to understand my likes and dislikes and with that understanding be better able to paint works that I like.  I have edited these in varying degrees and cropped them down to something that caught my eye.  I put them all in a square format because that is the orientation I (currently) like for my paintings.  

What I like about each of them:

One: I really like the ‘fulcrum’ composition of a larger shape (tree) offset by a smaller shape (rectangle). It’s my favourite composition.

Two: I like the strong shapes layered over a background, giving depth and interest. I’ve been doing a lot of layering in recent pieces.

Three: The thing that grabs me every time I look at this is the lovely negative white shape. 

Four:  I like all the interlocking shapes created by all the criss-crossing lines in varying thicknesses and shades. It’s chaotic yet appeals to me.  Don’t know why. 

Five: This seems in direct contrast to Four. I like the openness and breathing space of the varied grey shapes contrasted with the controlled colour shapes. And I cropped this one with the ball in the centre, which the “rules” say is incorrect.  It didn’t work for me offset.  Don’t know why. 

Six: This is about the bold shapes and the way they carve up the picture plane. I find the lamp coming in on the right a necessary component. And I like the strong vertical on the left extending out of the frame.

Seven:  This one is about the colour, the black and dark red  and the splash of rich gooey colour.  I’m afraid of red. You will rarely to almost never see it in my paintings. I think perhaps it’s because it is such a bold colour and I am happier in the background. I’m realising I prefer the neutrals, the earth tones. 

Eight:  It’s about the line. In my own work I don’t like things to be too mushy and soft. Line, for me, provides strength.  I’ve got so much line in my current work and I can’t seem to stop. 

Nine: I like all the shapes, all different. The ones closest in shape on the right side have different colouring.  Contrary to what I said in Five, I preferred this circle shape slightly offset. Just didn’t seem to work bang on centre. I also like the simplified palette of neutrals with the orange. 

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