Or as Sondheim perfectly phrased, “Seeing all of the pieces but none of the whole”…I often focus on parts of paintings when promoting work because the detail is so vivid. But suppose as a fellow artist recently posed to me, the detail is more interesting than the whole? If a detail is the best part of an overall work then I have a problem, unless it’s the focus or intention. With that said, we can only focus on one area at a time when looking at anything. So the recipe for making a painting is a bunch of cohesive details. What about when viewing a picture and there is an awkward moment in the painting? It may be a problem or, what makes the painting successful. So the trick is to make All parts good. Glad I solved that.
…As if I were Trees. The ground could open, He would still say, PLEASE. Who Could Know With You George?
My response to the question: What if the detail is better than the whole? I sometimes think of executing the detail in a larger format, but usually just move on.
Sunday in the Park With George. 1984. Stephen Sondheim, Music & Lyrics, James Lapine, Book
Woven Pattern, Blue
2021, acrylic on paper, 12”x9”