I like circles.

Today I looked at the details on a large quilt-in-progress in the studio and noticed how much it incorporated circles. (I don’t always realize what I have designed till I step back to take a look.)

Circles are simple. Everybody responds to circles. They are good unifying shapes.

 But boy-oh-boy can they get you in trouble!

If you have two circles side by side, or even anywhere close to one another in a line, and if there is anything like a line anywhere below these two circles, watch out. Somebody will look at your composition and see a face. Two eyes and a line for mouth = face.

And, once somebody has seen that, they cannot help but tell you about it. And then they tell other people at the exhibit. (“Look, Dave, over here at this work. Doesn’t that look like a face?”) Before long nobody is interested in anything else.

And if the two circles are even remotely aligned side by side and there is anything remotely like a triangle somewhere below, somebody will look at your composition and see a naked female torso. And, before you know it, that’s all anybody sees or wants to talk to you about.

And, if your circle is not completely closed, and if the opening is at the side, somebody will see a Pac-Man character. Guess what. Then that’s all they see and want to talk about.

If you incorporate birds or other creatures in your composition, be very careful in placing them near a circle. Or suddenly the people at the exhibit will be talking about the bird that laid an egg or is pooping.

So… warning! Elements in your composition are always relating to other elements and can create suggestions of shapes that you never intend.

(Who knew the lowly circle could cause so much trouble?)

Even so, circles can do some very nice things in a composition.

They fit nicely together to create a rhythmic pattern.

They can suggest movement, looking like some kind of life form or bubble

The varied ways to create circles (drawing, painting, stencils, resists and relief prints) mean that they don’t have to be boring. You can mix colors and distort the shape a little.

And, shapes that aren’t exactly circular can function like a circle. Shapes that are close-to-circles have an interesting organic feel.

In this work-in progress, my mix of circles is relating to some photo transfers and some linear elements. I’m looking forward to pulling it all together.

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For all the artmakers: Happy creating
For all the art lovers: Happy appreciating 

Thank you for reading. I always enjoy questions and comments.
--Bobbi
bobbi@bobbibaughstudio.com

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