More Than Meets the Eye
Silhouettes Can Hide A Lot
I've always loved to look at and paint silhouettes. I find them to be mysterious and alluring in a way that draws me in every time.
They're also a good study in form. Without a lot of color or detail to distract your attention, it forces you to focus on the shape of an object, which is often not at the forefront of your mind otherwise.
The basis of a silhouette is very simple. The background must to lighter than the foreground. That's the only rule, to be able see more in the distance than you can up close.
The degree of contrast will determine how dramatic, or not, the silhouette will look.
This is a beautiful concept in art and in life...to an extent.
However, it can be all too easy to slip into viewing people that way too - just seeing their form with no content.
Male, female, black, white, old, young and countless other "labels" based on form only.
But people are far more than just a silhouette.
They are each intricate, detail rich fellow human beings with stories to tell, quirks to appreciate (or not) and countless personality traits that more often than not, will mirror some of your own.
Although you can't possible get to know everyone, it can be very interesting when you make an effort to pay more attention to the people you come in contact with on a regular basis.
This could be your mail carrier, the cashier at the grocery store, or even that neighbor you see all the time but never speak to.
You'll find that when you focus more on the foreground and less in the distance, the details of people will be far more interesting than vague impressions based on form only.
Much like the trees painted in full color with immense detail will be exponentially more interesting than the plain black silhouette, so your life will be also when you see more detail in the ones around you.
So with COVID restrictions lifting, summer in full swing, and the 4th of July right around the corner, make an effort whenever you can to see more than silhouettes. Your life experience will be richer because of it and theirs will too.
Enter to Win Today!
Congratulations to Sally from Alabama. She is the winner of June's contest.
By the way, the answer to last month's puzzle is "Tropical Hideaway". If you missed it don't worry, you can enter now for a chance to win this month's contest!
Here is This Week's Clue
Below is a puzzle piece from one of the paintings in the gallery. Guess the name of the painting correctly and you'll be entered for a chance to win a FREE MUG of your choice!
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Find the name of painting below in the gallery |
Use this Entry Form to send in your answer |
Guess again next week for another chance to win |
See below for more details.
We'll pick a new winner each month!
But hurry, this month's contest expires on Saturday, July 31, 2021 at midnight EST.
How to Enter to Win Your FREE MUG
It's super simple to be entered to win; just follow the steps below:
- Take a good look at the puzzle piece above. It's a clip from one of the paintings on this site.
- Head over to the Gallery and identify the name of the painting it belongs to.
- Use this Contest Entry Form to send in your answer.
- You will be registered to win if you choose the name of the correct painting and we receive it before the contest expiration date above.
- We only accept one entry per email address per contest but there will be a new puzzle piece released in each newsletter so you can enter to win once per month.
- There will be one winner per month. The name of the winner will be drawn on the first day of the following month.
- The winner will be notified by email.
- By entering this contest you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
Remember, go to the Gallery and find the name of the painting that is shown in the puzzle piece above and send your answer using this Contest Entry Form.
Good Luck!