Tools of the Trade - Notan

Notan is a Japanese design concept meaning light-dark harmony or balance, using black and white shapes, rather than a grey scale. In essence it’s a composition tool that helps artists identify shapes and pattern.

Whilst looking at the book 'Composition' by Arthur Wesley Dow, I found a comprehensive blog by Stephen Berry who has (thankfully) completed an extensive book review- making light work of a fairly dense and poetic text.

In the blog I was drawn to the comparison of great composition and the balance of shapes created by Yin and Yang. Two shapes swirling around each other, intertwined, each with a piece of the other within it.

Having looked afresh at a few of my paintings in the last series, I’ve applied the principles of Notan, and recognised a few things I can do with a couple of the weaker pieces. I did cheat and include mid tones aswell but can see the benefit of just B&W.

This painting for example, when reduced to a two tone notan helps me see what I think is a strong composition- dynamic, and varied shapes, intertwined for interest.

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This painting however, has clarity in its upper third but is value noisy in the lower two thirds. The four corners compete with roughly similar weight. Finally the right left balance is too equal with insufficient variation in size and dominance. Shame I didn’t realise all this before I framed it!!

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I think I got carried away because I loved the feel of it, the colours and pattern! I let these get in the way of a strong composition and probably rushed it for Open Studios.

So my plan- when I’m back in the studio? I’m going to try simplifying the bottom third into fewer, larger value shapes. Pick either bottom-left or bottom-right corner and quieten it down by merging it toward one value- helping it become more restful.

And then when I’ve done all this, reconsider where I want the viewers focus to be. If I don’t get too carried away I’ll try to remember to take photographs of the changes.

I've often used a grey scale to analyse my paintings, looking at where the greatest areas of contrast sit, or where there maybe too many focal points, or mid values. But using the B&W has helped simplyfy what I'm looking at interms of shape, pattern and Yin & Yang.

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