The Seven Secrets of Art

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    Philip Koch, High Trees, oil on panel, 28 x 21"
    2015. To be included in the Burchfield Penney
    Art Center's Live Auction at their annual Gala
    Sept. 19, 2015
I like to make lists. Here are some bullet points I sometimes give out to my students. As you can see I failed badly at keeping the list down to just seven ideas. 

 The 7 Secrets of Art, and a few more.                                        Philip Koch

 Secret #1. That there are Secrets.

 #2. That there are in fact rules (though they can be elusive to understand).

 #3. Tones (darks and lights) are more important than color.

 #4. Shapes are more important than color.

 #5. Silhouettes are more important than details.

 #6. Intervals of empty space are more important than forms.

 #7. Craftmanship is always in style.

 #8. The problem with ones work-in-progress usually isn't where one thinks it is. 

 #9. Art is not an idea but a vision.

 #10. Art is the marriage of the skeptic and the hopeless romantic.

 # 11. Art revists the joys and terrors of childhood.

 #12. An artist has to grasp some of the threads that were woven by the great masters and carry them forward into our own time.

 #13. Creating art is ususally solitary, but sometimes the artist needs feedback from someone they trust who has a good eye.

 #14. The art world is filled with all kinds of people. Most often they  
are-
genuine
insightful
exciting

 But inevitably you will run into things that are-
confused
pretentious
downright silly

 #15. Keep your eyes open, your heart warm, and stick to your guns.



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