It has often been noted that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." However, although the beauty is there, not everyone will spot it. It may take a painting or a photograph to make you sit up and take notice.
In fact, many artists believe that their success depends more on their ability to see than to draw.
Whether you are an artist or not, you can learn to see more clearly, to notice the beauty around you. The beauty of God's creation is everywhere. It is not necessary to travel hundreds of miles to behold it. Awe-inspiring scenery may be distant, but impressive art can be found in your neighborhood if you look for it and — more important — if you know how to took for it. In other words, you need to go out and look at things in a new light.
The Elements of Beauty
These elements can be discerned in almost every facet of nature. The more often you pause to observe them, the more you will enjoy this art.
Forms and Patterns
This world has multiple forms. Some are linear like the columns of a clump of bamboo or geometric' like a spider's web, whereas others are shapeless like a cloud that changes constantly. Many forms are attractive, whether they can be an exotic orchid, the spirals of a seashell, or even the branches of a tree that has shed its leaves.
When the same form is repeated, it creates a pattern that may also be visually appealing. For example, imagine a stand of tree trunks in a forest. Their forms —each one different, yet similar —create a pleasing pattern. But discern the forms and the pattern they create, there must be light.
Light
The distribution of light gives a special quality to the forms you find attractive. Details are highlighted, the texture is colored, and a mood is created. Light varies according to the time of day, the season of the year, the weather, and even the place where you live. A cloudy day with its diffused light is ideal for appreciating the subtle tones of wildflowers or autumn leaves, whereas the crags and peaks of a mountain range show off their dramatic forms when sculptured by the rising or setting sun. The soft, wintry sunlight of the Northern Hemisphere lends romance to a pastoral landscape. On the other hand, the bright sun of the Tropics converts the shallow sea into a transparent wonderland for snorkelers.
Color
Color gives life to the different objects you see around. While their form may distinguish them, their color highlights their uniqueness. Furthermore, the distribution of colors in harmonious patterns creates its own beauty. It may be a vibrant color like red or orange that cries out for attention, or a relaxing color like blue or green. Imagine a patch of yellow flowers in a glade. The light catches the yellow blossoms, while seem to glow in the morning air, while dark tree trunks fringed by the morning sun form a perfect backdrop. Now you have a picture. All you need to do is "frame" it, which is where composition comes in.
Composition
The way, in which the three basic elements— form, light, and color — combine determines the composition. And here you, as observer, have a crucial role to play. Just by moving slightly forward, backward, to one side, higher, or lower, you can adjust the elements or the lighting in your picture. You can thus crop the picture to include only the elements that you desire. Often, you automatically compose picture when you come across a magnificent view that, is framed by nearby trees or vegetation. But many exquisite pictures, on a smaller scale, may be underneath your feet.
The God's Art
In God's handiwork both big and small are beautiful, and your pleasure will be multiplied if you learn to see the details, which also combine pleasingly. They form miniature paintings that are scattered across nature's large canvas. To appreciate them, all you need to do is stoop down and take a closer look.
Apart from the aesthetic pleasure it gives us, nature's art — both large and small — can draw us closer to our Creator.
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