Ways of Krafting

So you got your tools, materials; you got some time, some energy, some ideas... What now?

I've asked several of my artist/friends to share their thoughts on how things get composed.  I'll keep adding to this as more come in.  Here's mine.  It can be as much about anything with natural materials as much as furniture:

Composing a rustic piece is a balance between honoring and retaining the
natural characteristics of the materials, and at the same time, adding an
appropriate degree of crafting and geometry to mark its presence in the
cultural world

Other aspects of this process can include thoughtful changes in proportion,
texture, color and size.  Each of these variables has a message to convey.

A third approach is to begin with quite a simple understructure--almost
plain--and over that add other elements which are not required for the basic
steadiness of the piece.

Division of space into thirds is a common place to start and often, for a
rustic 3-D piece, the negative, empty space is as important as any branch.
Similarly, the changing nature of light and shadow on the piece can be
considered a part of the piece.  That is, it isn't really a piece till it's
in daily use.                                                                         Daniel Mack

                                                                                            1/31/07

From  Collagist Jonathan Talbot a gifted teacher of collage, art and creativity

Composition & Collage

Collage makes composition easy since one can move the elements
around and visually examine a variety of options...Here are some approaches.

1. Arrange and rearrange the elements until they "look right."

2. Arrange the elements in order from the least interesting to the most
interesting.  Remember that whether something is "interesting" or not
depends entirely on the context provided by the other elements.  Then
commit to using less of the most interesting elements and more of the
less interesting elements and proceed as in step one.

3. Base your composition on a composition made by one of your
"artistic ancestors."  Artists from Durer to Picasso and from 
Lichtenstein to Warhol have used this method effectively.

4. Go to sleep. Dream of an image. Wake up. Make the image in
your dream out of whatever materials are available.

Remember... Almost all children make wonderful artwork.  You have
it in you!  All you have to do is get some of the "adult" stuff out of the
way.

                                                                          2/3/07