Mull it Over Monday: Applying 80/20 to Painting

Lone Fressia  oil on wood  8" x 8"  Available here.
80/20:  Mostly gray, 20% color. 

Back in the 90's I had a wall dedicated to "art and photos that inspire."  It was a mostly a collage of art magazine clippings...  I looked at it when I need a little giddy-up in my get-up-and-go. These days I keep eye popping art in a folder on my computer. It's more managageable and easier to update. Some images become old fast, some retain their motivational qualities over time, all are worthwhile.

I'm forever trying to identify "why" I like what I like. (and if I figure it out, of course how do I infuse my art with it.) Some identifiable traits I fancy time and time again: Art that combines representational painting with abstract, technical brilliance, "cute," "hot colors right now," and "graphic." I happened to see a video on Apartment Therapy and it fleshed out another trait I didn't really know about: 80/20. 80/20 is a ratio that applies not only to decorating one's apartment. It's good for painting too! (...not to mention easier to grasp than the golden mean.)  Our brains are hard wired to sizzle upon encountering this visual ratio. It's relatively simple: Just like a neutral livingroom pops with a few orange pillows, so too will a gray landscape pop when we see a bit of cerulean blue peeking through the clouds.

John Stamos is one of very few
who can pull off the 50/50 mullet.

I took another look at my inspiration folder and immediately recognized paintings that incorporate 80/20!

If you find yourself struggling with a painting, consider applying the 80/20 ratio! Too much chaos? Too busy? Too dark? Sometimes less is more and knowing how much less can turn an otherwise boring painting into something special.