An artist’s path to simplicity is often wrought with complications. The more I try to think of an interesting and simple composition, the more it trends toward a complicated one. Usually, these become quick sketches set aside to become a “to do” on my bucket list. Ah, I so desire the good old days when I could paint more simple compositions.

However, most artists try their best to draw or paint something that has never been depicted by another artist. This often leads to complicated compositions. For example, I have one of these on my bucket list. Sincerely, I doubt if I’ll ever get around to drawing it, because this one is almost too much of a challenge. Originally, it was planned to be a finished graphite drawing the same size as The Grinding Gears of Time (18″x22″).

The composition in mind would be a self portrait of me sitting at a table working on a puzzle. The picture would be straight on where I was on the opposite side of the table, and the puzzle (obviously) was lying flat on the table with the top of the puzzle toward the viewer. The picture depicted on the puzzle was exactly the composition the viewer was seeing. In other words it would be a self-portrait of me putting a puzzle together which was a self-portrait of me putting a puzzle together.

In the composition, I would be finishing the puzzle by reaching out to place the last piece to it. This piece would be a portion of the right eye…the portion that showed the pupil. I would be reaching forward with the piece in my hand angling it so the pupil would be staring straight at the viewer.

It’s not that this composition is complicated enough, but upon further consideration, I realized it was even much more complicated. For, what was the depiction of the “me” in the puzzle doing? He was putting a puzzle of “me” putting a puzzle together, which meant it would stretch into ad infinitum — over and over.

Since the top of the puzzle is toward the viewer, there is perspective involved. Realize, the bottom of the puzzle is near the body of the figure. In other words the top of the puzzle (near the viewer) is slightly wider than the bottom. Not only this, think of the complications of foreshortening. My arm and hand will stretch toward the viewer with the last piece of the puzzle. It also stretches toward “me” in the picture depicted in the puzzle…ad infinitum.

See why this composition is on my bucket list? I will do it, but what a challenge! I think I’ll go back to drawing trees with no leaves. How do they say it? Keep it simple…stupid.

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