Note: This is the fourth in a 4-part series of articles on Lenses & Filters of The Creative Eye. You can find parts 1 here, 2 here, and 3 here.
In the first 3 parts of this series, we discussed the 3 lenses and 6 filters of creativity.
Now, we’re going to explore the last 3 filters. These 3 are:
1. The Flow Filter
2. The Gradient Filter
3. The Focus Filter
Let’s get started.
The Flow Filter
Continuity creates Closure
The human mind is a beautiful thing. Not only does it see what is, it also sees what is implied.
The Flow Filter makes you notice two implied visual phenomena:
1. Closure, through...
2. Continuity
Continuity is the natural flow of your eyes along lines and patterns towards specific parts or areas of an image. Closure is when your mind fills in empty space through visual cues to create a complete picture. Together, continuity and closure lead to cohesion and completion.
This is seen beautifully in nature, especially in schools of fish.
Fish positions in a school. Source: ResearchGate
Schools of fish appear to be moving with such coordination that it appears
automatic, or leaderless. It’s not.
Schooling units have leaders. Fish move with intent. The school moves with intent. A school shifts focus from the individual fish. This is intentional flow in action.
Moving as a single continuous unit allows the fish to scan for predators and prey.
This is how they use flow to create a “complete picture”.
This is done brilliantly in art, and Gustav Klimt is a master at this.
Farm Garden with Sunflowers by Gustav Klimt. Source: Wikimedia Commons
In his work, “Farm Garden with Sunflowers”, colours, lines and shapes flow into
each other to create a sense of unity and completion.
This painting is a masterpiece.
At first glance, it seems very underwhelming. It seems flat. To an untrained eye, it might seem like a flat, 2D child’s work.
But the more you see it, the more you notice. 2 minutes of studying this painting will reveal mastery in action.
You’ll notice the fantastic perspective of the sunflower plants, the hidden third
dimension of the flowers rising into the sky, the blending of colour while retaining
edges without creating blurs, and a lot more.
This is the power of flow.
It allows a creative to both direct or distract.
The Gradient Filter
Hierarchy defines Purpose
Any organized system has hierarchy, with the elements on top occupying the
highest position and power. A perfect example of this is the food chain, where life is organized based on who eats whom.
However, under water things are different. The ocean uses another way of
organization, where organisms are arranged based on the role they play in the
system.
Fluorescent coral. Source: Wikimedia Commons
Under the water, in the reef, the coral is king.
This might sound funny to many, considering the coral doesn’t really hunt.
But it’s true. The reef reigns.
The coral sustains.
The reef provides direct structure and habitat, and indirect food, for many
other marine lifeforms.
Now, this is where the gradient filter comes in.
Unlike the other filters, this filter analyses hierarchy and deduces function,
role and relationships based on position.
For a creative, this is the equivalent of a “bird’s eye view” in a sense.
This also applies to art...
The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch. Source: Wikimedia Commons
In “The Garden of Earthly Delights”, Hieronymus Bosch uses both
horizontal and vertical hierarchy marvelously.
The painting consists of 3 panels.
1. Life and Creation: The first panel on the left shows God with Adam
and Eve at the center (for emphasis and focus), surrounded by animals
and plants arranged symmetrically against a blue sky and green
landscape. This panel represents God, humanity, symmetry and order.
2. Heaven and Celebration: The central panel shows beings and animals
engaged in lust and the height of pleasure and joy. One interesting
thing you will notice is that the ones at the bottom of this panel are
doing less, with some just talking, while the ones at the top are angels
who are lost in flight. The ones in the central plane are the ones most
engaged in lust and enjoyment. This panel represents Heaven, fertility,
asymmetry and chaos.
3. Hell and Destruction: The last panel on the right shows tortured
beings with the Devil at the center. Even the background and colour
palette have their own hierarchy in comparison to the other 2 panels.
Closer inspection will also reveal the panel getting darker as it reaches
the top. This panel represents Hell, suffering, destruction and disorder.
This filter allowed Hieronymus Bosch to depict all of creation in a single
painting.
This is the power of Hierarchy.
It allows a creative to use order and structure to create and define purpose.
The Focus Filter
Focus directs Attention
We’re finally at the last filter. This filter is called the Focus Filter.
It is used to direct and draw attention. It is mostly used by magicians to distract and mislead. It can also be used to highlight and emphasize.
Alright, let’s “focus”. And let’s start with nature.
What do you see?
Ok, that’s too easy. Is that owl a male or female?
It’s neither. In fact, it isn’t even an owl. Fascinating, isn’t it?
Source: Wikimedia Commons
It’s an Owl Butterfly. It uses focus wonderfully. Its wings can hide, distract or attract.
Focus can do the same in art as well...
Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck. Source: Wikimedia Commons
In his work, the Arnolfini Portrait, Jan van Eyck uses focus wonderfully.
At first glance, the painting looks like an unassuming portrait of a couple in
their bedroom.
But there’s more than meets the eye.
Let’s dig a little deeper. Notice anything strange about the mirror on the wall
behind the couple?
It’s too small to notice, right? So let’s zoom in...
Now do you see?
Mr. Eyck used a convex mirror!!!
In a painting!!!
Do you realize what he just did?
He used a convex mirror to reflect the figures in front of the couple.
With this little trick, he’s now led the viewer into thinking that:
1. The room is much larger than it actually is.
2. The viewer is in the room with them.
This one design decision added depth, intimacy and realism in a single
stroke. A creative can do the same with this filter.
This is the power of focus.
Like the owl butterfly, one can hide, attract or distract with the use of focus.
And that concludes the 9 filters of creativity.
Please note that there are countless more. These are just the ones we felt were the most common. Now you have 3 lenses and 9 filters to “see” things differently.
The only left for you now is to start.
Happy creating!
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