Balancing the yin and the yang

"End of the Trail" by Hongnian Zhang

I remembered I have a little selection of books on oil painting and this one caught my eye last evening-- The Yin/Yang of Painting by Hongnian Zhang and Lois Woolley. If you are interested in painting (in any medium really, though this one addresses oils specifically) you will learn so much from their perspective on how the yin and the yang, basically the opposing energy or opposites plays into a successful painting. Here is the list of ying/yang elements that it addresses:
Value: Dark/Light
Composition:  Up/Down, Left/Right, Front/Back, Big/Little
Color Temperature:  Cold/Warm
Color Intensity:  Soft/Strong
Color Hue:  Green/Red, Purple/Yellow, Blue/Orange
Texture Application:  Thin/Thick
Paint Quality:  Transparent/Opaque
Brushwork Length:  Short/Long
Brushwork Speed:  Slow/Fast
Brushwork Edges:  Blurred/Sharp
Evaluating my painting based on each one of these elements helped me to see certain things that were working and not working! My color range was too broad, which made my colors get muddy and lose their intensity. My original idea (and your first impression when doing a landscape is so important to remember!) was that there was a great contrast between the blue (yin) and the orange (yang). In the painting above by Hongnian Zhang you can see the same color palette, yet these two "parent colors" make lots of colors when mixed. There is a good sense of direction created by the sunlight on the snow and the brushstrokes create movement also. Of course the trees vary in size-- big in front, small in back, warmer colors come forward, cooler recede. There are more details on the closer trees and basic areas of color in the background. I am so excited to paint again with the right palette of colors and to consider the yin/yang balance in my own work. "Balance" seems to be my word for 2011. Every time I think of my health, my attitude, my emotions, my work load... I think of this word and try to remember that balance is what I should strive to achieve in everything I do. That is what brings happiness and contentment no matter what the circumstance.
I hope you have a really good weekend! We are finally going to take our Christmas decorations down!! Ha! January has just flown by and it just looks so cozy with all the twinkling lights inside! ;)