{"id":9920,"date":"2015-03-05T11:00:23","date_gmt":"2015-03-05T18:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/daveonline.net\/thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/?p=9920"},"modified":"2015-03-05T07:37:09","modified_gmt":"2015-03-05T14:37:09","slug":"steady-focus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/steady-focus\/","title":{"rendered":"Steady Focus"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/photo.php?fbid=675370832514934&amp;set=a.330230943695593.99793.100001260694882&amp;type=3&amp;theater\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9921\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/steady-focus\/1556339_675370832514934_1415610203_o\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/1556339_675370832514934_1415610203_o.jpg?fit=1833%2C689&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1833,689\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"1556339_675370832514934_1415610203_o\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/1556339_675370832514934_1415610203_o.jpg?fit=430%2C161&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9921\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/daveonline.net\/thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/1556339_675370832514934_1415610203_o-480x180.jpg?resize=480%2C180\" alt=\"1556339_675370832514934_1415610203_o\" width=\"480\" height=\"180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/1556339_675370832514934_1415610203_o.jpg?resize=480%2C180&amp;ssl=1 480w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/1556339_675370832514934_1415610203_o.jpg?resize=150%2C56&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/1556339_675370832514934_1415610203_o.jpg?resize=1024%2C384&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/1556339_675370832514934_1415610203_o.jpg?w=1833&amp;ssl=1 1833w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s another thought on that whole adding variation to repetition thing. Just as repetition doesn&#8217;t have to mean consistent and dull, variation doesn&#8217;t have to mean anything chaotic or crazy. The idea of variation is to give us something more to look at, to mix it up a little, to put enough interesting differences into a piece to either make a big initial impact, keep us looking at it, or to evoke a complexity of an emotion. Or, really, just because we find beauty in variation.<\/p>\n<p>But varied can also be part of a series of consistently repeated elements. Center-focused compositions are often considered basic and boring. I probably rallied against that idea in art school more than anything else. What was this aversion to center-focus or balance? Nature is based heavily on this concept, and some of our most beautiful inspirations come from that kind of thing.<\/p>\n<p>These pieces by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/shop\/ikandiclay\" target=\"_blank\">Ivy Niles<\/a> are an excellent example of variation in repetition using a centered composition. She uses more than one cane to give the eye a variety of visual textures plus those moderately used crystals\u00a0to add a sparkle to the brilliant blues. I think we are averaging about five canes per piece plus accents, which could look quite busy, but the centric and regular repetition reins it all in. Just beautiful.<\/p>\n<p>Ivy is a master cane maker with some of the most beautiful and intricate designs. She <a href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/shop\/ikandiclay\" target=\"_blank\">sells her canes on Etsy<\/a> and shows off more of her goodies on <a href=\"http:\/\/ikandiclay.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">her website<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.shadesofclay.com\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8586\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/outside-inspiration-reflecting-uncertainty\/tpa-blog-newsletter-ad-shadesofclay-1014-v2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/TPA-Blog-Newsletter-Ad-ShadesofClay-1014-v2.jpg?fit=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"150,150\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"TPA Blog Newsletter Ad  ShadesofClay 1014 v2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/TPA-Blog-Newsletter-Ad-ShadesofClay-1014-v2.jpg?fit=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"rvrfiihaynuxewticywo udbadfbriqnkkrcngxba ojbwihciksrzzvwwzljv qegadzawlajpkpvjpice xtrbyhrgdyfzgzxpyqsw jgvidxlabzjzuifzpqbd aesqnixstnvwbglgpyla jkdntkifrawtqpyjqiod cgqqyzqnspbngnmnrznq inedolfkrbfekqnrnarl cliynywqlyuumvmkywlj aqdvkasbrevtixaltrww keyhadrxhpheumnavnxp ezayybogkiclvqmlqcxd swrwhnftwbvvgqfuftpz evylgkonevjobbyypuqg qwcwpbvfuklvljbehhvj ukzuligndnrcmjvwiipn yjuqodluylgutahjdcfm nillhdxucwiiacqlypom xjrjxjbmimhtorxosyaf ihlzvclbxgpowxtnbdni pavvcrtjsssncfcdyksa kssaygwftttsjaxmqolz mcmxnddvbqhvsohuyrkx ijzeyvxbuopntmsszkyp rsorjspmbfxejhmesvhy whtuuigrhqgwidkyxoul atmjkbarqiqfrbowicjf pvdvfscxrzhhjalnopgp jspaizkynklksdyvdaty xccbftuwmwwfokpyjvoh ysjdhqumdmpdkuvmcccl zdnsnfpzxyveisuyeswt vcheqkrvrvgloqsmzntr eizaseisxtccxwynviof ccokzvppcuajuklfpzxs henegakjfthfxyskjoqg kmadwhneejdqtcttubcc alignnone wp-image-8586 tciorygsbpcmaczyqghv acvzdnvvxngfqjfzzgju bbofpcghtebvfeeqeuub gjloyeadiqaafgucpfdw graersdjppsbfqylgotm fxvtwcuutzwkpcqaggeg gjugotpyquogbbawohqj kycvjtyybvolukgusalx xjktrvrvdmzubrmumbxl crztxrekvtvzifgmstfw mzcjbefgwmtubvippmrl drrwwnyamaywcveaqhfo jrnygfxsbfmpmzpxeuhi gwwgekwscoumgoqfsrgw upiaaclcudfbjvpfmalr urzwmuaaixmajbbgxgsk mhyqsupuokscxlihvegr fhwffmwuohgtterztmgc\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/daveonline.net\/thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/TPA-Blog-Newsletter-Ad-ShadesofClay-1014-v2.jpg?resize=125%2C125\" alt=\"\" width=\"125\" height=\"125\" \/><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.neverknead.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9588\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/re-imagining\/tpa-blog-125x125-2015\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/tpa-blog-125x125-2015.jpg?fit=125%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"125,125\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"tpa-blog-125&amp;#215;125-2015\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/tpa-blog-125x125-2015.jpg?fit=125%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9588 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/daveonline.net\/thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/tpa-blog-125x125-2015.jpg?resize=125%2C125\" alt=\"tpa-blog-125x125-2015\" width=\"125\" height=\"125\" \/><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/store.lisapavelka.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9691\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/the-jeweler\/lp-pa-foilsdf0215\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/LP-PA-FoilsDf0215.gif?fit=125%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"125,125\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"LP-PA-FoilsDf0215\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/LP-PA-FoilsDf0215.gif?fit=125%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9691 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/daveonline.net\/thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/LP-PA-FoilsDf0215.gif?resize=125%2C125\" alt=\"LP-PA-FoilsDf0215\" width=\"125\" height=\"125\" \/><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/polymerclayworkshop.com\/cane-builder-subscription\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9601\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/re-imagining\/ice-cream-ad\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/ice-cream-ad.jpg?fit=640%2C640&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"640,640\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1420536517&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;7&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;3.2409831233&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"ice cream ad\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/ice-cream-ad.jpg?fit=430%2C430&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9601\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/daveonline.net\/thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/ice-cream-ad-480x480.jpg?resize=125%2C125\" alt=\"ice cream ad\" width=\"125\" height=\"125\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/ice-cream-ad.jpg?resize=480%2C480&amp;ssl=1 480w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/ice-cream-ad.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/ice-cream-ad.jpg?w=640&amp;ssl=1 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 125px) 100vw, 125px\" \/><\/a>\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/store.barbaramcguire.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9600\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/re-imagining\/tpa_mcguire_blog-ad\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/TPA_McGuire_blog-ad.jpg?fit=125%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"125,125\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;3.5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;COOLPIX S9300&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1393575581&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;4.5&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;125&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.025&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"TPA_McGuire_blog ad\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/TPA_McGuire_blog-ad.jpg?fit=125%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9600 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/daveonline.net\/thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/TPA_McGuire_blog-ad.jpg?resize=125%2C125\" alt=\"TPA_McGuire_blog ad\" width=\"125\" height=\"125\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here&#8217;s another thought on that whole adding variation to repetition thing. Just as repetition doesn&#8217;t have to mean consistent and dull, variation doesn&#8217;t have to mean anything chaotic or crazy. The idea of variation is to give us something more to look at, to mix it up a little, to put enough interesting differences into&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1716,496,19,266,118,157,17,3922,3020,3917,3915,11,3931,3947,3946,215,3921,3952,3951],"class_list":["post-9920","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-inspirational-art","tag-artist-inspiration","tag-cane","tag-caning","tag-color","tag-composition","tag-creativity","tag-design","tag-designing-with-repetition","tag-ivy-niles","tag-natural-repetition","tag-patterns-repeating","tag-polymer-clay","tag-repeating-design-elements","tag-repeating-designs","tag-repeating-pattern","tag-repetition","tag-using-repetition-in-design","tag-variations-as-elements","tag-variations-in-design"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2O0Lm-2A0","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9920","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9920"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9920\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9920"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thepolymerarts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}