Radical Impressionist: A Mathematician Paints

Santa Fe River Turbulence, with Dynamic Symmetry Armature, 10x16.  (golden ratio) Notes: (in progress: return again from time to time to see additions or modifications) 9/15/25: Edited a bit.  For example, the Wise Photo App Dynamic Symmetry Grid now works properly with a 2 to 3 proportion image (AR 1.5) since SLR cameras use this proportion. 5/15/23:    Added "Golden Rectangle" to the title to emphasize that this post is about the golden PHI proportion. Added an image with the Rule of Thirds superimposed over a PHI grid for the viewer to see the difference visually. Removed comment about other proportions since they are not represented in this post. Removed the Wise Photo App version of the Dynamic Symmetry grid applied to this golden proportioned painting since it distorted the size in its downloaded version.  In the App, it's best to use the PHI/Golden Triangle/Spiral 'grids' for golden rectangle proportions and the Dynamic Symmetry Grid for 3 to 4 or 2 to 3 ...

It's time to resume working on an article I've promised myself for years. Perhaps it could become a book. I've been too busy painting though. But also, the one gallery representing me (Marigold Gallery on Canyon Road in Santa Fe) closed in January so I've been thinking about next steps.  But the main reason I am thinking about this now is that I see some excitement generated in the community to revisit the design techniques that I see as mathematical, involving dynamic symmetry concepts. I could even touch on the deeper mathematics behind the techniques in an appendix. This will fulfill my need to marry my two passions: painting and mathematics. In any case, two years ago I took a zoom workshop with Michele Byrne (now of Santa Fe) well-known artist specializing in using a palette knife, my favorite painting tool. An added benefit of the workshop was to see how she employs dynamic symmetry in her work: https://www.oilpaintersofamerica.com/2022/03/dynamic-symmetry-and-ho...