bnsaijim

OMC: PErfecT! I LOVE IT!

Mike,

I too had thought of a car analogy... My thought being you can often suspect the source of the design. Advertisers will promote a ""European look and feel"... == "STYLE"

I would NOT call a "lack of style" a style, or again I think "school"or "movement" possibly clearer than the term reserved for upright, cascade... I don't intend any "value" judgement by it- simply, the work is not classifiable to Japanese/Chinese/"Pall-ian"... I think a basic requirement of a school/style is that you can give nonconflicting descriptors to it. Simplistically,

i.e., Japanese = tight, regulated, precise, potentially abstract, defined foliage masses reflecting an ïdeal tree, harmonizing understated pottery...

Chinese = less rigid growth patterns, emphasis on a repeated focal point, short movement-filled branches...

On ïndividual style: I think Walter has his own style. My wife tells me that I have my own style. I think Mike Page is another... I, however, know that some of my quirks are a result of specific individuals, notably Colin Lewis, Gary Marchal, and Steve Deluane who has just started hanging out here. If enough of us in a region begin to use common design traits we might get our regional school or style.

Now that my brain is more relaxed by fermented malt and hops... I wonder if perhaps there may not be some potential seeds for regional styles/schools, i.e., "Gulf Coast" - not sure about this one... or "Tropical School" African styling is perhaps the most advanced, from a codified perspective- they've at least published information on several defined styles unique to that continent... Perhaps a European Älps" school.

Might a school be recognizable, but not attributable to any given "region" quite so much?!?

Jim
TX