K.A. Rutledge

Doug wrote:
"Art is not only expression, but communication. It doesn't happen in a vacuum."
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Exactly. And the "rules" (useful guidelines and conventions for communicating your aims) are the basics of "language" for this communication. They are not, however, the fullness of this communication. While Doug writes that "it doesn't happen in a vaccum." applies to the communication beteen the work and the viewer (or perhaps the artist and the viewer), it also applies to the communication between the various elements that make up the work.

For instance, the "rule" of having your branches emerge from the trunk on the outside of curves is not the fullness of what is necessary to create a coherent, beautiful composition. This guideline does not exist in a vaccum. In order to approach the fullness of the "real" principle, that branch must have a character that is consistent with the size of the trunk, the movement of the trunk, the character of the trunk, etc... It must also have a character that is appropriate for its location on the tree, etc...

These fundamentals (rules) are just the very surface principles. It is up to your further work that makes them applicable in the context of quality work.

Kind regards,
Andy Rutledge
zone 8, Texas