The Art Wheels
The Art Wheels
“Sometimes I dream of a work of really great breadth, ranging through the whole region of element, object, meaning, and style. This I fear, will remain a dream, but it is a good thing even now to bear the possibility occasionally in mind. Nothing can be rushed. It must grow, it should grow of itself, and if the time ever comes for that work — then so much the better!”
— Paul Klee, 1924
The Art Wheels — Introduction
C.A. Morris, 2024
Back in the '90s, as a portrait artist who also explored all kinds of art making, I thought it would be interesting to paint children into their own paintings, letting them set the scene for their portraits. I'm inspired by the creative freedom of children — how they naturally explore broadly... playing with abstract shapes, depicting imaginary worlds, representing the world around them, throwing paint around expressionistically.
As I collaborated with kids on these portraits and continued my own creative explorations, it occurred to me that most of the basic elements of art employed by artists throughout history could be seen as inherent aspects of visual language, found even in children's art. I was accustomed to seeing various aspects of art placed on an art history timeline, but I kept seeing the timeless role each art element plays.
— Paul Klee, 1924
The Art Wheels — Introduction
C.A. Morris, 2024
Back in the '90s, as a portrait artist who also explored all kinds of art making, I thought it would be interesting to paint children into their own paintings, letting them set the scene for their portraits. I'm inspired by the creative freedom of children — how they naturally explore broadly... playing with abstract shapes, depicting imaginary worlds, representing the world around them, throwing paint around expressionistically.
As I collaborated with kids on these portraits and continued my own creative explorations, it occurred to me that most of the basic elements of art employed by artists throughout history could be seen as inherent aspects of visual language, found even in children's art. I was accustomed to seeing various aspects of art placed on an art history timeline, but I kept seeing the timeless role each art element plays.
“Sometimes I dream of a work of really great breadth, ranging through the whole region of element, object, meaning, and style. This I fear, will remain a dream, but it is a good thing even now to bear the possibility occasionally in mind. Nothing can be rushed. It must grow, it should grow of itself, and if the time ever comes for that work — then so much the better!”
— Paul Klee, 1924
The Art Wheels — Introduction
C.A. Morris, 2024
Back in the '90s, as a portrait artist who also explored all kinds of art making, I thought it would be interesting to paint children into their own paintings, letting them set the scene for their portraits. I'm inspired by the creative freedom of children — how they naturally explore broadly... playing with abstract shapes, depicting imaginary worlds, representing the world around them, throwing paint around expressionistically.
As I collaborated with kids on these portraits and continued my own creative explorations, it occurred to me that most of the basic elements of art employed by artists throughout history could be seen as inherent aspects of visual language, found even in children's art. I was accustomed to seeing various aspects of art placed on an art history timeline, but I kept seeing the timeless role each art element plays.
— Paul Klee, 1924
The Art Wheels — Introduction
C.A. Morris, 2024
Back in the '90s, as a portrait artist who also explored all kinds of art making, I thought it would be interesting to paint children into their own paintings, letting them set the scene for their portraits. I'm inspired by the creative freedom of children — how they naturally explore broadly... playing with abstract shapes, depicting imaginary worlds, representing the world around them, throwing paint around expressionistically.
As I collaborated with kids on these portraits and continued my own creative explorations, it occurred to me that most of the basic elements of art employed by artists throughout history could be seen as inherent aspects of visual language, found even in children's art. I was accustomed to seeing various aspects of art placed on an art history timeline, but I kept seeing the timeless role each art element plays.
As I collaborated with kids on these portraits and continued my own creative explorations, it occurred to me that most of the basic elements of art employed by artists throughout history could be seen as inherent aspects of visual language, found even in children's art. I was accustomed to seeing various aspects of art placed on an art history timeline, but I kept seeing the timeless role each art element plays.
I began to dream of ways to map out a sort of Periodic Table of Art Elements, looking for a way to recontextualize and reclaim the whole of visual language as something timeless, belonging to artists past, present, and future. A grid like the Periodic Table seemed to be too limiting, but I began to see relationships between the elements of art that could be arranged on a series of wheels similar to the color wheel — wheels for Form, Edges, Texture, Distortion of Form, etc., could each bring together a 360º spectrum of elements. This began with a wheel for Creative POV — the primary perspective utilized in a work of art…
I began to dream of ways to map out a sort of Periodic Table of Art Elements, looking for a way to recontextualize and reclaim the whole of visual language as something timeless, belonging to artists past, present, and future. A grid like the Periodic Table seemed to be too limiting, but I began to see relationships between the elements of art that could be arranged on a series of wheels similar to the color wheel — wheels for Form, Edges, Texture, Distortion of Form, etc., could each bring together a 360º spectrum of elements. This began with a wheel for Creative POV — the primary perspective utilized in a work of art…
As I collaborated with kids on these portraits and continued my own creative explorations, it occurred to me that most of the basic elements of art employed by artists throughout history could be seen as inherent aspects of visual language, found even in children's art. I was accustomed to seeing various aspects of art placed on an art history timeline, but I kept seeing the timeless role each art element plays.
I began to dream of ways to map out a sort of Periodic Table of Art Elements, looking for a way to recontextualize and reclaim the whole of visual language as something timeless, belonging to artists past, present, and future. A grid like the Periodic Table seemed to be too limiting, but I began to see relationships between the elements of art that could be arranged on a series of wheels similar to the color wheel — wheels for Form, Edges, Texture, Distortion of Form, etc., could each bring together a 360º spectrum of elements. This began with a wheel for Creative POV — the primary perspective utilized in a work of art…
I began to dream of ways to map out a sort of Periodic Table of Art Elements, looking for a way to recontextualize and reclaim the whole of visual language as something timeless, belonging to artists past, present, and future. A grid like the Periodic Table seemed to be too limiting, but I began to see relationships between the elements of art that could be arranged on a series of wheels similar to the color wheel — wheels for Form, Edges, Texture, Distortion of Form, etc., could each bring together a 360º spectrum of elements. This began with a wheel for Creative POV — the primary perspective utilized in a work of art…
Over the years, with input from fellow artists and friends, 11 Art Wheels have been mapped out. This site presents these wheels, inviting people to choose art elements from each of the wheels to help inspire creative exploration. Fun fact: If you select one element on each of the 11 Art Wheels, you get one of 67 billion possible approaches to art making! If 67B is not enough for you, you can always juxtapose multiple approaches for practically infinite possibilities! Also, try out a web app and site I've built called Shake the Muse that randomly selects a new set of art elements each time you shake your phone.
Looking at the range of contemporary works of art, it seems we’ve entered an era in art history that’s more like Paul Klee’s dream, with art spanning “the whole region of element, object, meaning, and style” — not as a single work of art, but as an ongoing exploration of visual language by artists everywhere.
In the late 19th century and throughout the 20th century, western culture celebrated individuality and the exploration of visual language. This freed artists from past constraints, allowing them to respond to their own experiences and the times in which they lived. However, one art element after another came to be seen as the property of an artist or perhaps a group of artists. (Surely, dots belong to the Pointillists!) Toward the end of the 20th century, most elements of visual language supposedly belonged to individuals or to art movements and thus the past.
In the 21st century, we're responding to worlds of information at our fingertips, and we’re dropping the constraints that pegged art elements to the timeline. We’re living in a world in which AI can easily mockup anything we can imagine. As artists, we see that we can do the same (better!) Judging by the diversity of the work being done today, last century's proprietary attitude regarding the art elements has finally faded away. We're celebrating the broadest scope of human creativity, recognizing a need and a desire to draw on all parts of visual language to fully express ourselves.
Hopefully, the Art Wheels help to reinforce a sense of the timeless relevance of all the elements of art, encouraging artists to use them freely and audiences to appreciate their use by living artists. Those still attached to 20th century notions of originality need not worry that free exploration of visual language will lead to derivative art. It's easy enough to see when an artist mimics a past master or period, trying to repeat the same nuances of that artist or era. Originality can be found in the countless subtle choices an artist makes while working within a set of parameters. And now, with the Art Wheels, it's easier than ever to find new parameters to explore!
— C.A. Morris
Looking at the range of contemporary works of art, it seems we’ve entered an era in art history that’s more like Paul Klee’s dream, with art spanning “the whole region of element, object, meaning, and style” — not as a single work of art, but as an ongoing exploration of visual language by artists everywhere.
In the late 19th century and throughout the 20th century, western culture celebrated individuality and the exploration of visual language. This freed artists from past constraints, allowing them to respond to their own experiences and the times in which they lived. However, one art element after another came to be seen as the property of an artist or perhaps a group of artists. (Surely, dots belong to the Pointillists!) Toward the end of the 20th century, most elements of visual language supposedly belonged to individuals or to art movements and thus the past.
In the 21st century, we're responding to worlds of information at our fingertips, and we’re dropping the constraints that pegged art elements to the timeline. We’re living in a world in which AI can easily mockup anything we can imagine. As artists, we see that we can do the same (better!) Judging by the diversity of the work being done today, last century's proprietary attitude regarding the art elements has finally faded away. We're celebrating the broadest scope of human creativity, recognizing a need and a desire to draw on all parts of visual language to fully express ourselves.
Hopefully, the Art Wheels help to reinforce a sense of the timeless relevance of all the elements of art, encouraging artists to use them freely and audiences to appreciate their use by living artists. Those still attached to 20th century notions of originality need not worry that free exploration of visual language will lead to derivative art. It's easy enough to see when an artist mimics a past master or period, trying to repeat the same nuances of that artist or era. Originality can be found in the countless subtle choices an artist makes while working within a set of parameters. And now, with the Art Wheels, it's easier than ever to find new parameters to explore!
— C.A. Morris
Over the years, with input from fellow artists and friends, 11 Art Wheels have been mapped out. This site presents these wheels, inviting people to choose art elements from each of the wheels to help inspire creative exploration. Fun fact: If you select one element on each of the 11 Art Wheels, you get one of 67 billion possible approaches to art making! If 67B is not enough for you, you can always juxtapose multiple approaches for practically infinite possibilities! Also, try out a web app and site I've built called Shake the Muse that randomly selects a new set of art elements each time you shake your phone.
Looking at the range of contemporary works of art, it seems we’ve entered an era in art history that’s more like Paul Klee’s dream, with art spanning “the whole region of element, object, meaning, and style” — not as a single work of art, but as an ongoing exploration of visual language by artists everywhere.
In the late 19th century and throughout the 20th century, western culture celebrated individuality and the exploration of visual language. This freed artists from past constraints, allowing them to respond to their own experiences and the times in which they lived. However, one art element after another came to be seen as the property of an artist or perhaps a group of artists. (Surely, dots belong to the Pointillists!) Toward the end of the 20th century, most elements of visual language supposedly belonged to individuals or to art movements and thus the past.
In the 21st century, we're responding to worlds of information at our fingertips, and we’re dropping the constraints that pegged art elements to the timeline. We’re living in a world in which AI can easily mockup anything we can imagine. As artists, we see that we can do the same (better!) Judging by the diversity of the work being done today, last century's proprietary attitude regarding the art elements has finally faded away. We're celebrating the broadest scope of human creativity, recognizing a need and a desire to draw on all parts of visual language to fully express ourselves.
Hopefully, the Art Wheels help to reinforce a sense of the timeless relevance of all the elements of art, encouraging artists to use them freely and audiences to appreciate their use by living artists. Those still attached to 20th century notions of originality need not worry that free exploration of visual language will lead to derivative art. It's easy enough to see when an artist mimics a past master or period, trying to repeat the same nuances of that artist or era. Originality can be found in the countless subtle choices an artist makes while working within a set of parameters. And now, with the Art Wheels, it's easier than ever to find new parameters to explore!
— C.A. Morris
Looking at the range of contemporary works of art, it seems we’ve entered an era in art history that’s more like Paul Klee’s dream, with art spanning “the whole region of element, object, meaning, and style” — not as a single work of art, but as an ongoing exploration of visual language by artists everywhere.
In the late 19th century and throughout the 20th century, western culture celebrated individuality and the exploration of visual language. This freed artists from past constraints, allowing them to respond to their own experiences and the times in which they lived. However, one art element after another came to be seen as the property of an artist or perhaps a group of artists. (Surely, dots belong to the Pointillists!) Toward the end of the 20th century, most elements of visual language supposedly belonged to individuals or to art movements and thus the past.
In the 21st century, we're responding to worlds of information at our fingertips, and we’re dropping the constraints that pegged art elements to the timeline. We’re living in a world in which AI can easily mockup anything we can imagine. As artists, we see that we can do the same (better!) Judging by the diversity of the work being done today, last century's proprietary attitude regarding the art elements has finally faded away. We're celebrating the broadest scope of human creativity, recognizing a need and a desire to draw on all parts of visual language to fully express ourselves.
Hopefully, the Art Wheels help to reinforce a sense of the timeless relevance of all the elements of art, encouraging artists to use them freely and audiences to appreciate their use by living artists. Those still attached to 20th century notions of originality need not worry that free exploration of visual language will lead to derivative art. It's easy enough to see when an artist mimics a past master or period, trying to repeat the same nuances of that artist or era. Originality can be found in the countless subtle choices an artist makes while working within a set of parameters. And now, with the Art Wheels, it's easier than ever to find new parameters to explore!
— C.A. Morris