OR, Why Less is MoreHere is the story of how Turner first came to paint the red buoy which became a feature of his seascapes.
On the "varnishing day" before an exhibit, when the artists were putting the finishing touches to their pictures, Constable was adding over-the-top red details. His painting was right next to Turner's own expansive seascape of soft, cool, muted greys.
Turner stood in perfect silence watching Constable as he added more and more warm touches to his already busy scene.
When Constable left, Turner stepped up and placed a small dot of vermillion on his painting. It is said that this first apearance of the red dot was meant to provoke Constable into seeing that, in art, less is more.
The exhibit commitee tried to persuade Turner that the red dot had to go. So he changed it into a buoy. This single red dot so pleased him that it became a feature of his seascapes.
I call my work "The Art of Stillness" and Turner was one of my first inspirations.
