Take Two

Here is composition number two with the same pile of mid-August smokebush leaves. How much do you think I want to nudge that second to the bottom leaf-pair to center the top leaf better? Lol. Actually, this is a good opportunity to talk about imperfection in design. There is a long history of artisans deliberately putting imperfections into their work to give each piece a unique character, cultural significance, and emotional connection to its creator. It is well known, for example that traditional rug makers, including Navajo, Islamic, and African American weavers, have intentionally incorporated imperfections into their work because they believed that only god can make things perfect. Humans are flawed, they reasoned, and since our flaws make us human, to celebrate them is to acknowledge our humanity. I did not deliberately off-set that leaf, but on second thought, I now rather like it. Or at least celebrate it as my flawed humanity :-)

smoke-bush leaves in August (Cotinus)