Notan

This is a pretty quick read.  If you have issues with composition, negative space, or foreground / background interchange opportunities this can help.  Here are some of the points I took away from book.

• Just as we take advantage of what is, we should recognize the utility of what is not.
• Notan the interaction between light and dark (positive and negative space).
• The balance of yin and yang.  The equilibrium of the opposites in unity.  The whole made by separate parts is the inescapable reality.  The opposites complement each other; they are not in confliction with each other.
• Give the positive space weight and stability so that the negative space can flow in between the positive space and hold the composition together.
• The interplay between solid and fluid form creates the feeling of movement within the painting.
• The central idea in creating is that all aspects of the painting are important and demand full consideration in the execution.
• Distortion-the artist must distort all planes within the painting to express exchange and interest between the planes in the picture.
• Create distortion in order to give meaning to no-thing or to give a thing reality of thing-ness.
• The exchange between form and space and its balance.
• Feeling / Seeing slow-in depth non critical observation.  The ability to feel through our eyes beyond what our hand could feel.
• When we are able to feel what we see our sense of wonder opens up.  We don't look at things with preconceived notions and when we are able to look at things long enough, it is then that we can see the complexity in the most simple things and our sense of wonder returns.
• It is what is seen not what your mind tells you-you are seeing.