MADE YOU LOOK...at these oranges

Learning lines: an art-nerd's image breakdown

One of the first things I learned as an Art History major was to let the artist direct your eye. When we “read” an image using formal analysis, we break it down to its elements: line, shape/form, color, space, texture, light and dark. All work together to tell a story.

Below is an image I styled in collaboration with photographer Christopher Testani. I keep coming back to it again and again because, well, it makes me happy. Part of why it is satisfying to look at, I realized, is the direct use of line literally guiding your eye through the scene. While I arranged the props, I credit Chris entirely with finding the perfect frame and taking full advantage of these sharp lines to lead the eye.