Susan Klinger

Every painting has its starting point. For me, a ‘notan’ sketch is a technique that leads to my most successful work. So, what is a notan? Notan is a Japanese design concept that focuses on the placement of light and dark shapes within a composition. Simply put, a notan is a sketch that breaks down the many values in a scene into a pattern of interlocking light and dark shapes. I first learned of this approach while experiencing a low point in my art making. I was feeling as