Does there need to be a Point?

As quiltmakers we have all seen (and often made) many traditional quilts, and so we are used to our work not having a focal point (FP), but looking at art magazines (of course when I should be working!), the presence of the focal point, aka "centre of interest" is often discussed.

 We are shown exactly where to create the The Point - not in the middle - oh no!! (finger wags like the actress in the airlines' movie about not smoking on board!!! naughty naughty!!), in the middle would be a Bull's Eye!  Actually, it was never the bull's eye that bothered me, but its horns.   

But the FP couldn't be on the edge either, otherwise one's eyes would slide off - a rather painful and disfiguring process I would think...although flounders seem to adapt being born with an eye on each side of the head, and  gradually having one of them slide over to the other side...maybe they looked at too much bad art?

NO, the Point should be at one of the 4 corners of the "golden area" where the division in thirds lines cross.  Photographers, I've noticed, love the Rule of Thirds, I think it's all that figuring out of precise stops that makes them so obsessive.  Or leads the obsessive to that kind of photography - was it the chicken or the egg that held the camera first, I just don't know! but just mention Rule of Thirds to a photographer and see him light up!

We're also told precisely how to create an effpee - well yes I know that sounds a little lewd, but really it's not.  To create an Eff Pee  you use contrast! One variable against a very different one. Like ketchup on icecream, enough to make anyone want to eff pee, actually.

But why should we do it?  aha!! Now, pay Attention!! for IT (attention) is the name of the game, it's the cherry on the cake, the pay packet at the end of the week, the laugh line (after a pause - contrast, right?)......................................................................................................................................................................................................
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YES!!  (as Yoko Ono had printed on a small piece of paper pasted on the ceiling of the gallery which persuaded even John Lennon to claim up a ladder to read......
not only have a point (yes!  as Molly Bloom said - repeatedly if I recall - in Ulysses) but put it in an Important place and make your audience WORK to get it!

If one is good, arn't two better?  Well, think about a tennis game - imagine two balls flying back and forth across the court....your head would be spinning, to say nothing of the players' heads!  Generally speaking, "they" say - one main emphasis, but there can be secondary ones.....

It is conceded, however, that while having an FP really really helps to grab attention, you really don't have to have one -  if you have a reason for not having one.  If you want to emphasize the overall decorative quality of the piece, the traditional block quilt for example or paintings such as those of Lee Krasner or Agnes Martin where the aim is to evoke an overall mood.  You can also be making a point about the lack of a point......the point is the point is missing....as in Warhol's repetitive soup can paintings. 

Perhaps there does need to be a point to it after all?  but maybe, instead of reading art magazines I'll go and make a cup of tea - a much more productive distraction!
If you have been, thanks for reading!
AND...please do weigh in with your comments, I look forward to all the Points that you make!
Elizabeth