Use of borders and type in portraits

[Chris Saper]

Dear Joan,

I can't speak for others, but I think there are two main purposes for borders, and in this order:

1. composition

2. content

When I compose a painting, I am rather compulsive about the negative spaces. The notion of having "extra" room , and using letters to balance it, is most appealing. Beyond that, I think that borders can serve a number of functions, both within and outside of the compositional context. The value, color, saturation, and placement make the notion of borders equal (in my view) to every other visual element.

Borders can stop, extend, or in many other ways add to what is already happening on the canvas. I think that they can be wondrous tools, all at every painter's command.