Composition in art

28 July, 2010

Composition in art is what makes stare at a drawing or painting.

It looks simple (a group of people, a landscape, a flower, etc..) and yet it is carefully studied to lead us enter in all its parts.

This is why the eye folllow a path without getting tired or lost and so we get "kidnapped" by the painting or drawing.

In my opinion, composition must be learned and practiced even before being able to draw or paint. It also helps in photography for instance.

And it's an education into beauty.

SUGGESTION WORTH CONSIDERING

Before I get into lengthy explanations...

I think the best teacher I found online is here.

His books and videos are really a blessing. On sale now (July 2010)

Available also at Amazon: the book and DVD (without the extras though).

Rules:

(NOTE: this rules can be broken!)

• Look at things in a simple but boldly way! Don't think in terms of objects but of shapes and colors.
  If in front of you is a landscape that you want to draw or paint, simplify its features and look for:

• L-shapes, simple shapes, often used in landscapes, marine painting of boats

• Triangle-shapes, again...simplicity

• S-shapes a powerful way to lead the eyes

• Diagonal lines

• Create a centre of main interest (should be off-centered in the final drawing/painting)

• Group things together

• Create radiating, smooth or straight "lines", color patches, shapes leading to the main center of interest.

• If there is a "boring" texture all over the drawing/painting/photography create a resting spot for the eyes by introducing a total different element (e.g. a leaf on a totally grey background of a road)

Here I wrote a better way to look at these rules.

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