Composition

Composition is all about placing the elements of a painting or drawing where they deliver most impact and adds balance to the art work. If you have ever studied the art works of the masters you might have noticed how they have an almost calming effect, even though they can be quite complex and extremely detailed. This is because the artist has taken great care in placing the various elements of the painting the right places. The important elements are usually placed where they create balance and communicates most efficiently across to the beholder.

TIP 1: Remember this when starting on a new piece; place the important elements of your work where they are most pleasing to the eye and communicate most efficiently across to the beholder. A poor composition can ruin an otherwise good painting and a less good painting can become good with a proper composition. In other words; remember it.

A good composition can be accomplished in many ways and one of those is to conform to the rule of thirds. By dividing your piece into nine equally sized rectangles or squares and placing key elements on, or close to some of the focal points and along the lines, you can create a much more eye-pleasing piece of art. The four spots where the lines meet are called focal points where the upper and lower right spots are the most important. The reason for this is that most of us were taught to read from left to right and so it is the most natural way for us to look at an image also. We start from the left and work our way towards the right. Study the composition below and memorize it.