Composition: The way objects are arranged in a frame.
Composition is the term used for the arrangements of the elements in or the subject matter of a painting. Done successfully, it draws in the viewer and pulls their eye across the whole painting so that everything is taken in and finally settles on the main subject of the painting.
Hello, World!
Composition Part 2 by Swain, JordanElements of a successful composition:
Emphasizes important elements in the art
Guides the viewer’s eye throughout the artwork Helps you to understand the work
Creates an aesthetically pleasing harmony
In his Notes of a Painter, Henri Matisse defined it this way: "Composition is the art of arranging in a decorative manner the diverse elements at the painter's command to express his feelings."
The Elements of Composition in art are used to arrange or organize the components in a way that is pleasing to the artist and, hopefully, the viewer. It helps give structure to the layout and the way the subject is presented. It also encourages or leads the viewer's eye to wander around the whole painting, taking in everything and ultimately coming back to rest on the focal point. In Western art they are generally considered to be:
These are the PRINCIPALS OF DESIGN:
Balance: Having a symmetrical arrangement adds a sense of calm, whereas an asymmetrical arrangement creates a sense of unease, imbalance. There are three types of balance used in design: Symmetrical, Asymmetrical and Radial.
Unity: Do all the parts of the composition feel as if they belong together, or does something feel stuck on, awkwardly out of place?
Movement: There many ways to give a sense of movement in a painting, such as the arrangement of objects, the position of figures, the flow of a river. (See example)
Rhythm: In much the same way music does, a piece of art can have a rhythm or underlying beat that leads and paces the eye as you look at it. Look for the large underlying shapes (squares, triangles, etc.) and repeated color. (See example)
Focus (or Emphasis): The viewer's eye ultimately wants to rest of the "most important" thing or focal point in the painting, otherwise the eye feels lost, wandering around in space. (See example)
Contrast: Strong differences between light and dark, or minimal, such as Whistler did in his Nocturne series. (See example)
Pattern: An underlying structure, the basic lines and shapes in the composition.
Proportion: How things fit together, big and small, nearby and distant.
First, there are OPEN compositions and CLOSED compositions. Here are examples:
The Golden Ratio is a whole different ball game! It’s math! Who said you don’t use math in art, you do! “The Golden Number” is a ratio of 1 to 1.618 (also Phi or the Fibonacci sequence), in which the human eye sees beauty and balance- think of a nautilus shell or a pine cone, how the spirals get bigger and seem to be in perfect proportion. You’ll usually see the golden ratio depicted as a large rectangle formed by a square and other rectangle. You can repeat this sequence infinitely and perfectly within each section.
The Golden Ratio
Some scholars believe that Egyptians used the Golden Ratio when building the pyramids! See this article about more artists that have used the Golden Ratio in their art: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/golden-ratio-in-art-328435
The rule of thirds is important because it is a “comfortable” way for the human eye to see things- if you want a successful composition, you can always count on the good old Rule of Thirds. Simply place your horizon on one of the three lines (or two, if you have a middle and foreground) and place the focus points of your art or photo on the intersecting lines. Easy!
Try using these compositional tricks and tips on your own art, photography and design projects and see what happens!
Your Assignment: Look in your photo roll in your phone. Do you see any of the compositional elements in your photos? Sketch three of your photos that show interesting composition.
Check out this link for inspiration The Helpful Art Teacher: Composition 101: The Thumbnail Sketch: How Taking Cell Phone Photographs and Reading Comics Make You a Better Artist
Challenge: In your sketchbook, or if you’re a photographer, sketch or photograph your own examples of the three types of balance, and one open and one closed composition. Use your favorite media and subject- if you’re a landscape painter, create landscapes, and so on! Being mindful about how you arrange your elements will improve your art. Now, let’s learn about the Rule of Thirds:
