Composition Composition is the way in which things are set out on the artist's page. Believe it or not there are some "rules" in art. Over the years people have figured out that there are certain ways of doing things that "look good"... or "look bad" if that is what you are after. Knowing how to use these rules will help you to better control your composition, which in turn helps you control your artwork. The concept of composition is complicated and, since we are talking about art, it is often vague and esoteric. Let’s break the idea of COMPOSITION down into two categories. The Elements of Art & and the Principals of Design.
Sunday, September 9, 12
7 Elements of Art Texture Line Value Color Shape Space Form
Sunday, September 9, 12
7 Principles of Design How one arranges the Elements on the page can be broken down into the “Principles of Design�
Sunday, September 9, 12
7 Principles of Design
Balance Emphasis Contrast Pattern Unity Rhythm Movement Sunday, September 9, 12
Balance Arrangement that makes everything seem even and steady.
Use it if you want to achieve a strong, comfortable, predictable composition.
Sunday, September 9, 12
Balance A triangle is the strongest, most obvious method for achieving balance
Sunday, September 9, 12
Balance
Sunday, September 9, 12
Balance
Sunday, September 9, 12
Balance
Sunday, September 9, 12
Off-Balance Don’t use balance if you want the viewer to be uneasy, or caught off guard.
Sunday, September 9, 12
Off - Balance
Sunday, September 9, 12
Off - Balance
Sunday, September 9, 12
Off - Balance
Sunday, September 9, 12
Emphasis Focuses attention to a specific part of your work. Use emphasis to direct the viewer to the most interesting parts of your work
Sunday, September 9, 12
Emphasis “The Rule of Thirds” is the most common way to get emphasis
Sunday, September 9, 12
Emphasis
The “Rule of Thirds” is a form of asymmetrical emphasis Sunday, September 9, 12
Emphasis
The “Rule of Thirds” is a form of asymmetrical emphasis Sunday, September 9, 12
Emphasis
This is an an example of symmetrical emphasis Sunday, September 9, 12
Emphasis
Sunday, September 9, 12
Emphasis
Sunday, September 9, 12
No-Emphasis Don’t use emphasis if you don’t have any object that you want to highlight. Perhaps it is more of picture about “mood” than an object.
Sunday, September 9, 12
No-Emphasis
Sunday, September 9, 12
No-Emphasis
Sunday, September 9, 12
No-Emphasis Be careful this can often mean your photo is boring.
Sunday, September 9, 12
Contrast
I use the word “variety’ because in photography “contrast” as a different meaning, but whatever you all it... Contrast or Variety it is having elements of different size, shape, texture and value. all included in the composition
Use Contrast / Variety to hold the viewer's attention
Sunday, September 9, 12
Contrast / Variety
Sunday, September 9, 12
Contrast / Variety
Sunday, September 9, 12
Contrast / Variety
Sunday, September 9, 12
No-Variety Do not use variety if you have only one very simple message that stands alone. Watch out that you do not hit your viewers over the head with your intended message
Sunday, September 9, 12
No-Variety
Sunday, September 9, 12
No-Variety
Sunday, September 9, 12
No-Variety
Sunday, September 9, 12
Pattern Just as the word says, pattern is when elements are repeated again and again... in a PATTERN! How you actually use pattern is when it gets complicated... and fun!
Sunday, September 9, 12
Pattern
Sunday, September 9, 12
Pattern
Sunday, September 9, 12
Pattern
Sunday, September 9, 12
Unity Unity makes a work of art feel complete and finished. All the elements seem to work together. How you actually use UNITY is when it gets complicated... and fun!
Sunday, September 9, 12
Unity
Sunday, September 9, 12
Unity
Sunday, September 9, 12
Unity
Sunday, September 9, 12
Rhythm Think of music... rhythm is a loose sort of pattern. It can change from piece to piece and everyone reacts to it differently. In art, rhythm is very much the same. How you actually use Rhythm is when it gets complicated... and fun!
Sunday, September 9, 12
Rhythm
Sunday, September 9, 12
Rhythm
Sunday, September 9, 12
Rhythm
Sunday, September 9, 12
Sometimes it is difficult to separate and identify Pattern, Unity & Rhythm so I like to think of these 3 Principles of Design as one big concept... HARMONY Sunday, September 9, 12
Pattern, Unity and Rhythm =Harmony Like in music, harmony in art is the quality of having things fit together in a complimentary way. Pattern, Unity & Rhythm work together to make the “WHOLE� stronger.
Include harmony in your composition if you would like to strengthen the whole work of art as a unified piece
Sunday, September 9, 12
Pattern, Unity and Rhythm = Harmony
Sunday, September 9, 12
Pattern, Unity and Rhythm = Harmony
Sunday, September 9, 12
Pattern, Unity and Rhythm = Harmony
Sunday, September 9, 12
Pattern, Unity and Rhythm = Harmony
Sunday, September 9, 12
No-Harmony Do not include harmony if you are looking for irony or would like the elements to "fight" each other causing some tension.
Sunday, September 9, 12
No-Harmony
Sunday, September 9, 12
No-Harmony
Sunday, September 9, 12
No-Harmony
Sunday, September 9, 12
Movement One of the most important things the artist can do is to direct the viewer's eye as it moves around the artwork. Every one's eye moves across an image. You, as the artist, can direct the eye to look at the important parts of your art. If you do not utilize movement and rhythm the viewer's eye tends to "wander" not knowing what to look at. Sunday, September 9, 12
Movement The “S” curve is a great way to move the eye
Sunday, September 9, 12
Movement
Sunday, September 9, 12
Movement
Sunday, September 9, 12
Movement Leading lines are another great way to move the eye
Sunday, September 9, 12
Movement Leading lines are another great way to move the eye
Sunday, September 9, 12
Movement Leading lines are another great way to move the eye
Sunday, September 9, 12
Movement Art is not an accident...Don't leave "movement" up to chance! Be careful not to make the movement too obvious. You do not want your viewers to feel manipulated.
Sunday, September 9, 12
Movement
Sunday, September 9, 12