Elements of Composition

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Elements of Composition
The artist does not draw what he sees, but what
he must make others see. -Edgar Degas
Theodore Gericault
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Line Shape
- Organizational lines create a loose skeleton to
build a composition. - Circular and triangular
shapes create closed compositional forms, and can
lead the eye by design.
Theodore Gericault
Alfred Leslie
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Focal points

• Organization of shape and line can create focal
  points to draw the eye.

Carravaggio
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Emphasis

• Value changes in color (value/intensity) and
  lighting (dramatic changes) create visual
  emphasis. Emphasis can also be created through
  compositional placement, and compositional
  isolation.

Odd Nerdrum
Gustav Klimt
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• Lighting and color emphasis

Alex Ross
Sandy Skoglund
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Winslow Homer
Jan Vermeer
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Emphasis by placement
Norman Rockwell
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Jasper Johns
Dave McKean
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Patterns Grids

• Repetition of shape/line/color/value creates
  visual pattern.
• Grids are the base of organization in all design.
  
• A grid can be used to create containment,
  continuity, and unity.

Grid
Amnesty International poster
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• Pattern

Gustav Klimt
The above image also works within a grid.
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Chuck Close
Louise Nevelson
Leo Dianne Dillon
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Visual Rhythm

• Visual rhythm is similar to musical rhythm.
  Multiple units (subjects/shapes/colors/values)
  are presented in a deliberate pattern

Marcel Duchamp
Gary Kelly
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• Language and image as poetry

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Symmetrical balance

• Occurs when shapes are mirrored on either side of
  an axis. These shapes are most often identical.

Ansel Adams
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Albert Paley
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Asymmetrical balance

• Creates equilibrium among visual elements that do
  not mirror each other. These shapes are often
  dissimilar. Depending on the degree of
  asymmetry, the resulting design may be stable,
  dynamic (energetic), or chaotic.

Gary Kelly
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Asymmetrical balance
Piet Mondrian
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• Balance and the psychological effects

• Balance and Imbalance can be used to manipulate
  a viewer.
• Tilting the picture plane, distorting shapes,
  and utilizing symmetrical or
• Asymmetrical design can create organization
  or chaos.

Dave McKean
Eric Fischl
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Scale Proportion

• Scale and Proportion greatly effect compositional
  balance and emotional impact. Proportion refers
  to the relative size of visual elements within an
  image. Scale generally refers to the size of a
  form when compared with our own human size.
• Proportion
  
  Thomas Cole

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Albert Bierstadt
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• Scale
• Claus Oldenburg
  Frank Lloyd Wright

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Compositional Considerations
Be it realism or abstraction Painting,
Architecture, Graphic Design, Photography, or
sculptureThese are the building blocks.

• Begin with a grid layout, and abstract basic
  shapes.
• Look at successful artists and how they design
  their work.
• Focal point as a start in design.
• Variety of large and small shapes.
• Unity of color, lighting, pattern.
• Balance both positive and negative shapes.
• Dominant and sub dominant subjects.
• Check visual balance in starting mid-way through