composition discussion what is it? why does it matter? how do i do it well?
TRANSCRIPT
What makes an effective composition?
Does it convey the feelings, ideas, and emotions the artist wants the viewer to understand?
Does the viewer see what the artist wants them to see?
Are there things that distract from the message and meaning of the artwork?
We create equilibrium by balancing the “visual weight”
Why is balance important? Is it ever appropriate not to have balance?
What is “visual weight?
Visual weight is the ability to “draw the eye”. Something that is more noticeable has more “visual weight”. The more we want to look at something the more “visual weight” it has.
Placement causes “visual weight”. Things placed
right in the center attract our eye.
Anything that touches the edge attract our eye.
Subject matter also creates “visual weight”. Humans usually prefer to look at: …other humans! … animals next
Make sure the viewer sees what you want them to see. You can do this by:
1. Creating the “greatest value contrast” at the focal point.
2. Blur (or do not detail) everything else.
Use the “RULE OF THE THIRDS”!
Things that are placed on the line of the “thirds” or the intersecting points tend to be good places to put “focal points”.
Why wouldn’t you want to place a focal point in the center???
Answer: That’s all anyone will ever see!
Match your composition to the mood of your art. Horizontal give restful feeling, verticals give static or stately feel and diagonals show action.
Avoid going right to the edge and touching – it will draw the eye to the edge. Going off the page is fine but just touching the edge is not.
Try a composition that goes off the edge on three sides. Artists use it all the time and it almost always works.
Avoid creating a “bouncing” eye path. Use overlapping and irregular spacing to get around a bouncing eye path.