NOTES ON COMPOSITION
Click on the above link for a PDF of these notes.
INTENT-LINE-COLOR-SPACE-STRUCTURE
INTENT
FINE ART vs. COMMERCIAL ART
Fine art is there for the sake of beauty. Commercial art SENDS a message.
Eye is meant to travel. Eye is sent to a particular place.
¾ of painting has important color ¼ of painting has important color
One source of light More than one source of light.
LINE
Like a ribbon on a Christmas present LINE binds together the picture planes.
You can set the emotion of the painting with lines:
CURVED lines show motion.
STRAIGHT lines: vertical = static and horizontal = rest
STACCATO dots and dashes show emotion and truth.
COLOR
IMPRESSION (plein air) – no line
LOCAL COLOR attention to light direction, shadows, and reflected color
EXPRESSION arbitrarily chosen open color
Put the strongest colors on the C or S rhythm lines.
Color can also invoke an emotional response.
In still lifes consider any color that hits the edge of the paper should be mirrored on the other edge.
Mediate busy and blank. It is essential to give the eye a place to rest.
SPACE
The area around the motif is negative space.
IDIOT LINES
Avoid landing any edge on the idiot lines.
Avoid putting anything in the very middle, bulls eye.
Careful to not equalize space.
Consider interesting shapes.
STRUCTURE
You will either paint a diagonal painting or a parallel painting.
(When you have decided which one you are using remember that a line from the other category may not be longer than half the measurement of the shortest side.)
In using parallel lines they should be different lengths. Again………don’t equalize the space.
In a diagonal painting there must be another diagonal as strong and at 90 degrees.
IF YOU STAY THE SAME THEN YOU KEEP GETTING WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE.
From Nance Mc Manus’ years of Masterclasses with artist Bill Herring.