Understanding Composition And The Art Design Piney Flats TN Artists Employ Successfully

By William Evans


When people retire a lot of them try new things, and painting and drawing are among the favorites. If you want to start painting, but lack any formal training, the idea might seem intimidating. You could take some classes, or you could try out some of the tips on composition and art design Piney Flats TN seniors have learned to use.

You can break every rule and still create beautiful artwork. Good composition can please, confuse, disturb, or unnerve the viewer. It is simply a matter of how you use color, tone, and shape to control the viewer's eye. If you are unsure how to do that, there are some time tested methods you can experiment with.

The ancient Greeks pursued perfection and ideal form more than any other civilization. It should not be surprising that we are still conforming to their formulas today. All mathematicians know about the Golden Rule, 1:1.62, which for the Greeks epitomized the perfect proportion. They applied the ratio to math, politics, science, physical beauty, and art. The dimensions might not mean much without checking simple rectangles you see every day, like credit cards and books.

The rule of thirds is one of the most common elements of design. It consists of dividing your canvas in thirds horizontally and vertically. If you place your main elements on the lines, or where they cross, you will create a strong design the eye understands. Of course, you never want to become too formulaic, but this is a great concept you should experiment with.

Controlling how the viewer sees your painting will make your message more powerful. One of the easiest ways to do this is with the use of implied lines. These aren't outlines necessarily, but the contrast of color that pulls the eye up, down, or sideways until it meets another line that is equally strong. The better you get at this, the more powerful your paintings will become.

Contrast is used to create implied lines, but it also can control how the viewer sees your subject matter. Contrast is also known as chiaroscuro, and Rembrandt is revered for his mastery of it. You don't have to be a Renaissance master to understand that one color contrasting with another will create drama and control the eye. For example, black against white draws the eye to the white.

A common mistake amateur painters make is to place every element either vertically or horizontally. This is probably the easiest way to put a subject on canvas, but it's not always the most interesting. It is okay to set an element off balance in your work. It creates movement and drama. You can try doing it both ways and see which works best.

If you have plenty of time to indulge your new hobby, you should try out all kinds of compositional strategies. Some will work for you and others won't. It doesn't really matter if you are satisfied with the results.




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