2007-03-02 16:55:03 · 5 answers · asked by Stony 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Painting
I learnt a lot from Andrew Wyeth's paintings. This was my experience :
Amazing Way to Compose a Painting
I constantly faced problems with compositions. Sometimes, I just couldn't figure out why my compositions did not work out right.
One time, I got some advice from one of the Watercolor Masters (an AWS-DF, I do not have the permission to publish his name here; BUT I would like to thank him for his HELP!) to carry out some VERY simple exercise to help me in this area. And the outcome was just EXCELLENT.
He sent me a letter attached with some of his small scale black and white analysis of Andrew Wyeth's works. Below is what he advised me to do :
1. Photostat Wyeth's works into small scale Black and White pictures.
2. Study the macro shapes and macro tonal values used in the pictures by re-constructing the simplified shapes and tones in Black and White. Effectively, the pictures are made up of 2 to 3 types of basic large shapes and tonal values.
3. THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP: Analyze and understand how these basic elements create (a) space and perspective (b) directions (c) balance (d) contrast and harmony (e) focus or center of interest (f) atmosphere (g) sense of motion or stiffness (h) rhythm.
2007-03-02 17:01:44 · answer #1 · answered by WL 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As others have said, the rule of thirds is good and so is doing a thumbnail. Sometimes doing a value sketch is also worthwhile. Good pictures have a minimum of 3 values. Choose complimentary colours when you want a certain colour to stand out. i.e. if you have a red rose, the green leaves (red is the complimentary to green, as are all colours that are opposite on the colour wheel) make the red redder. Try a little sample. Paint a circle and surround it with their complimentary and non complimentary colours. The other thing is to lead the eye into your pictures. A triangle can do this. Never have something like a river leading your eye out of the picture.
Try to have a focal point and remember that cool colours recede and warm colours come forward. Keep this in mind if you want your painting to have a foreground, middle ground and background.
2007-03-04 11:42:18 · answer #2 · answered by alice 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The way I approach composition is by determining the main focus or subject of the artwork. I use rough thumbnail sketches to determine how to lead the eye through the painting or drawing and ending with the focus on the main subject.
2007-03-03 05:28:55 · answer #3 · answered by Patricialee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In art school we learned the first rule of composition is the triangle. Let the eye flow from one point, to another, then to the main focal point - all should form some shape of a triangle.
2007-03-04 00:05:39 · answer #4 · answered by Angelique 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Balance, assymetry, 1/3 - 2/3 division; point of focus, activity in each of the four quadrants....what matters most is overall content but actual and implied. I 've seen very successful paintngs that violate ther rules of composition, so be careful about following them too closely.
2007-03-03 04:24:05 · answer #5 · answered by Victor 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋