These 8 tried and true basic art Composition styles have been used by master artists the world over to create strong art. Composition is the number one Art Principle that turns a so so painting into a knock out! Creating a strong composition before actually painting is a great way to begin.
Simply, composition is the design and arrangement of objects in a painting or any art, to create a pleasing balance. Understanding these will draw in the eye of the viewer like a magnate. They create visual harmony and unity, and each carries a feeling, energy all their own.
Diagonal Composition
Diagonal is dynamic, moving the eye from one corner to another. Here are some examples. But, we don’t want the viewer to shoot off the page, so we have to give them a focal point or movement.
See how the spots of color keep our eyes moving back & forth between the flowers
Rabbit is the diagonal, but her eye keeps us focused on the page.
Horizontal Composition
Horizontal is soothing, relaxing, calms us down. How do you feel when you see these layouts?
Claude Monet’s Waterlilies, lines shapes colors flowing across from left to right
My St John Pink Mountains, memories of freedom, vacation, fun, deep breaths
T- Shape Composition
T-Shape composition carries our eye up and across. It’s active yet soothing at the same time.
Joan Eardley was a Master at this. Strong Diagonal then takes us right over to the house.
I wanted to try the T Shape Composition, so Coastal Waters brings us in and keeps us at the White Cloud horizon line
Vertical Composition
Verticals get our attention, keep us straight up focused on the objects. Things are solid, grounded, stable. The space around things becomes important.
Robt Kushner patterns who we will learn about in Art & Mentorship Program
Black Moon, my painting taking your eye up to the Moon
S-Shape Composition
S-Shape Composition carries our eye meandering in a calming way to the focal point, where we want the viewer to look.
Chris Forsey, an English Comtemporary artist makes great compostions
My River Valley just intuitively came about in a FB Live
Asymmetrical Composition
Asymmetrical balance means something on one side holds more visual weight, is more dominant. It would be balanced by a couple or more lesser focal points on the other side.
Van Gogh Starry Night The Museum of Modern Art in New York
Large poppy balanced by many small ones.
L-Shaped Balance
L-Shaped shows something large off to the side that leads the eye to the horizontal element.
Richard Diebenkorn Girl With A Plant
One More: 8. Circular Composition
Circular Composition keeps the viewer’s eye moving around the focal point. The focal point is best when it’s not smack in the center. A bit above or below works well with everything else moving around it. Kate O’Hara
Kate O’Hara makes a great living with her animals on everything from Books (Herbiary, Beastiary) to Vodka Labels
MY Dark Night of the Soul has Light as the focal point
Have fun with these and intentionally try it in your work. It’s an interesting way to start a painting. Remember, these are just guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Artists just created and then people tried to explain what made the art so good!
Do keep in mind a focal point, what you want the viewer to be drawn to, and the rest of the painting must support that. It’s best to avoid anything right in the middle, or too symmetrical, the same on both sides. Interesting, dynamic art has differences. Art must be unified, things tied together with color, flow, or overlapping shapes.
Pick one of your paintings and tell us your composition style below.
