Keys to Good Composition - Off the Wall Friday

As I finish up the my many - many hours of quilting, I started thinking about the composition of my next piece.  I'm planning on using my annual lily piece as an excuse to experiment with silk.  Still, I can't just experiment.  I have to have a plan - a composition that I'm working toward.  I've learned from past attempts, that the words intuitive and spontaneous are adjectives that will never be used in describing my creative style.  Well, at least not in the near future. So I'm in search of a good composition.  Hmmmmmm, but how does one go about that???

KEYS TO GOOD COMPOSITION

all of which can be rearranged, edited, added to,or ignored all together 

Rule of Thirds - Focal Point

1. Decide what you want to say in your piece - pick the main theme and mood

2. Draw your borders and pick a focal spot. Don't pick the dead middle.  Using the rule of thirds, you can split the piece into thirds, horizontally and vertically and place the focal point on one of the intersections.

Balance the Elements

3. Draw your main shapes (figurative or abstracted) but make sure they are varied in shape, scale and the space between them are all different.  Also, an odd number of elements is always more pleasing to the human eye than an even - so think 3 - 5 - 7

4. Create balance in the piece - the elements should be scatter throughout the piece with the main focus balanced by lesser elements

5. Lead the eye into the work using diagonals and curves that engage the edge of the piece - Use the power of line effectively!

6. A sense of depth is created by overlapping your pieces and using scale to create the right sense of perspective

7. Avoid symmetry  - make sure there is enough "differentness" to create tension

8. Edit out clutter - highlighting the essential - give quiet space in the piece

Edit! Edit! Edit!

Now remember composition isn't just about the initial sketch.  Value will have a huge part in the piece too.   You can use value to highlight the focal spot - to create depth  - to establish movement through out piece.  Color (hue) plays it part too in creating mood, movement and tension within a piece.

I just want to add that I wrote this post to help me as much as it is to help you!  Its much easier to critique a sketch if you have a list of what to look for in front of you.  Not to mention taking an hour out of the week looking at well composed photos!!

So What Have you been up to creatively?