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Here, I take a look at three compositional standards – Rule of Thirds, The Golden Mean, and the Golden Triangle – and apply them to a single subject to illustrate how each serves as starting points for planning a painting. In each example below, you’ll see just one possible application of each of these standards, cropping the image to present slightly different perspectives on the subject. Explore these “rules” and see how they could inspire new ideas for designing compositions in your own work. What are your thoughts on these “rules?” Have you used them in your own work? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Rule of Thirds
One of the most common “rules” for taking pictures is called The Rule of Thirds. This rule is based on the idea that our brains tend to get excited by things that are not in the center of an image. This means that if you take a picture, try to put the focus of the picture (like a person or object) off to the side, not in the middle. You can see The Rule of Thirds in action in the image below, which has a rectangle divided into thirds both horizontally and vertically. The intersection of these lines identify regions within a composition as targets for placing a focal point. In this example, the cropped scene gives prominence to the church and foreground trees, as they are located on the right and left 1/3 of the composition. Learn more about the Rule of Thirds HERE.
Golden Ratio
The Golden Ratio is another common standard and is based on the Fibonacci sequence (Learn more about it HERE). The Golden Ratio is applied to a subject when the shapes generated by the sequence are used and an underlaying structure for the alignment of the compositional elements. Its curvilinear structure becomes a means for visualizing a composition in a more fluid way. In the example below, the larger scene is cropped in a way that makes the church a larger, more prominent feature of the composition. The complexity of the church’s structure becomes a focal point, being encircled by the trees and distant mountains.
Golden Triangle
The Golden Triangle is a composition standard that divides a composition into four right triangles. These triangles are created by first dividing the rectangle with a main line connecting opposing corners. Extending at right angles from the main line, two additional lines run through the remaining two corners. The Golden Triangle is applied to a subject when the compositional elements are generally aligned with its diagonal lines and intersecting points. In the example below, the larger scene cropped in a similar way to the example demonstrating the Rule of Thirds. Whereas the example demonstrating the Golden Ratio provides a curvilinear interpretation of the subject, the example below interprets the scene’s sharper angles in a more prominent way.
What questions do you have about these three compositional standards? Share your questions and comments below!
About the Artist
Meet the Artist
Scott Maier is an artist and a content contributor to artistsnetwork.com. He’s also the author of the instructional art book See, Think, Draw: An Easy Guide for Realistic Drawing and Beyond.
