Composition is the term used to describe the arrangement of the visual elements in a painting or other artwork. It is how the elements of art and design—line, shape, color, value, texture, form, and space—are organized or composed according to the principles of art and design—balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, unity/variety—and other elements of composition,to give the painting structure and convey the intent of the artist.
Compositionis different from the subject matter of a painting. Every painting, whether abstract or representational, regardless of subject matter, has a composition. Good composition is essential to the success of a painting. Done successfully, good composition draws the viewer in and then moves the viewer's eye across the whole painting so that everything is taken in, finally settling on the main subjectof the painting.
Composition According to Henri Matisse
"Composition is the art of arranging in a decorative manner the diverse elements at the painter's command to express his feelings." - Henri Matisse in "Notes of a Painter."
Elements of Composition
The elements of composition in art are used to arrange or organize the visual components in a way that is pleasing to the artist and, one hopes, the viewer. They help give structure to the layout of the painting and the way the subject is presented. They can also encourage or lead the viewer's eye to wander around the whole painting, taking in everything and ultimately coming back to rest on the focal point. In Western art the elements of compositionare generally considered to be:
- Unity: Do all the parts of the composition feel as if they belong together, or does something feel stuck on, awkwardly out of place?
- Balance: Balance is the sense that the painting "feels right" and not heavier on one side.Having a symmetrical arrangement adds a sense of calm, whereas an asymmetrical arrangement creates a more dynamic feeling. A painting that is not balanced creates a sense of unease.
- Movement: There aremany ways to give a sense of movement in a painting, such as the arrangement of objects, the position of figures, the flow of a river.You can use leading lines (a photography term applicable to painting) to direct the viewer's eye into and around the painting. Leading lines can be actual lines, such as the lines of a fence or railroad, or they can be implied lines, such as a row of trees or curve of stones or circles.
- Rhythm: In much the same way music does, a piece of art can have a rhythm or underlying beat that leads your eye to view the artwork at a certain pace. Look for the large underlying shapes (squares, triangles, etc.) and repeated color.
- Focus (or Emphasis): The viewer's eye ultimately wants to rest onthe "most important" thing or focal point in the painting, otherwise the eye feels lost, wandering around in space.
- Contrast: Paintings with high contrast—strong differences between light and dark, for example—have a different feel than paintings with minimal contrast in light and dark, such as inWhistler Nocturne series.In addition to light and dark,contrast can be differences in shape, color, size, texture, type of line, etc.
- Pattern: A regular repetition of lines, shapes, colors, or values in a composition.
- Proportion: How things fit together and relate to each other in terms of size and scale; whetherbig or small, nearby or distant.
The elements of composition are not the same as the elements of art, though composition is sometimes included asone of the latter.
Updated by Lisa Marder 7/20/16
FAQs
It is how the elements of art and design—line, shape, color, value, texture, form, and space—are organized or composed according to the principles of art and design—balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, unity/variety—and other elements of composition, to give the painting structure and convey the ...
What are the elements of composition in art? ›
Elements of Composition in Art. There are eight elements of composition in art: line, shape, volume or mass, color, texture, light, space, and time.
What are the 8 principles of art in one drawing? ›
The 8 principles of composition are:
- Balance.
- Proportion.
- Emphasis.
- Rhythm.
- Movement.
- Unity and Variety.
- Contrast and Harmony.
- Pattern and Repetition.
Traditional categories within the arts include literature (including poetry, drama, story, and so on), the visual arts (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.), the graphic arts (painting, drawing, design, and other forms expressed on flat surfaces), the plastic arts (sculpture, modeling), the decorative arts (enamelwork, ...
What are the 8 elements of art True or false? ›
Elements of art are stylistic features that are included within an art piece to help the artist communicate. The seven most common elements include line, shape, texture, form, space, color and value, with the additions of mark making, and materiality.
What is the rule of 8 in drawing? ›
The Eight-Head Rule
Drawing the body becomes easier when you break it down into these parts. There is a general rule, devised during the Renaissance, that the ideal human body is eight heads long. This rule helps you to map out the general shape of the human body.
What is the 8 design principle? ›
The 8 principles of design are fundamental to creating visually appealing and effective designs. These principles are balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, proportion, repetition, and unity.
What is the 4 8 8 method art? ›
5. Use the 4-8-8 method. Simplify your shape before putting in detail using one set of four lines and two sets of eight. The first four define the box and another eight cut away from it to fi nd the basic proportion and gesture lines of the subject.
What are the 7 fundamentals of art? ›
The seven elements of art are line, shape, space, value, form, texture, and color.
What is the golden rule of composition in art? ›
With a proportion equal to x²=x+1, the golden ratio in art creates a balanced relationship that the mind's eye loves. More precisely, it is about obtaining a precise ratio between the different parts of a work, an image, or an object. The value of this number is 1.61803398874989482045.
7 COMPOSITION RULES TO TAKE BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS
- The rule of thirds:
- Follow the leading lines:
- Depth:
- Symmetry:
- Cinema-style shot:
- Don't decapitate your subject:
- Don't shoot from the top to bottom:
There are seven elements in art. They are color, form, line, shape, space, texture, and value. The ten common principles of art are balance, emphasis, harmony, movement, pattern, proportion, repetition, rhythm, unity, and variety.
What are the 7 main elements of art? ›
The seven elements of art are line, shape, space, value, form, texture, and color. These elements are the building blocks, or ingredients, of art. A line is a mark made on a surface. A shape is a flat area of enclosed space.
What are the 11 element of art? ›
The elements of art are color, form, line, shape, space, texture, and value. Principles of art are balance, emphasis, movement, proportion, rhythm, unity, and variety. These are the visual components and organizational strategies used in artwork. Color has properties of hue, value, and intensity.
What is the 7 elements of design? ›
The elements of design are the fundamental aspects of any visual design which include shape, color, space, form, line, value, and texture. Graphic designers use the elements of design to create an image that can convey a certain mood, draw the eye in a certain direction, or evoke a number of feelings.
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