If you have a bunch of zigzagging lines in your drawing(line) then your viewer’s eye is going to follow those lines around the page(movement). These affect the way a viewer experiences a piece.Ī piece with good balance will put the viewer at ease because humans like balance.Ī piece with contrast will make certain subjects pop out and grab the viewer’s attention. Then there are the principles of design: balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, and unity. These are the things that actually make up art.Ī drawing is made of lines, shapes, colors, values…Ī sculpture also has shape, texture, form, space, and so on. The elements of design are line, shape, color, value, texture, form, and space. You could also call composition “design” because composition is the way the principles of design are organized. You’ll quickly see why it’s such an important thing to consider. If there’s more than one focal point, how are both points laid out on the page? How does that direct your eye? How does the composition affect the feeling of the piece? Make a point to notice this when you look at art.

One part of the piece might have more going on, or more visual “weight,” which draws your eye to that part.

Pieces with a symmetrical composition(the same on both sides) tend to feel very calming, while asymmetrical pieces(different on either side) feel more dynamic. Look at different pieces of artwork and how the composition affects the mood. So Why is Composition Important?Ĭomposition is important because it shapes the viewer’s experience of the artwork.Ĭomposition is a big part of what makes a piece eye-catching and dynamic, or calm and soothing, or disorienting and off-kilter. The way you choose to arrange those objects in your final piece is the composition. Maybe you’re painting a still life of objects on a table.

This is kind of an abstract concept so let’s clarify: composition is NOT the actual subject of your art, but where you put it.įor example, you might paint a picture of a dog and position the dog slightly off-center on the canvas. It’s simply where the different parts of your piece actually end up on the page to create the whole.

You might consider this exactly the same as the “layout” of a piece(a term you hear a lot in graphic design).Ĭomposition is essentially the same thing. That means if you buy something we get a small commission at no extra cost to you( learn more)Ĭomposition is the arrangement or placement of visual elements in a piece of artwork. Tips Written by McKella Sawyer Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

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