Checking your composition: a few techniques

There are several techniques that prevent compositional mishaps. Let me explain. 

I learned drawing and painting before supporting electronic devices entered the market. There were no tracing light-pads, no projectors, or apps for helping artists. I am not planning to give a lengthy diatribe against technical gadgets but learning drawing and painting the old-fashioned way comes with some easy tricks for checking your work-in-progress. These I like to share with you. 

A cautionary note here, do not endlessly use tricks. Sketches should show your perspective, your take on life and art, your hallmark mishaps, and your style. Artificial Intelligence will make flawless art, there is no need for you to produce art that looks like it is AI generated. I also advise against photo-realist art; why compete with a photo or copy machine? Instead preserve your style carefully even if that means repeating hallmark ‘mistakes’. Disliked by artists themselves, mistakes are often very charming.

 

CHECK YOUR COMPOSITION: DISTANCE

Some artists have nothing with composition the same way some people learn languages by ‘total immersion’; they have no interest in learning grammar. I am not one of those artists. I love beautiful compositions. When a painting is appealing to me, I automatically check its composition to decipher its enchantment.

One way to check your composition is to step away from it. Create more space, like 1-2 meter between you and your sketch, turn clockwise and anti-clockwise and then have a fresh look at your compositional lines and organization. Is your sketch harmonious? Have you used a beautiful diagonal or S-line set-up? Are objects further placed to the horizon smaller enough? Are the most important objects drawing attention first? 

 

CHECK YOUR COMPOSITION: UP-SIDE DOWN

Another way to help yourself having a new look at your compositional lines, is done by turning your painting (canvas or sketchbook) up-side down. Should there be a mistake, it immediately becomes visible. (Like… wait.. what is that tree doing there? Or isn’t that tree too big in relation to its position in the background?)

 

CHECK YOUR COMPOSITION: USE A HAND MIRROR

Another method to check your compositional lines is letting your canvas (especially when it is big) remain standing on your workstation or painter’s easel but stand or sit in front of it with your back positioned to your artwork. Take a hand mirror (as big as your face) and look at your artwork by looking at it via the hand mirror (like you use the side and rear mirror of your car to check traffic behind you). This trick creates so much confusion in your brain that it reacts with a sense of urgency and thus immediately shows you any mistakes.

It goes without saying that these tricks should be performed when the compositional lines are still erasable.

Although it is fun to check progress by using tricks, the most beautiful and impressive artwork comes from the soul and not from endlessly checking and correcting your work. Although we can learn a lot by checking our artwork using a fresh perspective, mistakes can be charming and can function as a signature of an artist. Do not aim for perfection but for finding your style.

Paula Kuitenbrouwer

At www.paulakuitenbrouwer.com