Turning a Good Composition into a Great Composition
In last week’s blog, I shared my utmost admiration of natures ability to proportionate the color palate in the wild. Leaving me the desire to study and copy that perfection. I am not alone in that desire; all artist and daydreamers from the start of time have tried to imitate nature.
This week I wish to contemplate another venue of proportion; composition. Composition, meaning the relationship between the various elements and portions of the space on the chosen surface. Here we must take action. The difference between a fair composition and a great one is in the action that we take.
“Nerano” – Colored Pencils and Ink on Quality 250gm Paper A-5 @Barbara Adler Art 2020
Question: How is it people can take the same photograph, some have a good photo that captures the essence while others, using the same equipment, place and time, receive fantastic results giving special meaning to that photograph? Naturally, most will say “talent”, “the eye” etc. I say, “technique”.
Surreal B/W drawing. Ink on linen paper 200gm 19.5/19.5cm @ Barbara Adler Art 2021
One of the basic techniques that I use and teach is very; before lifting up your camera or drawing pencil, take your thumb and index finger of both of your hands and make a rectangle. Bring that rectangle up to your eyes and move it around till you have the perfect frame and proportion between sky and land/sea. The ideal proportion would be 1/3:2/3 of either while the more of either can make the picture more dramatic. Same with taking a picture of an object: zoom in or out, find an angle until you feel it becomes dramatic. Once you have that image in your “hands”, between your fingers, it is time now to pick up the camera or pencil and capture that composition.
Everybody needs art, especially in these crazy times. There is Art for everyone’s state of mind, desires and tastes. Take a break, reflect and delve into some of my art, to my stories.
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