Portfolio: Beginning Composition: Tips and techniques for creating well-composed works of art in acrylic, watercolor, and oil (Volume 10) (Portfolio, 10)

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Learn to create eye-catching, well-composed works of art using acrylic, oil, and watercolor paints with Beginning Composition.

From the concept- and technique-driven Portfolio series comes Beginning Composition, which details how to compose a work of art so that it draws in—and then holds—the viewer’s attention. This book features quick exercises for getting started in art, primers on the principles of composition and the Rule of Thirds, what to look for when composing artwork, examples of successful (and unsuccessful) compositions from a selection of artists, and customizable painting projects.

Beginning Composition is written and illustrated by Kimberly Adams, an experienced author and professional artist with years of experience in creating versatile, stunning works of art, as well as co-author of Oil & Acrylic Workshop (Walter Foster Publishing). In this book, Kimberly teaches you how to create successful compositions in acrylic, oil, and watercolor paints. After an introduction to the essentials of composition and some examples of composition in action, you are then invited to create your own artwork on a range of subjects, including landscapes, florals, animals, and more. The painting projects encourage personalization and creativity. Other topics covered include conveying mood and emotion through composition, the Golden Ratio, focal points, and more.

The Portfolio series covers essential art techniques, core concepts, and media with an approach and format that’s perfect for aspiring, beginning, and intermediate artists.

Also available from the series: Beginning Acrylic, Beginning Drawing, Beginning Watercolor, Beginning Pastel, Beginning Colored Pencil, Beginning Color Mixing, Expressive Painting, Beginning Color Mixing, and Beginning Pen & Ink.

From the Publisher

Beginning Composition: Tips and techniques for creating well-composed works of art in acrylic, watercolor, and oil

Introduction

Have you ever looked at a painting and thought that something—the color, subject, or proportion — doesn’t seem right? It’s not always easy to pinpoint exactly what is “off” in an artwork, but something will tell you that it isn’t quite right. Those little subtleties are usually caused by a bad composition.

Composition refers to the placement of elements within an artwork. Artists follow certain guidelines to evoke emotion and portray a story in a piece of art. Like following the steps of a great recipe, successful composition requires understanding how much of each element to add and when to add it.

Throughout this book, I will introduce you to many of the basics that all beginning artists should know, as well as offer a refresher for intermediate and advanced artists. This book also includes tips on how to approach planning a composition and step-bystep painting projects using reference photos.

Composition

The verb “compose” refers to the act of putting things together, while “composition” (a noun) refers to how things are arranged, or the planned placement of elements within an image. How an artist decides to place these elements determines the viewer’s experience. A great composition is achieved when the planned placement of elements controls eye movement and leads the viewer through the painting. Composition is one of the most overlooked elements of planning a painting, but it remains essential to putting together a successful work of art.

There are eight principles of design:

• BALANCE

• MOVEMENT

• PROPORTION

• RHYTHM

• HARMONY

• UNITY

• EMPHASIS

• VARIETY

Let’s look closely at four common painting subjects landscapes, portraits, still lifes, and florals—and how a properly executed plan works to create the feeling and idea that an artist wishes to portray. When designing an artwork, consider the light source, entry point, and structure, and avoid tangents to ensure that there aren’t any unwanted distractions in your piece.

Selecting the right colors to bring your photo to life and depict the appropriate mood requires creating color harmony and balance in your painting. This step-by-step project uses a reference photo of my father’s stack of books.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1633227936
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Walter Foster Publishing (November 5, 2019)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 128 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781633227934
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1633227934
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.65 x 0.6 x 11.05 inches