Elements of composition in art

“Good composition is like a suspension bridge – each line adds strength and takes none away. No one is an artist unless he carries his picture in his head before painting it, and is sure of his method and composition.” Robert Henri

This is a detailed guide on composition. I’ll cover:

(If you don’t have time to read this now, you can download a PDF version for later here.)

What Is Composition in Art?

Composition is a broad term. So broad it can be difficult to clearly articulate and define.

Art composition rules pdf

I like to think of it as the way in which we arrange the visual elements to communicate our ideas about the subject.

A well-composed painting is clear, concise, and interesting. All the pieces will appear to work in perfect harmony.

It will look like a cohesive painting, rather than an arrangement of parts.

A poorly composed painting is harder to spot. A painting can be wrong for many reasons and it can be difficult to narrow down on the main culpr