Visual ArtsTeacher Simone

What is composition?Take a look at this image:

What element calls your attention most?(What is the most important element in the painting)?

What is composition?“Composition” is when an artist organizes

their artwork with a specific intention. In organizing a composition, an artist decides

what is the most important for the viewer to see.

Let’s compare…Take a look at Goya’s painting of Carlos V’s

family.How does Goya organize the painting?What is most important?

What if…?What if Goya had

painted the family portrait like this?

How does the organization of the figures change the idea?

What is composition?In a composition, the artist can use different

resources to effect what is more or less important in the work:COLORTEXTUREDISTRUBITION OF FORMSPROPORTION

Organization of formsIn order to distribute forms on a plane, an

artist will use a geometric scheme in order to structure the work.

This is the internal structure of the work, like a skeleton.

For example:

Organization of formsVERTICAL STRUCTURE:

Organization of formsHORIZONTAL STRUCTURE

Organization of formsDIAGONAL STRUCTURE

Organization of formsCIRCULAR STRUCTURE

Organization of formsTRIANGULAR STRUCTURE:

Organization of formsThis “internal

structure” makes our eyes move across the work in a certain way. For example, a triangular composition makes our eye move up, toward the point of the triangle.

Organization of formsA circular structure can make the eyes move

around and around, without giving any object more importance than the others.

Let’s practiceTake a look at these works. Which type of

composition structure can we see?

Let’s get to workIn groups of two or three, take magazine to

make a collage.Try to organize the forms in a way to create a

TRIANGULAR, CIRCULAR, HORIZONTAL, DIAGONAL OR VERTICAL COMPOSITION

Color in compositionWhen an artist plans the composition of their

work, they use colors with different intentions.

Color in compositionIf an artist

doesn’t want any element to have more importance than then rest, they will use harmonious colors.

For example:

Color in compositionIf an artist wants one

element to appear more important, they use colors that contrast.

For example:

Creating a harmonious compositionUse colors of the

same tone (for example blues and greens)

Choose colors of the same temperature (either cool or warm)

Work with colors that are analogous

Creating a contrasting compositionJuxtapose (put

together) dark and light colors

Use complementary colors (opposite on the color wheel, like red and green)

Use warm colors to give more importance.

Use cool colors to give less importance.

Creating a contrasting compositionUse warm colors

to give more importance to an element.

Use cool colors to give less importance.

Let’s get to work!In groups, work with stamping corks to make

a composition using colors. I will give you a type of color composition to

recreate, either:HARMONYCONTRAST