Visual Art Composition

Composition refers to the way various elements are laid out in a piece of visual art. An effective composition will generate certain feelings and communicate specific ideas to a viewer. In photography and drawing in particular, composition is of primary importance. The main elements of composition are area, perspective, line, and value. “Area” refers to the space within the illustration used to form the image. The spatial arrangement of the objects that creates an illusion of depth is what is meant by “perspective,” while “line” refers to the path a viewer’s eye follows when looking at a picture. “Value” is the amount of light and darkness found in an image. When analyzing the area of a particular artwork, artists and critics tend to stick to what is known as the “rule of thirds.” By dividing a picture into thirds, both vertically and horizontally, you get a good idea as to whether or not the composition is successful on this level. In art photography, it is always best if the main areas of interest are not in the center of the image. When it comes to perspective, simplification is essential – especially in photography. When there are too many things happening at once in a picture, it appears to be cluttered. The viewer is confused, not knowing what to focus on. To avoid clutter, an artist can reduce the number of objects in the picture in order to focus on what’s important. A commonly used trick in photography is to limit the depth of field – essentially blurring the background in order to focus on an object in the foreground. Another important guideline when considering composition is the “rule of odds.” This rule basically states that odd numbers of objects are more aesthetically appealing than even numbers, which tend to look fake or staged – unnatural, in other words. This rule is also related to the idea that triangles, with their three points, are more attractive formations in art, and in particular photography. Based on what the artist intends the focus of an image to be, he or she will take all of these factors into consideration when composing the work. By manipulating the composition in this fashion, the artist determines what points the viewer will focus on when studying the completed work of art. Hopefully, all the disparate elements will come together to form a harmonious whole that will linger in the viewer’s imagination long after he or she has seen the work.

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