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Hi all!
For the last 2 months or so I’ve been really focused on improving my composition.
I find watercolor to be such a fascinating and challenging learning curve.
I basically keep learning the same principles, only at different levels.Improving my composition
In any case, I’ve been really focused on composition and believe I made some progress.I recently shared this in a YouTube video (HERE), and wanted to share here as well.
Where I used to be
So here’s an example of a typical painting I would make. Aside from the multiple mistakes and inaccurate representation – what really bugged me was the composition.
The building’s just stuck in there, dead in the middle. Sure, there’s that car, but even that doesn’t read as well.
Here are several other examples. Some may even look good in terms of the technique, but the composition, to me, is obviously not thought through enough.
Now, here’s an interesting example from when I got lucky and accidentally got a nice composition going.
Lot’s of things to improve, and the style doesn’t feel like it’s “mine”, but at least there’s some movement and interest.
Where I am now
So here’s the first painting in which I REALLY devoted my thoughts and work process to composition.
With this one I took some time to carefully plan where everything is going to be placed.
The main change I’ve gone through is avoiding the centers, and putting more emphasis on uneven space divisions that create more interest.
Here’s another good example.
Notice how the distances between the trees are varied.
This is true for the trees in the background as well, and pretty much for most elements in this painting.Here’s another example, simpler this time.
What I love about this one is how simple yet effective it is, in my opinion.
And a final, more detailed one.
Notice how it is quite even when you examine it horizontally. I tried creating interest here around the vertical axis.
Conclusion
And this is it! I hope this encourages you to devote more time to composition and more careful preparation for your paintings.
I know this was (and still is) one of my weaknesses, and I sometimes have to forcibly slow down my work process.You can check out the full vid with my explanations HERE.
Let me know if this helped in any way!
– Liron
- Liron Yanconsky
My YouTube Channel - Learn Watercolor Painting!Hi all!
Let me know if this helped in any way!
– Liron
Thank you very much for your interesting video and learning tips. Really enjoyed watching..
Painting is a complete distraction. I know of nothing which, without exhausting the body, more entirely absorbs the mind. Winston Churchill
I love your posts Liron. Very helpful and encouraging.
In classical art training thinking about 2 things beforeyou paint are emphasised:
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[*]What to you want to communicate? (i.e. why are you painting this painting – what grabbed your attention / motivation)
[*]How are you going to compose your “message” – composition.Too often we dive into painting before doing sketches, thumbnails, to test composition, values, format, etc. Then when we have committed paint to paper we get disappointed because the weakness becomes more and more evident as we progress. Then to add to our disaster, we fiddle and try and correct it – which is death to watercolours!
A classical work worth looking at is Arthur Wesley Dow’s “Composition, understanding line, notan and colour”. It’s old-fashioned but still totally relevant, and I still keep going back to it to remind myself of these basics.
As long as there is light, I will paint it.
I love your posts Liron. Very helpful and encouraging.
In classical art training thinking about 2 things [I]before[/I][I]you paint are emphasised:
[LIST]
[*]What to you want to communicate? (i.e. why are you painting this painting – what grabbed your attention / motivation)
[*]How are you going to compose your “message” – composition.
[/LIST]Too often we dive into painting before doing sketches, thumbnails, to test composition, values, format, etc. Then when we have committed paint to paper we get disappointed because the weakness becomes more and more evident as we progress. Then to add to our disaster, we fiddle and try and correct it – which is death to watercolours!
A classical work worth looking at is Arthur Wesley Dow’s “Composition, understanding line, notan and colour”. It’s old-fashioned but still totally relevant, and I still keep going back to it to remind myself of these basics.
I’ll definitely check it out, thank you
I’m just now starting to realise how much more I still have to learn.
Drawing and painting in general are such an insanely vast skillset.- Liron Yanconsky
My YouTube Channel - Learn Watercolor Painting!
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