Create Better Compositions by Design The path to better painting begins with Mastering Composition. This effective guide blends clear, visual instruction with 5 step-by-step demonstrations to show you how to plan and paint your best work yet. Composition is the key, and here you'll learn to design paintings with new skill and confidence. It all begins with the armature or structure of the picture plane. Every great painting has one, and you'll see through several famous examples exactly how the Old Masters used armatures to create movement, narrative, harmony and fluidity. Based on these examples, you'll practice what you've learned following a series of hands-on demonstrations. Once you understand the basic principles of design, you'll be amazed at how quickly and effectively your compositions come together. Soon you will be painting more boldly and confidently than ever before with less reworking and overworking. Whether you're a beginner looking for basic instruction or a more advanced painter troubleshooting a specific problem, the proven methods in this book will work for you. Ideal for all mediums, Mastering Composition gives you the knowledge you need to create powerful paintings out of every subject.

Going beyond the rule of thirds, this offers invaluable tips and tools to help the photographer take control of the creative process with emphasis on four elements: an impactful subject, dynamic composition, effective use of lighting, and an ability to invoke an emotional response in the viewer What makes a great photo? Flicking through the pages of popular photography magazines you might get the impression that there's only one rule of importance--the rule of thirds. Indeed it appears that some will judge the merit of a photograph based almost solely on this. Rarely do you hear discussion about visual weight, balance, negative space, depth, and so on. Author and professional photographer Richard Garvey-Williams argues that success lies in a combination of four elements: an impactful subject; dynamic composition; effective use of lighting; and, perhaps the most crucial, ability to invoke an emotional response in the viewer. Citing examples gleaned from a study of history--the Ancient Greeks' Golden Ru≤ Fibonacci's mathematical ratio; and the principles known as the Gestalt theory--the author analyzes the concepts, rules, and guidelines that define successful composition in photography and offers practical guidance to achieving great results. In clear, concise, and jargon-free text he also considers the role of tone and color in good composition, and offers invaluable tips and the tools to help the photographer take control of the creative process. The book is illustrated with examples of the author's own beautiful nature photography, along with diagrams and notation to explain techniques most clearly. A final chapter in this definitive guide for all serious photographers discusses photography and its relationship to art before offering a considered conclusion to the exploration of this fascinating topic.

Alain Briot states that, "The personality of the photographer must be present in the image for an artistic photograph to have value." And in this book he sets out to teach the things that are essential in achieving this goal. Following his successful first book, Mastering Landscape Photography, Briot goes beyond the conventional rules of composition and takes on a fresh, new approach to teaching the art of photography. Based upon his personal experiences as an artist, teacher, and photographer, he opens new doors to the reader-doors leading to new ways of seeing and composing images. Briot approaches fine art photography as being a combination of art and technique. In this new book he addresses both of these by presenting artistic and technical information. On the artistic side, Briot introduces artistic concepts that have been rarely, if ever, associated with photography. On the technical side, he presents numerous tools that can help you learn how to create better photographs and provides technical solutions to common photographic problems. The author practices photography as a fine art. What matters most to him is how photography can be used to express feelings and emotions. For Briot, a good photograph must be both artistically inspired and technically excellent. To have just one of these two elements is not enough for a fine art photograph to be successful. Topics include: - How to compose with color, with black and white, and with light - Why you need to consider your audience while composing a photograph - Recreate the emotions you felt when you captured your photographs - How the elements of color-hue, contrast, and saturation-work in your images - How to control the elements that have a visual effect in your photographs - How to draw upon your personal way of seeing and then share your vision - How to diagnose image maladies and apply the proper remedies - How to define a color palette for a specific photograph - How to use compositional elements to develop a personal style Forweword by Tony Sweet

Serious visual artists can now easily understand and apply the secret geometry that masters used to create remarkable art. Superior mathematical skills aren’t required because there are hundreds of excellent step-by-step diagrams to explain everything with simplicity. Learn how the ancient and modern masters used dynamic symmetry to promote unity, movement, rhythm, and strength. These qualities, along with many others, allowed their art to have visual clarity, impact, and stand the test of time. This is an essential book for painters, photographers, sculptors, and cinematographers that hold composition and design with a high priority. For far too long, artists have been stuck with the basic tools of artistic composition, like the rule of thirds and leading lines. Unfortunately, we’re incapable of reaching the master level if all we know are the basics. Powerful tools like dynamic symmetry and other composition techniques have been kept a secret from all of us. It’s time to learn of them, push past any plateau that stands in our way, and finally unlock our true potential!

Create compelling paintings by mastering compositional techniques While happy accidents may occasionally contribute to producing strong, eye-catching paintings, conscious painting is more important. According to author Frank Webb, "Composition is more important than fact, technique, or subject." To create compelling, expressive works, you must make the composition the foundation of your plan. This book provides example-by-example demonstrations of how you can achieve this. The works of 24 professional artists included in this book give you an over-the-shoulder look at how to apply composition techniques. Armed with this information, you can paint a powerful picture and--just as importantly--analyze and improve a work that has gone wrong. "Strengthen Your Paintings with Dynamic Composition" is an indispensable addition to the artist's library that you will read and re-read. Webb's memorable instruction will guide the beginner through composition challenges and serve as a reference for the more experienced painter. Frank Webb, a professional artist since 1947, is a Dolphin Fellow of the American Watercolor Society, which he has represented in international exhibitions in Canada, New York, England, Scotland, and Mexico City. A guest instructor in all 50 states, juror, and lecturer, Webb has received over 110 major medals and awards from national competitions, including six from the American Watercolor Society. Collectors of Webb's paintings include National Taiwan Arts Education Center, Baylor University, Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State University, Portland Museum of Art, and South Arkansas Arts Center, to name a few.Webb is featured in "Who's Who in American Art" and "Who's Who in the East," and he is also a member of the Allied Artists of America, Audubon Artists, the Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Association, and many other art associations."

Create art that's more attractive, interesting and eye-catching! Even if your perspective is accurate, your subject realistic and colors vibrant, a weak composition - predictable, repetitious or monotonous - means a weak painting. The Simple Secret to Better Painting ensures that your compositions work every time. It's an insightful artistic philosophy that boils down the many technical principles of composition into a single master rule that's easy to remember and apply: Never make any two intervals the same. You can make every painting more interesting, dynamic and technically sound by varying intervals of distance, length and space, as well as intervals of value and color. The rule also applies to balance, shape and the location of your painting's focal point. Greg Albert illustrates these lessons with eye-opening examples from both beginning and professional artists, including Frank Webb, Tony Couch, Kevin Macpherson, Charles Reid, Tony Van Hasselt and more. You'll discover that the ONE RULE is the only rule of composition you need to immediately improve your work - the moment your brush touches the canvas.

Go beyond the color wheel and unlock the potential of your oil painting palette with this unique and informative guide by an award-winning painter. More than any other single tool at your artistic disposal, color has the potential to command the eye, quicken the pulse and elicit a response from your viewer. In this engaging and unique color workshop, Vicki McMurry offers insight for artists of every level. McMurry starts with basic principles, from selecting a palette to designing with color. She then explores concepts like mother colors, transition colors, the corner theory and much more. Learn to create a personal color palette as unique as your fingerprint and capture a full range of atmospheres, from light and airy to moody and pensive. McMurry offers guiding principles, such as using temperature and value to make colors sing, as well as practical tips on everything from working with white to troubleshooting paintings for common color shortcomings. By combining your intuitive color knowledge with classic color truths, you’ll build powerful compositions that express your unique vision and embrace your viewers.