JANIS COMMENTZ California Painter
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Workshops & Exhibits
  • Paper Goods
  • Available Art
  • Links & Commissions
  • Figures
  • Small Works Available
  • Best 9 2022
Picture
Pt. Lobos State Reserve, Ink and Watercolor on paper

Intention and Composition

3/22/2018

0 Comments

 
I began this blog in January to provide concrete painting tips, inspire beginning painters, and to post information to class members.

Today, we have quite a bit of rain in the Mojave Desert! However, last Saturday, St. Patrick's Day, was beautiful. I taught a painting class in gorgeous Joshua Tree National Park, and although it was a bit windy and chilly, we had a good turnout and day. So today is a great day to share some new thoughts on old ideas!
​
COMPOSITION

Besides selecting materials and mixing colors, a painter must plan composition. It is your foundation! I believe considering composition becomes an intuitive habit the longer you look at paintings and create your own.  Whether you are drawn to objective or abstract painting, talking lessons from the old masters and known composition elements is always a good idea.
​
My most recent class was plein air (fancy name for outdoors) landscape painting.    I urge my students to make a series of quick “thumbnail” (small-yes larger than a thumbnail, but typically no larger than 3” x 4”) sketches which catch the essence of the subject and lay out composition, planning darks and lights.  Each drawing should take no longer than 5 minutes, and it’s important to do 3 to 5 sketches. You redefine your view, your subject and create a better plan.

Picture

Above: August Agave, acrylic on canvas, 12" x 12"


Tools
I often use inexpensive mechanical pencils (no need to find your sharpener) or lovely soft art pencils.
Use the eraser as a reverse tool; shade an area and “draw” into it with your eraser.
Begin to see your scene as a pattern of darks and lights, shadow and drama.

A great tool is a piece of red plexiglass. When you look through, you see only the values, the lights and darks. An inexpensive version can be found at Cheap Joes. A more durable version with a grid and mirror can be purchased from Peggi Kroll, Instructor
Picture
Avove: Peggi Kroll's Red Plexi
Take a photo with your camera and turn it to mono or black and white.  But do not spend too much time with this-  look for the general pattern of lights and darks. 

Horizon Line
​

A first concern for painting a to landscape or any painting, is where will your horizon line fall?  Even abstract paintings often have a definite horizontal line. Throughout history, certain measurements have been considered pleasing to the eye. The ratio of 1 : 1.618—not quite 2/3 (extremely rounded off) was named the golden ratio by the Greeks. The ratio proves pleasing both vertically and horizontally.
Picture
​Simply put, you do not want your horizon line in the middle.  It will be more pleasing a little less than 2/3 up the page or 2/3s down from the top.


​Composition Examples
​

Several basic composition templates prove helpful. Note most place the horizon line off center – about a 1/3, 2/3 or with the 1: 1.62 ratio.

Another helpful hint, as in Japanese flower arranging, Ikebana, an uneven number of objects is more pleasing than an even number.  This avoids symmetry and equal balance, which are actually seldom found in nature.
 
I find a good technique to improve composition skills is to look at works by old masters or painters whom you admire and create a quick thumbnail sketch.
Here some samples of my very quick sketches; you will find they often follow basic composition models above.
Van Gogh - Starry Night
Van Ruisdael
WM Turner
Paul Cezanne
David Hockney
Grant Wood
Julian Onderdonk
​Each of the Design Elements (color, line, shape, texture, space, form, harmony/unity, and balance) will be considered in time. For early planning purposes, we consider line, shape, space, balance and placement of darks and light.
 
Once you have created a thumbnail sketch that you wish to use, transfer you sketch to your canvas, gessoed watercolor or other surface. I like to use pastel pencils, sometimes in various colors as scene here.  I then cover the sketchmarks with acrylic medium. See photos below.
 
You are  ready to begin painting!  Watch for a future blogpost. 
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    This January 2023 marks 5 years of blogging about creativity, well-being and encouragement. Thank you to the many who have visited my website!  I welcome comments and questions.
         The creative habit and skills can be developed at any age. I invite you to check in often!

      Would you like to sign up for my blog / newsletter?

    Subscribe to Newsletter

    Archives by Title


    - Cultivate a Sense of Play

    - ART That Changes the Heart
    - Seeking Our Roots
    - Restoration for the Art Soul 
    - Winter Salutations
    - Creative Expression is Vital to a Purposeful Life
    -You Need a Friend
    - Happy Mother's, Friends, Father's Day-Celebrate Nurturers
    ​- Happy May and Newsletter Invitation
    - June Joy and Better Habits
    - Lessons from a Life Well-Lived
    - Celebrate Community
    ​- December 2021

    - WinterLight
    - Sunflowers for Ukraine
    - Spring Ahead
    - 2nd Flowers for Ukraine
    -Greetings from the Mojave Desert
    -Winter Light  and Elevating Your Mood!
    -Creativity and Cost
    -What do you know about color? 
    -Creating in an out-of-sync world
    -Intention and Composition
    -Passion (on Valentine's Day) for the Arts
    -
    Believable Mojave Greens
    -Intention and Composition
    -
    In the mood to paint...besides inspiration what do I need?
    -With the winds, comes the inspiration for change!
    -
    Wondering About Workshops?  Jumpstart Your Practice or Jump In!
    ​
    -A Digital Leap
    ​-Blue Colored Glasses
    -New Class at the Desert Institute
    -New Media and Video
    ​
    -Travel Inspiration

    -Scheduling Creative Time
    -Letting go...and finding creativity....
    -October Opportunities
    -Holiday Cheer Through Creativity: Beating Stress and Creative Gifts 

    -Looking Back at 2018
    -Stay Creative Through the Holidays!
    -Resolve or Restore?
    -Rock Scrambling Through Winter
    -Drawing on Your Observations
    -Pondering Early Favorites
    ​-Summer Nurturing

    -In need of Inspiration?
    -Making a Thankfulness Bridge
    ​
    -December Greetings!
    ​-News for 2020
    -Nurturing Your Creative Vitality

    -Online Shop: French Press
    ​
    -A Work in Progress: Encouragement
    ​-
    Art During the Health Crisis

    ​

    All

    RSS Feed

    Archives by Date

    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    October 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018

Picture
​

Email:
​janis@janiscommentz.com
All images by 
​Janis Commentz
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Workshops & Exhibits
  • Paper Goods
  • Available Art
  • Links & Commissions
  • Figures
  • Small Works Available
  • Best 9 2022