In my last post on Composition Part 2, I talked about breaking down your surface into sections. This makes it a lot easier to see what needs to go where.
Now it’s time to take your composition a bit further with these steps.
1. DEFINE YOUR FOCAL POINT WITH ITS SUPPORTING HEIRARCHY
a) FOCAL POINT
The most important feature or the artwork needs to be clear, bright, larger than the rest or at least stands out.
b) SUPPORTING HIERARCHY
Secondary features should be slightly out of focus, less saturated or smaller to create a contrast and make the focal point dominate.
2. REINFORCE COMPOSITIONAL SECTIONS
Texture, line, repetition, color blocks or negative space can reinforce the established grid or simple shape compositions.
3. TAKE THE VIEWER ON A JOURNEY THROUGH YOUR ARTWORK SURFACE
a) LEADING LINES
Use leading lines to direct the eye to where you want the story of your image to go.
It is the human tendency to automatically look where others are looking. Use this to your advantage to direct the viewer.
c) STEPPING STONES
Well placed items or points of color can be used as stepping-stones to guide the viewer around a surface.
Dynamic compositions don’t often happen organically. Thinking through your composition at the beginning of any creative process will save you down the line from having to move things around.
A little bit of compositional planning at the beginning sets the foundation for a successful outcome.
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