Composition Composition is the arrangement of elements such as form, colour etc in an orderly way

Vincent Van Gogh A good composition will often be symmetrical or asymmetrical. Which is this?... Is it balanced?.... Sunflowers, Fourth Version, 1880s

Pieter Claesz, ‘Breakfast Still Life with Roemer, Meat Pie, Lemon and Bread oil’ The foreground of a composition is the visual plane that appears closest to the viewer The background is the plane in a composition perceived furthest from the viewer The middle ground is the visual plane located between both the foreground and background. Line, shape, space, composition, direction, scale

Juan Sánchez Cotán, ‘Quince, Cabbage, Melon and Cucumber’, 1602,

Francisco de Zurbarán, ‘Mugs and Glasses’, 1633.

Giorgio Morandi, ‘Natura Morta’, oil on canvas, 1956.

Wayne Thiebaud

SCALE Scale is the proportion or ratio that defines the size relationship between two things. Scale creates the illusion of correct size relationships between objects and figures. It is used to make images look realistic and correct.

Still Life with Palette, 1972 Roy Lichtenstein Still Life with Palette, 1972

A good composition should draw in the viewer and pull their eyes across the whole piece so that everything is noticed and then finally resting on the main point of the piece

Balance Balance is the way in which the elements such as shape, form, colour etc are arranged equally to create a feeling of stability in the work. No one part of the work overpowers or seems heavier than any other part.

Frida Kahlo, ‘Viva La Vida’, 1954

Why Create a Cropped Composition Emphasise area to give more importance Gets rid of distracting parts of image Adds to interest if parts are half cut out

Darren Maurer, ‘Plain m&m's’, 2011

‘Small Town Cafe’ Consider Perspective……..