1. Fixing Weak Composition
Examples of poor compositional choices and
suggested fixes

2. Horizon Half-way up the Paper
FIX: If foreground is of interest, move horizon up. If sky is of interest, move horizon down

3. Dominant feature halfway across paper
FIX: Move to side and restore balance

4. Large area divided into two equal strips
FIX: alter shapes and sizes

5. Important feature resting on boundary
FIX: Plan ahead

6. Strong values predominant on one side
FIX: restore balance with added emphasis on other side

7. Dominant features lead eye out of picture
FIX: Make sure object(s) of interest carry eye into heart of painting

8. More than one center of interest
FIX: Create a single point of interest with a single pathway leading to it. Block excursions off the boundary.

9. Roadway edge originates at corner of format
FIX: move edges to sides, reduce roadway dominance, break up long roadway with, for example, shadows

10. Objects strung out in a disconnected line
FIX: Overlap structures to create an interesting shape

11. Unnecessary detail; e.g. long line of regular fencing
FIX: Simplify (alter reality for artistic purposes)

12. Similar/Identical items
FIX: Alter size, shape, position, color etc to add interest and focus

13. Objects viewed face-on
FIX: Adopt a viewpoint with perspective and some overlap

14. Two issues: Regular fencing and intersection at a corner
FIXES: Move stream and simplify fence

15. Two Competing Centers of Interest
FIX: Concentrate on one, sacrifice the other

16. Viewer’s eye is drawn away from center of interest
FIX: Alter reality by rearranging elements to draw eye toward center of interest ( including background mountains)

17. Object leads eye away from scene
FIX: create movement into the picture

18. Unrelated lines coincide
FIX: Move tangent items to intersect each other ( e.g., sky-roof, and two silos)

19. Multiple Flaws
Compare Flawed (upper) with Fixed (lower):

20. Flawed vs. Fixed Flawed (fixed): Houses strung out (grouped)
Head on view of houses (side views; shadowed sides for contrast)
Strong vertical church tower in dead center (moved to left; balanced by tree on right)
Church tower exactly behind timbered gable (stands alone)
Strong white road of uniform width cuts through entire picture (non-uniform, broken by shadow)
Red truck driving out of picture (moving into picture)