1. HINTS FOR COMPOSING A LANDSCAPE

2. Why does composition matter?
Does it matter where you place notes in a piece of music?

3. What makes an effective composition?
Does it convey the feelings, ideas, and emotions the artist wants the viewer to understand?
Does the viewer see what the artist wants them to see?
Are there things that distract from the message and meaning of the artwork?

4. Artists often make multiple sketches in order to get the most effective composition possible. These are called “thumbnail sketches.”

5. Good art requires careful planning.

6. Some artist use a system of lines to determine use of space
Some artist use a system of lines to determine use of space. Notice the small study in the left lower corner showing his plan for the composition of Rams on the Alert (1953).

7. Study for Lord of the Canyon, by Carl Rungius
Final painting of Lord of the Canyon, by Carl Rungius
There is no set order to approaching composition. It’s one of those things where you just keep adjusting and tweaking all the parts until you get it right. Many artists make dozens of sketches and studies before they begin the final piece.
Carl Rungius, for example, made many studies of the scene before painting the final Lord of the Canyon.

8. Does this painting feel balanced to you?
Start by thinking about balance. We create equilibrium by balancing the “visual weight”
Does this painting feel balanced to you?

9. “Mass” can cause visual weight.

10. Unusual or bright colors can cause “visual weight”.

11. Unusual or isolated shapes can cause “visual weight”.
What do you notice first?

12. Next, think about “FOCAL POINT”! WHAT IS IT?
ANSWER: The area that “draws the eye” first.

13. You can use a variety of things to help viewers understand what you want to be your focal point.
Put the greatest area of value contrast at the focal point!
Put the area of greatest detail at the focal point.

14. Once you have drawn the viewers attention with the “FOCAL POINT” take them on a guided tour through your art work. This is called the “EYE PATH.”

15. Notice how the eye flows from the focal point to other areas of interest and stays in the art work.

16. Now look how that works with a landscape.

17. Use the “RULE OF THE THIRDS” to create a good composition.
Things that are placed on the line of the “thirds” or the intersecting points tend to be good places to put “focal points”.

18. See how many landscape artists used rule of thirds: