I need composition/visual hierarchy help.

[deliciouspeter]

Among other things...but I really feel that I'm lacking in that area. My stuff is just meh.

Are there exercises in composition or should I just study other's work?

Thanks!

[dose]

Could you please post a few examples so we can give concrete advice?

Thanks

Tim

[dose]

It looks to me like you have a strong sense of graphic composition- where to put something and how big to make it in relation to the page and the other things in the image.

Visual hierarchy doesn't seem to be coming into play so much on the images you posted because mostly they are a single object placed in the picture field. You could try placing a few objects together in simple still lives or landscapes. Play with overlap- when things overlap and when they don't, and to what extent. If you are able to play with that inside of the design sense shown in the pieces above (how big & where- in relation to the page and the other objects) you will be doing fine in terms of composition.

Check out Hokusai, Hiroshige, and Cezanne.

Also- your stuff is fine. Just keep going, and pay attention to the filters you view your own work and yourself through- positive and negative.

Hope this helps

Tim

[Idiot Apathy]

Thumbnails! Do lots of thumbnails, figure out what you want to say and then say it! Make them simple, a few shapes and a few values.

[HunterKiller_]

I don't have anything to offer on composition, but I'm really diggin' your work!
Great stuff, really like the bunny and goldfish pieces.

[incolorinred]

Idiot Apathy's comment on doing thumbnails is a great suggestion. A friend of mine was recently commissioned a twelve painting show at a New York gallery and he sat down for a whole week drawing thumbnails like crazy to find the few visual ideas that were right for the show. I think this approach is very valuable.

[emily g]

I love that rabbit!
I remembered Loomis' Creative Illustration the other day.
He has a great section on composition.
You can find the book here: http://www.fineart.sk/index.php?cat=13

emily

[Chiko]

Thumbnails! Do lots of thumbnails, figure out what you want to say and then say it! Make them simple, a few shapes and a few values.


I agree with this here :0! I just started doing this for pieces and it's alot of help!

[w0lves]

anyone ever tell you that you'd make an awesome Graffiti artist?

Respect !

[deliciouspeter]

dose: thanks. great points there, i guess i'm not sure of what i need. I just know i need something.

idiot apathy: thumbnails! of course. I do find that my thumbnails have so much more impact than the finished paintings. speaks to my need for practice over production. i've been varnishing the original sketch on the back of the painting. people seem to like that.

hunterkiller: thank you. i regret that i don't have a hi-res picture of the goldfish. it's long gone.

incoloinred:thumbnails are so key. i'm taking time off after the holidays and not painting a thing. just filling a sketchbook developing ideas. thanks for posting. good luck to your friend.

emily: thanks for the resource. there is so much out there it's difficult to find the good stuff. the rabbit is a favorite. I miss them both already. They hopped away with a friend.

chiko: thumbnails!

wolves: awesome? no....thanks though. If you saw how I worked, you'd probably say silkscreen.

Thanks again to everyone for posting. I didn't respond right away because I was anticipating harsher comments and after posting I realized I should have probably done this in a different forum. Have a nice weekend.