Mastering Composition
Picture This
Composition of Outdoor Painting
Every piece of art has a story to tell, from the most realistic to the most abstract ones, and the way each line, color and object is placed on a piece is what makes the story come to life, grabbing the viewer’s attention and taking them through the journey of exploring the emotions, intentions and messages behind you work.
In visual storytelling composition is key, the stories we see everyday, the movies, TV shows, video games and other media play with the arrangement of the elements, characters, lights and colors to capture our attention, bring out our emotions and make us react in a certain way.
As an artist, art composition is more than a fundamental, it’s a powerful tool that shapes how a piece is perceived and experienced, and learning about it is as equally important as learning about color theory or anatomy or perspective.
In this article we’re going to learn a bit more about composition in art, we’re also going to review the most essential books on art composition and list some other great titles to help you improve your composition skills. Let’s get started!
What is Art Composition?
Finally, art composition is the purposeful placement of visual elements in a work in order to tell a story, convey an emotion, or communicate a message. It involves the whole spectrum: from the positioning of lines, shapes, and colors to the utilization of space, light, and texture. Good composition of artwork captivates the viewer, leading the eye across the artwork and evoking particular emotions. These combinations of visual elements not only increase the beauty level of the artwork but also provide the viewer with a deep connection to the art, enabling them to have a transformative or immersive experience when viewing it.
Why Study Art Composition Through Books?
Some of the reasons to learn art composition using books are:
- Convenience: There’s nothing more convenient than to learn at your own pace, at your home or where you feel the most comfortable, at any time, any day. You can revisit complex concepts as you need and have more than one material to reference.
- Examples and Demonstrations: Many composition books include examples, demonstrations, case studies and step-by-step tutorials that you can study, analyze and apply to your work.
- Access to Experts: Not everyday you can take a class from an expert on the subject, or get insights from experienced professionals in the field. Books have invaluable resources that will help you understand not only the “how” but the “why” behind concepts and techniques.
How to Choose the Right Art Composition Book for You
Author Expertise
The expertise of a book’s author is important because experienced artists and educators can provide not only great techniques but also context and insights on said techniques that make the learning experience better for the reader. Real world experience, anecdotes and insights on projects we’ve all seen are invaluable, and can only be offered by professionals with the right credentials or expertise.
Content Scope and Skill Level
The content of the book matters a lot as it should align with your current skill levels, field of interest and long term goals. A good book will comprehensively cover topics from basic principles to advanced techniques, however not all artists are the same nor are they looking for the same advice. Books on composition for visual storytelling will be way different than books in composition for traditional painting, the same way a book oriented towards beginners will be much different than a book made for experienced audiences. Examine the table of contents to see if the book is on the topics that you are interested in or where you need to improve. For those who are just starting out, books that start with basic concepts and then slowly lead to more complex ideas are the best ones. For the more advanced artists, you can find books which provide new techniques, contemporary examples and talks about professional practices in the art world.
Price
Price is a significant consideration for many, as it directly affects whether you buy a book or not, while it might be costly to buy quality books, you should also bear in mind that the value of a book can be more than its price. A costly book might be a good investment if you need that book as a long-term reference material for your artistic career, on the other hand, beginners might start with more affordable books or second hand ones as they explore their interest in art composition. Look for deals at different platforms and find out if there are ebook options, which usually are less expensive. Also, check the reviews and see if the contents are really for you and if you’ll find them useful throughout your career.
Best Books on Art Composition
- Best Book On Art Composition Overall — Mastering Composition: Techniques and Principles to Dramatically Improve Your Painting
- Best Book On Art Composition for Beginners — Picture This: How Pictures Work
- Best Book On Art Composition for Landscape Painters — Composition of Outdoor Painting
- Best Book On Art Composition for Comic Artists — Framed Ink Vol 1 & 2
- Best Book On Art Composition for Illustrators — Creative Illustration
#1. Best Book On Art Composition Overall — Mastering Composition
Selection Criteria
- Author and Publication Date: Ian Roberts, November 29, 2007.
- Our Score – –/–
- Contents: Focuses on the fundamentals of creating strong compositions in painting.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Skill Level: Suitable for all levels.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Price: $18.79
- Our Score – 9/10
About Mastering Composition
Mastering Composition is a book designed for artists of all levels that want to improve their understanding of composition techniques and apply them in their work. With over 40 years of experience, Ian Roberts guides us through a series of practical demonstrations that will take your skills to the next level.
The book is well structured, covering topics that go from the importance of a well structured sketch to the role of color and value in composition, as well as techniques that help with achieving balance and focus in your art. “The Composition Mastery” is considered to be most useful for artists who want to have a deeper understanding of composition principles and who want to achieve high-quality paintings with better composition rather than merely improving their technical skills.
Pros
- Enhances painting skills
- Clear instructional content
- Comprehensive composition focus
Cons
- Potentially complex techniques
- Dense for beginners
- Specific artistic focus
2. Best Book On Art Composition for Beginners — Picture This: How Pictures Work
Selection Criteria
- Author and Publication Date: Molly Bang, August 16, 2016.
- Our Score – –/–
- Contents: Examines the mechanics behind the art of visual storytelling.
- Our Score – 8/10
- Skill Level: Beginners.
- Our Score – 8/10
- Price: $18.88
- Our Score – 9/10
About Picture This: How Pictures Work
If you’re a beginner looking for a book that explains the composition basics with simple, easy to understand examples, that takes your hand and guides you through the concepts of dominance, tension and balance using simple shapes and colors. What’s super cool about her approach is how she strips everything down to the basics, with each page you see how by using simple shapes and colors, she makes it crystal clear how positioning, size, and color choice can drastically change the feel of a scene. It’s one of these books you can read in one afternoon, but you’ll keep coming back to it, every time finding something new. Each page of this book compels you to consider your own work and how you might apply these principles to improve on the art of storytelling.
Pros
- Visual learning emphasis
- Engaging explanations
- Accessible to beginners
Cons
- Limited technical depth
- Too simplistic for some
- Narrow scope
3. Best Book On Art Composition for Landscape Painters — Composition of Outdoor Painting
Selection Criteria
- Author and Publication Date: Edgar Payne, January 1, 2005.
- Our Score – –/–
- Contents: Offers detailed guidance on landscape composition, including theoretical and practical aspects.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Skill Level: Suitable for all levels.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Price: $57.95
- Our Score – 8/10
About Composition of Outdoor Painting
Composition of Outdoor Painting by Edgar Payne is a classic book among artists who love landscape and plein air painting but are not sure how or where to start. Payne highlights the significance of structural principles in composition. He talks about ‘big masses’ and ‘leading lines’, and how by using the landscapes’ natural curves, trees’ alignment, you can direct the viewer’s vision through the painting. The main element that makes the book an excellent guide is the illustrations and diagrams that are provided with the text. Payne doesn’t just instruct you on what to do, he demonstrates it. There are sketches and paintings which have diagrams superimposed for further details on the composition so you can witness the step-by-step process of creating a masterpiece from a rough sketch to the final painting.
Pros
- Focuses on landscapes
- Practical tips included
- Useful for plein air
Cons
- Specific genre focus
- May exclude other styles
- Some dated examples
4. Best Book On Art Composition for Comic Artists — Framed Ink Vol 1 & 2
Selection Criteria
- Author and Publication Date: Marcos Mateu-Mestre, August 31, 2010.
- Our Score – –/–
- Contents: Discusses composition for visual storytelling, particularly in comics and film.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Skill Level: Intermediate to professional.
- Our Score – 8/10
- Price: $15.99
- Our Score – 9/10
About Framed Ink Vol 1 & 2
The framed ink books are an invaluable resource among artists, especially the ones involved in visual storytelling like comic artists, illustrators, and concept artists. In the first volume, Marcos Mateu-Mestre covers several composition techniques that enhance the narrative of a story through light, shadow and the arrangement of characters, explains how to create visual rhythm to guide the eyes of the viewer’s through the panels, and examples on how to apply each principle discussed in the book. In the second volume, the author goes deeper into the narrative aspect, giving more attention to how the characters interact with their environments and how these interactions can be framed to enhance the composition of the frame. Advanced composition techniques like color composition, the use of light and shadow to create mood and balance, and how to convey the narrative through visual cues are introduced in this volume as well, helping artists not only tell their stories better but learn to create more cohesive narratives from the start.
Pros
- Storytelling focus
- Strong visual examples
- Practical techniques
Cons
- Comic-centric
- Less traditional techniques
- Specific audience target
5. Best Book On Art Composition for Illustrators — Creative Illustration
Selection Criteria
- Author and Publication Date: Andrew Loomis, October 9, 2012.
- Our Score – –/–
- Contents: Focuses on advanced techniques and theories to enhance creativity in illustration.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Skill Level: Professional.
- Our Score – 9/10
- Price: $25.25
- Our Score – 8/10
About Creative Illustration
Creative Illustration by Andrew Loomis is a classic in the field of art and illustration, and while this book focus is not mainly composition, its approach to composition in art is so broad and detailed that it has become one of the most used guides in the field. In “Creative Illustration,” Loomis doesn’t just talk about these principles, he also gives practical applications and exercises. He frequently begins with simple line drawings to demonstrate that even the most basic shapes can be arranged to create a beautiful or dramatic composition, then he increases the complexity by adding supplementary elements such as mood, value and color. This book has helped entire generations of visual artists from various fields understand how composition plays a critical role not only in the aesthetics of a piece but also in its ability to communicate effectively and evoke emotions in the viewer.
Pros
- Broad technique coverage
- Inspires creativity
- Time-tested advice
Cons
- Somewhat dated examples
- Dense text sections
- May be overwhelming
