How to Know When You Have a Good Composition

A reader asked me recently, “How do I know when I have a good composition? This question took some pondering.

Here are some questions to help you “see” your painting composition.

• Does it look balanced?
• Are you looking all over the painting, but not specifically one place?
• Is there a place in the painting that dominates your attention?
• Does it dominate too much attention so that you don’t see anything else?
• Where your eye goes, is that where you want it to go?
• Does it make sense?
• Is the color harmonious and pleasing?
• Is there too much information throughout the painting?
• Is there a way to lead the eye into the painting?
• Is there any place that stops your eye from going to the focal point?
• Does something look out of place?
• Does the painting look pleasing to you?

These questions don’t give you formulas for composition, but are intended more so for the end process when you think you might be done. You should always start with a well thought out plan before getting to this point.

Here is a page with things to think about when composing your painting: http://beckyjoy.com/painting-composition-and-elements/

Later,

Becky