Composition - examples of note

[Carlos Ygoa]

Originally Posted by Mike McCarty

If you believe, as you stated, that your first example would be much weaker without the vacuum/shape to the right, then can't we accept it as a compositional element?

Okay.
My problem is that I never compose with a conscious thought on the negative space my painting will have. I never have a conscious intention or effort to make it have an effect on the whole. For me it is just something that happens as a result, an effect of some sort. So I never consider it to be a compositional element. I suppose if one DOES consider it beforehand (what role the neg. space will play), and takes it so into consideration, then it could be taken as a compositonal elelment. I don

[Mike McCarty]

Thanks for that Carlos. I think I understand your meaning. My daughter is back now and went on and on about Barcelona. She also got to visit some little towns where Dega spent his time. I haven't had enough time to talk to her about it. My daughter is majoring in museum management and curation at her University.

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Here is a two person composition by Wm. Bouguereau. I wonder if the presence of the break through the trees on our right side of the picture had anything to do with him trying to add a third element. It's amazingly close in size and roundness to the shape of the girls heads, and almost at the same height.

Also, here is a Raymond Kinstler composition. I wonder who's set of compositional rules he was reading from. I think the thing is, even when things seem to be scattered and haphazardly placed, they can still follow a set of conventions. This seems to be the case with good abstract art when only shapes and color have to carry the day. I would say that the signature here plays an important role in balancing this composition.

[SB Wang]

A valuable issue, Mike and all, about which I also wrote an article years ago, edited by Cynthia Daniel, submitted to American Artist magazine. Douglas? ' book mentioned this point.

[Mike McCarty]

Hello Schubert, hope things are going well for you.

One of SB's beautiful portraits.

[Mike McCarty]

Instead of adding one to make it three, J.S.S. decided to subtract one to make it one. In matters of design it seems to me that this takes on the same attributes as a single person composition. Of course the young girl doesn't get the same full play as the mother(?), but isn't this the way it should be.

Here is a contemporary artist Allan Banks. Mr. Banks uses the book in this familiar scene, along with some background accompaniment to make this composition look natural. Unlike the flowing gowns of years ago, these are the types of every day scenes we are likely to be commissioned to portray today.

And then there's the occasional two tree requests - father and son.

[SB Wang]

My friend Mike:
You are in Florida! How nice you posted my picture twice! Much obliged! That girl was in Kissimmee, FL. Cynthia likes it, too. I wonder if she looked like that way when in that age. I got this commission from Cynthia Culpeper of Orlando, deceased 5 years ago. I painted a portrait of her husband for a gift.
I suffered political persecution in China. Thank you for your caring.

[Mike McCarty]

Thanks SB, and thanks too for quickly sending the fifty bucks. If you want another posted just use that same PayPal number BR549.

*****

You say there