Mastering Composition: Techniques and Principles to Dramatically Improve Your Painting
Original price was: $31.99.$21.35Current price is: $21.35.
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The path to better painting begins with Mastering Composition. This effective guide blends clear, visual instruction with 5 step-by-step demonstrations to show you how to plan and paint your best work yet.
Composition is the key, and here you’ll learn to design paintings with new skill and confidence. It all begins with the armature or structure of the picture plane. Every great painting has one, and you’ll see through several famous examples exactly how the Old Masters used armatures to create movement, narrative, harmony and fluidity. Based on these examples, you’ll practice what you’ve learned following a series of hands-on demonstrations.
Once you understand the basic principles of design, you’ll be amazed at how quickly and effectively your compositions come together. Soon you will be painting more boldly and confidently than ever before with less reworking and overworking.
Whether you’re a beginner looking for basic instruction or a more advanced painter troubleshooting a specific problem, the proven methods in this book will work for you. Ideal for all mediums, Mastering Composition gives you the knowledge you need to create powerful paintings out of every subject.
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905 reviews for Mastering Composition: Techniques and Principles to Dramatically Improve Your Painting
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Original price was: $31.99.$21.35Current price is: $21.35.
Joanne Doyle –
Excellent book for painters but also for photographers. As a photographer I found the lessons very helpful in improving my perspective and way of looking at the world.
Ron –
I haven’t read the whole book but just the first two chapters but I find the book extremely helpful already.
Daniel Leven –
Dit mooi uitgevoerde boek geeft praktische informatie over compositie, dat veel verder gaat dan de algemene regels. Wat moet je doen om het oog van de toeschouwer naar het centrale motief en andere details te leiden? Hoe voorkom je dat het oog van het doek afglijdt of niet verder komt dan één aspect? Ook wordt diep ingegaan op het aanbrengen van donkere tonen en het creëren van spanning. De auteur is een vermaarde docent met heel veel praktijkervaring.
Ron –
I bought this book for my 11th grade daughter to help her in AP Art. We both read it cover to cover and her first piece, based on what she learned from this book, won the 2011 Congressional Art Competition for the 3rd District of Texas, facing stiff competition from the affluent communities north of Dallas Texas.
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On Saturday night U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist.-Texas) announced the winners of the 2011 Congressional Art Competition, “An Artistic Discovery,” during a free exhibit and awards ceremony held at the McKinney Performing Arts Center.
A junior at McKinney Boyd High School, Christa Olbrey, beat out the other 48 participating artists and took home first prize for her acrylic painting Three Pots on a Bench. Olbrey’s piece soon will travel to Washington, D.C., for display in the United States Capitol for one year. Olbrey also won free roundtrip airfare to the nation’s capital, courtesy of Southwest Airlines, to attend the 2011 Congressional Art Competition unveiling ceremony in June.
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Worth it? Every penny. This painting was far outside of my daughter’s comfort zone of horses and other animals, and many of the techniques learned from this book contradicted her personal beliefs and practices. But this book explained everything clearly, so that even her engineer father (a perfect vacuum of artistic talent) gained an appreciation of still life. The methods explained in this book teach the artist how to hijack the observer’s eyes, lay out a path with destination, and prevent the observer from wandering off the canvas. Jedi mind control is what it is.
Michelle –
This book is really helpful for intermediate art students. It has got all you need to know about live drawing, color, composition etc
Andrew Meeker –
This is a book I keep going back to. A great first read and a great reference.
Kindle Customer –
The book is a genuinly helpful guide to landscape painting, focussing on the importance of composition but using excellent, easily understood examples. I have been reading books that teach art for over 50 years, this is definately one of the best. Highly recomended.
Léo Anderson –
Outlines many of the fundamental composition principles not commonly taught in art classes in one accessible book. Highly recommended!
Also check out Ian’s YouTube videos, they’re similarly packed full of helpful & compelling ideas, and he’s pushed me to improve my art greatly. Many thanks Ian!
Kirti –
Good book on composition to add to your artist library
Egbert van Dalen –
Excellent and well planned book with fantastic advice. Wish I’d found this years ago as it would have saved me from a lot of failed paintings!
Randall McCarley –
This book solved a problem that I had with a painting providing instant value for me. The author understands how to write about art. His descriptions are clear and tangible. The examples clearly support the statements. This isn’t woo-woo nonsense, but real advice that applies to all styles and genres of drawing or painting. Absolutely worth the purchase and time to read.
Lynn B. –
I bought Mastering Composition by Ian Roberts a number of years ago. It is the best book I have come across on composition, without a doubt. The principles of composition are covered thoroughly, in an easy to understand way. There are demonstrations on each topic throughout the book to reinforce what you are learning. The various chapter topics such as masses, color shapes and guiding your eye through the picture plane- are rich with information. There is also a chapter looking at some artists from the 19th and 20th century, applying the principles in the book. Also a chapter about finding your artistic voice. I have bookmarked several places in my book since I have found so many parts of it useful to refer back to. This book will give you the tools to take your painting to a new level.
Ron –
What a great teaching tool!