Composition or Subject: Overcoming the Biggest Obstacle in Painting

No one is an artist unless he carries his picture in his head before painting it, and is sure of his method and composition – Claude Monet, French painter.

Every painting has two essential parts to it: the subject matter and the composition. The subject matter can be any object like an apple, a tree or a person. The composition covers both design elements (such as shapes, colors, textures, etc.) as well as design principles (contrast, movement, emphasis, etc.) For many artists, one of the biggest obstacles is whether to paint the composition first or the subject matter. In this article, we share some tips on how to overcome this commonly-faced challenge.


Understanding composition:

When starting to paint, the subject matter can be very alluring. In particular, beginner painters get excited about what the subject matter represents and start painting it right away. However, it is important to remember that a successful painting is not only about painting the subject matter accurately but getting the overall composition right. In the words of Henri Matisse, a famous French artist, "Composition is the art of arranging in a decorative manner the diverse elements at the painter's command to express his feelings."

 

Image credits: http://www.brandon-schaefer.com/2013/07/20/understanding-basic-composition/

 

Decisions to be made before starting a new painting:

Much before you get started with the painting, it is advisable to first make some important decisions. These decisions will serve as a guidance and make the creative process smoother.

 

  • What do you want to paint?
  • What moods, feelings and emotions do you want to be conveyed through the painting?
  • What kind of design elements (such as lines or shapes) will be used in the composition?
  • What size will the painting be?
  • Which design principles (like textures or movement) will be incorporated in the painting?
  • Which color scheme will be followed?

 

Choosing the subject:

When deciding on the subject matter of a painting, most artists opt for classic themes such as landscape, wildlife or portraits. If you’re a beginner, to avoid disappointment at a later stage, it is prudent to shortlist a subject that’s not too difficult. However, whether you are a beginner or a professional, most importantly, the subject matter should be interesting and should mean something to you.

 

Image credits: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Lisa

 

Size, placement and look of the subject matter:

A painting may include many things, but ultimately it is the subject matter that painters want viewers to focus on.

Depending on the preferences of the painter, they need to decide on the size of the subject. For example, a painter may decide to fill their entire canvas with a single subject matter, the way noted American painter Georgia O'Keeffe painted flowers enlarged and up close.

Jimson Weed (1932) by Georgia O'Keeffe

 

Image courtesy: http://uk.phaidon.com/resource/keeffe2.jpg

 

If a painter wants to have other elements as well, they should decide where to place the subject matter. The natural tendency is to place the subject in the centre

Then there’s also a decision about using creativity to make the subject matter stand out. Even if you’re making a simple apple, you may decide to alter its look to create a certain emotional or psychological impact.

 

Determining the composition:

A well-planned composition will guide the eyes of the viewers to move across the painting, eventually settling down on the subject matter.

 

Image credits: http://www.brandon-schaefer.com/2013/07/20/understanding-basic-composition/

 

Careful thought needs to be given to the various visual elements of lines, shapes, tone, color, and form. In essence, all of the visual elements should be used harmoniously to depict underlying thoughts such as noise, calm, movement or rhythm.

 

Making a sketch:

Once all the above factors are determined, for most artists, the next step is to make a rough sketch of what they want to paint. How close the sketch is to the final painting depends on the artist. Some artists prefer to make highly accurate sketches, whereas some make basic lines to get an idea of the overall composition. For beginners, it is a good idea to spend a lot of time on planning the subject matter and composition in advance before sketching.

 

Image credits: https://www.wikiart.org/en/ivan-shishkin/a-sketch-for-a-painting-in-the-wild-north-1890

 

Summary:

In summary, before deciding on whether to paint the subject matter or composition first, careful thought should be given on the purpose behind the painting. Professional artists don’t simply see an object, say an apple or a bird, and rush off to paint it. They have a clear ‘why’ behind every painting and the subject matter is a medium to convey their underlying emotion. And once you have a basic sketch ready, it doesn’t matter whether you want to paint the subject matter first or the composition. Because if you have a clear blueprint, you can get started with any one of these two as per your preference.

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