_ the simple secret to better painting How to immediately improve your work with the golden rule of design Greg AlbertThe edge or fame ofa visual image creates the ilusion ‘of space within that boundary. Even a blank canvas sug gests space, albeit undefined in any way. Draw a line or ‘any mark on that blank canvas and the pictorial space within the frame is more defined, Draw a line across a Bering Dreraapearen tals boring Placing thefoveon ther de ofalandsape soo Gh Net sly nor round dinates Interesting: ground is dominant When the picture is divided unequaly, the intervals are not the ‘same, Placing the hoi zon about athtd fom the top mates the ‘ground dominant and creates more interest Interesting hy is dominant Placing the horizon about a third from the bottom makes the ky dominant. Boring Dividing picture into equal parts violates the ‘One RULE OF Como: sion, Don't divide = landscape into bards of equal with rectangle and the line could be the sea meeting the sky, an edge ofa table, the bottom ofa wal or window. How you divide the rectangle should follow the ONE RULE oF Composition: Never make any two inter- vals the samme.or Boring n't idea picture into equal halves, a o come, this oblique div is oblique divides the rectangle into unequal nal rom comer to aves. The line divides tions. The distance fiom the top tothe line on th side int lengths ofthe same proportion righ is not equal to the distance fram the bottom to the lineon the Boring Better Best ing a mountain peak nthe exact centerwith Placing the peak offcerter makes it more interest-_n this arrangement, no two intervals are the same of equal length violates the ONE RULE OF ing, However, the sides ofthe rectangle are divided The sides ofthe mountain ae diferent lengths, the Composition: Never make any two intenals the into the same intenals peak is offerte, andthe sides ofthe rectangles are some divided into four eiferent leg Boring Better Best fes and angles are equal and they his mountain skyline is neatly as boring because This shine i more interesting because the angles sme angle, and the lengths ofthe sides are varied in alfin this example tis mon Enhance visual interest er, it still creates regular imost any equal division o intervals ands therefore boring, Any of space is viding a picture with a lineBoring: even stops down in size ‘The figures are alifer- ent im height so there is some variety but the step-down patter is boring Boring: symmetrical sarangement Shape, color and texture add interest, but this symmetrical arrange ments stil static Boring trees are the same height (dd numbers are more interesting than even ‘Three is the smallest ‘odd number thats inherertlyinteresting, However the tees are allthe same height, 3 boxing arangeren, Better: more dynamic arrangement Pati the tale gure tone side inan asym retical arangement is more dynamic. ‘Betier asymmetrical Paacing the tale object, toone sie creates a smote dynamic, asymet sical rangement ‘etter: tree height varies Thisis beter: the mid dle ree is now tal, but itis stil a stat, sy ‘metvical rangement ven beter mama, papa, baby These tree ees coe spond to Marna Beat Papa Bear and Baby Beat Tiss a pleating grouping and complies withthe Owe RULE Never make any wo intewols the same. Best: diferent heights and spacing ‘This isa variation ofthe three bears, Not only are the thre tres ofa ferent heights, they are no longer equidistant.Stati balance When chien ofthe same weigh ae equidistant ‘rm the centr thy lnc ery ard these. sovremans ine Dynamic balance one chi is bigger and bath ae equidstat for the center, the seesaw doesn't emain level To keep the seesaw eel, he bigger child must move loser tothe center, or the smaller child farther fom the center, ‘symmetrical arrangement ‘Avoid centering things. The centers the most bor ing pan ofthe panting. Symmetrical compositions are atu static “Asymmetialarangement Ahoughthe image stil centralized the tee and house are asyrnmetiallyaranged and visual inter: sti increased Achieving balance is a matter of adjusting visual weight and visual energy. If balance is created with visual ele ‘ments identical in both weight and energy on either side of a central axis, a static balance is achieved, Static bal: ance does not follow the ONE RULE OF CoMPosITIO} [Never make any two intervals the same. Ifthe balance is created with two visual elements that Static balance The te and the house have identical visual weight and energy. static balances created. Dynamic balance ‘The house and tre onthe left have greater visual ‘weight, but the house and tree on the right counter: balance the weight, creating a dynamic balance ‘ance is achieved. Intervals are not the same and the (One RULE oF Compostnion applies. Static balance is also called formal, classical or symm ‘metrical balance because itis based on an equal or even (symmetrical) arrangement along a central axis. Dynamic balance i also called informal or asymmetrical are not identical in weight and energy, a dynamic bal balance and is based on an uneven arrangementCONTRAST‘A good composition, be it til life or any othe working without thinking thin g by habit apes in through, go! duct ofa series of decisions, Ideally, each id be nformed deliberation. All too often, beginners start he beginning. pping of th he artist, based on your composition should be consciously chosen frorr ‘Acceptable composition objet form an intresting, iregular shape othecenterofthe The Rowers and the bust ae too sia in size, so cof visual gravity ofthe grouping is loca I eight on ether side, they compete for attention. The lime and the orange ced atone ofthe sweet spots. The center ofnterest includes the head ofthe statue and the neck ofthe (boring) tangle. The green bottle are elated vertical an awkward placer istic lcense you can adjust ame size asthe grayvase onthe Thro tedthe same distance fern one intervals that arethe right and both ae beets to be mare dominant sn the nearest side. Unbalanced arrangement ‘Well balanced arrangement Vantage point makes a difference The arrangement i weg he angular shape ofthe obje vacant space inthe upper is countered bythe oblique trust ofthe back tion makes one uneasy because isnt clear where ston is crowd bests ofsimlar drapery The center of interests formed by th sual we reviewer's tle onthe eft. The al wine botle and the b steno e drapery align wit the perpendiclars deter ined by the Rue of Thirds. Oe improvement yould bet rearrange the lime, lemon and smal vase onthe right so the intervals between them Pleasing arangement This composton exhibis a mere natural viewpoir objets ae iregulatly spaced from each ote