Using Fine Art to Teach Composition

The Peacock, On Canvas, By Eiman Muiny 

Talking about composition in fine art is somewhat crucial to the importance of making art ever since the emergence of pictorial painting or sculpture from Graeco- Roman period to help visualize the religious contents in a time where spreading Christianity was a mission for most of the rulers and saints. So, they commissioned artists to depict scenes from the bible, bringing the religious concept closer to the public. Of course, creating a composition was the master of all components and elements that could create prestigious art with greatness.

Subject matter plays a pivotal role in determining the composition and depend on the purpose of creating the artwork either if it's a painting or sculpture or photograph, it doesn't matter! WHY over WHO?

The message to be delivered to the audience, the period of time, the location, the occasion, the concept and the skills that the artists hold in term of executing the art, truly can change perceptions, evoke emotion and change lives.

Now, creating a composition could be based on several aspects, and here we should talk about WHO is creating the art?

So, if you want to be considered an artist and creator, study the history, any history in addition to art history! The more you learn the richer contents you can create and more evocative compositions you can make.

Study the principal of making composition like considering balance, proportion, rhythm, unity, contrast and harmony, and others. And to examine your understanding to these principles go and check other artist's artwork, visit museums and gallery, go out and walk in a garden or a park. I personally like to shop before making new artworks, in places like art supply, antique shops, scrap shops, remember there are always endless possibility to make a good composition from simple to luxurious. You can start with a book and a candle, or it could be with anything, start with what you have because it's more appealing to tell your story than anything else.

Study some art rules, such as the golden ratio, perspective, and dimensions, learn about principle of art like colour, shape and form. 

 

Worrying about composition could exceed figurative, still life, and landscape it  goes beyond that to touch base in abstract artwork, read the history if you want to know WHY the deviations in artistic formation have been appreciated by the art world since the beginning of the 19 century, with all the modern transformations accompanied the technological advancement and political changes that made art revolutionary and resistant to the new modernity and expressing opinions has become a necessity through the new media.

So WHY composition had to change and the classic rules at that time hadn't any value.

 

Every artist and every group of artists has their own way in expressing abstract art, different art movements are created based on time, location, reason - maybe- even people from different specializations like doctors, lawyers, architects started entering the art world and had a hand in changing art perception and therefore the .. Composition. 

 And my answer to the question, if we can used fine art to teach composition? is yes if we understand the mentioned principle we can compose any thing, such like in music, poem, design interior, architectural buildings and even planning to design and organized cities, video games.. etc