The Elements of Composition for Illustrators

Mary Jane Begin clarifies the best practices for developing any artistic or illustrated composition, covering compositional balance, movement, direction, unity, and format choices.

Introduction

• Welcome
• Getting the most out of this course

1. Basics of Composition

• Understanding concept and composition
• Editing and revising your work
• Framing your field of view
• A look back to influential illustrators

2. Shaping the Composition

• Creating visual balance in an image
• Seeing in shape
• Designing the negative space
• Directing with lines
• Using borders, bleeds, and boxes
• Understanding color, texture, and proportion
• Patterns, clusters, and rhythm
• Composing with text
• Challenge: Incorporating text into your illustrations
• Solution: Text illustration

3. Creating Compositional Unity

• Bringing it all together
• Using a limited palette in composition
• Consistency of style
• Unifying light
• Combining message and medium
• Challenge: Eight apple illustrations
• Solution: Apple illustrations

4. Exploring Movement

• Motion in pictures: The active composition
• Dynamic diagonals
• Illustrating storyboards

5. Directing the Eye

• Tracking the viewer's gaze
• Contrast and edges
• What is your focal point?
• Understanding point of view
• Creating depth with perspective
• Avoiding common pitfalls
• Challenge: Point of view
• Solution: Point of view

6. Finalizing the Format

• Does size matter?
• Style and substance
• The six rules of composition

7. From Concept to Finished Art

• Shaping the composition
• Picking the appropriate colors
• Establishing value and contrast
• Finalizing the color and composition