How do you work with composition?

Hi, how are you doing??

Today I want to talk about how you can work with composition. Are you contious about composition when creating? I normally talk a lot about the process, how to  create from your heart. How to stay in deep contact to  your feelings, and how you can express it in your artwork. I write about the topic in many different ways, in hope you will get what I'am talking about. But sometimes you have to step back, and do some mindwork. To analyse what you are doing, and how you can progress, and raise above obstacles. When you are more confident in being in the flow of your heart, you can start trying to analyse your work, without going into being overly critical and judgemental about your drawings. 

Imagine you have done some drawings, but you are not quite satisfied. Take a look at the composition of your drawings.

1. How do you arrange the elements on the paper? Do you always work in the center of the paper? Do you fill out all the white space?? Or do you only use the lower part of the paper?

2. How about the size of the elements of your drawing? are they all the same size?? Are they all very small or very huge??

3. What about the contrast between light and dark? Look at your drawing and find the darkest element and the lightest element. Are there a big contrast between the two values? Or are the tones or values of the colours nearly the same?

Their are a lot more things to look at, but theese 3 are the most important ones.

Marie J.Engelsvold. “Connection between different parts of myself” Acrylic tusch on paper. 42 x 29,7 cm. 2014

Marie J.Engelsvold. "Relationship with outlets for magic" Acrylic tusch on paper. 21 x 29,7 cm. 2014

Marie J.Engelsvold. “Try to transform ”Acrylic tusch on paper. 21 x 29,7 cm. 2014

Now take one of your drawings, and use the same elements but arrange them differently on the paper. Maybe using another size can help you.( I very often change to a bigger size of paper when I'am stuck.) Change the size of some of the elements to make more contrast. Also make one of the elements very dark, and another one very light. 

How did it work?? Sometimes we just get some habits and we do the same things all the time.

By thinking about theese things you just push your limits of what is possible. In the beginning you have to work contious with being aware of how you compose your drawing. But after doing it many times you will do it quite intuitively, and you have another tool in your toolbelt.

Maybe I have just opened the pandoras box for you? Because when you start to change how you look at your artwork, when you have new ideas on how to do it differently, a lot more ideas and possibilities will arise. So just keep going, it's so much fun:-))

Looking for more tips? look at this blogpost "Experiment with shapes and lines."

• Turtorials and tips
  • May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
  • Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
  • Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
  • Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
  • Feb 13, 2018 How do you work with composition?
  • Jan 8, 2018 Make a kickstart.
  • Nov 20, 2017 Go bigger.
  • Nov 8, 2017 What is your drawings all about?
  • Oct 31, 2017 Wait!! Before you throw that drawing in the bin!!!!!
  • Oct 12, 2017 Find inspiration everywhere.
  • Oct 12, 2017 Experiment with shapes and lines.
  • Oct 12, 2017 Want to find your own visual language ?
• psycological aspects
  • May 26, 2020 Holding your flow.
  • May 6, 2020 The world is yours.
  • Apr 22, 2020 Let your heart decide.
  • Apr 18, 2020 Create from your self.
  • Apr 4, 2020 Expand your own signature.
  • Oct 9, 2019 How to shift out of the 3d perspective.
  • Sep 20, 2019 What is it, to be grounded?
  • Sep 10, 2019 How to follow your own flow.
  • Jul 28, 2019 Releasing your resistance to the moment.
  • Jul 15, 2019 Don't wait for life to be perfect, let go of control.
  • Jun 1, 2019 How to raise your vibration, through the creative process.
  • Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
  • Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
  • Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
  • Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.
  • Jan 2, 2019 Let yourself shine in 2019 :-)
  • Nov 22, 2018 Look at your obstacles as adventures.
  • Feb 2, 2018 How to stay in the process?
  • Dec 20, 2017 Slow down
  • Dec 12, 2017 There is no "right" way.
  • Dec 5, 2017 Why it's important to unlearn.
  • Oct 12, 2017 Let your feelings be your guide.
  • Sep 5, 2017 Don't be afraid of change:-)
  • Sep 5, 2017 Express your feelings
  • Sep 5, 2017 Can drawing be a kind of meditation?
• turtorials
  • Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
• video
  • May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
  • Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
  • Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
  • Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
  • Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
  • Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
  • Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.