Beginning Pastel

Proof 1

Job:11907 Title: PORT5 - Beginning Pastel 9781633221949 (Walter Foster)

001-128 PORT5.Interior.r4_11907.indd 38 9/12/16 4:06 PM

38

COMPOSITION

Composition is simply about deciding where

to place the main focus of your painting.

There are various theories on this, such as the

rule of thirds. However, I tend to look at a view

or image and choose the composition that

looks both balanced and interesting to my

eye. Trust your instincts when choosing your

own composition, but remember that most

people look from left to right.

Landscape

Close-up

Portrait

These examples show how you can create

three alternative compositions from the same

photograph. The first photograph is the original

landscape shot. The second photograph shows

the same view cropped to show a portrait

version. Finally, the third example shows how

the composition looks when we focus on the

boathouse in the center of the picture. Which one

would you choose to paint?

Proof 1

Job:11907 Title: PORT5 - Beginning Pastel 9781633221949 (Walter Foster)

001-128 PORT5.Interior.r4_11907.indd 38 9/12/16 3:54 PM