Composition & Elements of Art

Introduction to Composition

Let’s talk about composition! Composition means “putting together” and is often used in the arts, including music, writing, theater, etc. In visual art, composition is the way a piece of art is organized. There is no formula for creating an effective composition, but studying works of art can give us insight into the process and methods that help artists get started.

See the image below for examples of different composition techniques, including orientation, rule of thirds, horizon line, focal point, leading lines, symmetry, and asymmetry. You will explore these techniques throughout this course.

Graphic showing examples of composition techniques

You will need to learn the elements of art to analyze and create compositions yourself. Below is an introduction to the seven elements of art, which will be explored in the next few modules.

Composition Examples

What examples of composition do you notice in the artworks below?

painting with water in the foreground and island outline on the left which is the focal point

Claude Monet's San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk, 1908

mural with girl on the left side running into a boy from the right side

Mural by Julian Malland, located in Montreal, Canada, 2015

In Monet's piece, you may have identified the focal point as being the island on the left. In the mural, you may have identified symmetry since it is divided in half vertically. Be on the lookout for more composition examples as you study new artwork.

Introduction to Elements of Art

The elements of art are considered the "building blocks" of visual art. Understanding the elements of art helps us discuss art, as well as create artwork.

Elements of Art

Line - pathway leads the viewer through a piece
Shape - 2-D area taken up by an object
Form - the illusion of a 3-D object on a 2-D surface
Value - lightness or darkness of color
Texture - the quality of an object’s surface
Color - derived from reflected light
Space - area inside borders - positive/negative

These elements will be explored throughout the next few modules. These elements are in every artwork you see and in every piece of art you create.

Click the Next button in the lower right to move forward in the module.