What Is a Good Composition in Art?

A good composition in art arranges the elements in an enticing manner to draw people into the painting. It highlights the main subject of the painting.

The viewers are seamlessly drawn to the focal point and then enjoy spending more time looking around in the painting.

How Do We Make a Good Composition?

Artists don't have to copy nature or photographs. We have an artistic license to move and arrange the elements in our paintings.

Successful compositions are often designed with the following items:

Where Do We Place the Subject

There are 2 popular methods of placing the subject in a painting.

The Rule of Center Lines
The Rule of Thirds

One method is not better than the other. They both work well for all artists, whether you are a beginner or have experience.

The Rule of Center Lines

Avoid placing the main subject on the center lines of the painting.

When the viewer looks at a centered subject, it's like diving into a hole. Then it's hard for their eyes to move out to the rest of the painting.

They feel uncomfortable, don't know where to look and many times leave the painting.

So how do we prevent this?

Place vertical subjects to the left or right of the vertical center.
Put a horizontal focal point above or below the horizontal center line.

See the example painting below.

What is the first rule of composition in art paintings?

Good composition is easy!

Good composition is easy!

In the above painting, the tree is left of the vertical center line and the water-line is below the horizontal center.

Where Can We Find a Good Composition?

I imagine many artists dream about finding a great composition ready to paint. But where are they?

It's not been my privilege to find a perfect composition waiting to be painted. It doesn't matter if it's in nature or a photograph, we artists have to adjust things for our paintings.

The swamp maple tree in the above painting was not on the edge of the water. It was away from the water among other bushes and foliage. I pulled it out to make it the focal subject.

There was not much water, so I enlarged the water to make it balance the large tree.

The Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds make composition easy for beginners.

It places the subject about one third of the way into the painting, never on the center lines.

Then the viewer's eyes have space to move around and look at the other parts of the painting.

How Do We Use the Rule of Thirds?

Draw two lines up and down and two lines across the painting surface to make nine equal spaces.

The rule of thirds makes art composition easy.

Using the Rule of Thirds

Place the focal point at one of the intersections.

We may use any intersection, the left, right, top or bottom.

In the example painting, the Scrub Jay is located at the top right intersection of the third lines.

The viewer's eye is drawn into the painting. Then there is plenty of space for their eyes to move freely into the rest of the painting.

Learn more about how to use the rule of thirds.

After we position the main subject, we are well on our way to an exciting painting.

A Handy Checklist

When you are designing a painting use this checklist to spot unwanted situations.

Positioning people or animals: direction, grouping, tangents.

How to keep our paintings interesting: variety of sizes and color.

Good lines and bad: leading lines and lines out of the painting.

Use geometric shapes: with adjustments.

Choose a type of composition: what suits your subject.

Professional Tips on Designing Paintings

Here are some ideas to help us place the items in a painting.

How do we position people or animals in our artwork?
Is it best have singular items or to group items together?
What are tangents and how can we handle them?
What's the key to keeping our paintings interesting?

Positioning People or Animals

How we position people or animals is important for the artist.

Good composition says, place people or animals facing into the painting.

The hummingbird is facing in.

The viewer's eyes will follow the line of vision of a person or animal.

So, we position people or animals facing into the painting.

The hummingbird is looking at the flower thinking about lunch.

That keeps the viewer's eyes inside the painting.

If a critter or person is looking out the side of the painting, their line-of-sight will carry the viewer's eyes right out of the painting.

That's not what painting compositions are supposed to do.

Grouped Items vs Single Items

The hummingbird (in the painting above) is all by himself. That easily makes him the main subject of the painting.

Single items are great for the focal point. Get more tips on making focal points.

A group of items attracts less attention than a single item.

Use odd numbers for good composition in your paintings.

A group of five daisies.

Things in a group or near other items feel more comfortable to the viewers.

Odd numbers keep our paintings interesting and keep the viewers looking longer.
Numbers such as three, five or seven are more pleasing than even numbers.
Even numbers like two, four or six are stagnant and unexciting to the eye.

So, no matter if its trees, rocks or apples, use odd numbers for creating good compositions.

Avoid Tangents

A tangent is where two items are just barely touching each other or the edge of the painting.

Tangents make the viewers feel uneasy. Artists call this "kissing".

How Do We Handle a Tangent?

Suppose we have a reference image with two roses barely touching each other. What should we do?

Tangents are when two objects are just barely touching each other.

Objects slightly touching each other create a feeling of discomfort.

The artist has two options to solve the dilemma.

Move the touching roses farther apart, so they don't touch.
Or move one rose forward, so it overlaps the one behind.

How Do We Make Our Paintings Interesting?

Variety keeps our paintings interesting.

Who likes boring paintings? Nobody! Repetition is boring.

Vary the sizes, shapes and colors thru-out the entire painting, artist Carol May

Variety Is the spice of painting.

Use a variety of sizes, shapes and colors to keep the painting interesting.

For example:

Use large, small and medium shapes throughout the painting. The turtle occupies a medium amount of space. The water takes up the most area. Other items take up small spaces.
Use warm and cool colors in different amounts. The warm yellow and oranges contrast with the larger amount of cool blue.

How did I choose the colors for this painting?

How Do We Use Lines and Shapes?

Our paintings are basically made up of shapes and lines. The lines may be actual lines or implied lines.

Painting lines carry emotional energy or peace.

Lines can carry emotions.

There are good and undesirable ways to use lines and shapes in composition.

Leading lines are good!

Lines can be used to help people look at our paintings.
There are a few things to keep in mind about lines to avoid problems.
Watch out for how you use geometric shapes.

Find out the good and bad of lines and shapes.

Are There Different Types of Compositions?

Yes, the two main types of compositions are symmetrical and asymmetrical.

"Calico Kitty" watercolor painting

Symmetrical paintings are pretty much the same on both sides. They are often used for painting formal buildings.

Asymmetrical paintings are different on each side, but they should still be in balance.

In addition, there are many variations to the two main types.

Popular variations are; diagonal, pyramid, S-curve, radial, cross, L-shaped and circle.

See actual painting examples of these common types of compositions.

Review What You've Learned About Composition

Looking at the painting below, let's review what we learned about composition.

How does this painting display good composition?

What makes this painting a good composition?

How does this asymmetrical painting stand the test?

The subjects are not on the center lines.
The lily petals and dragonfly act as lines leading into the painting.
The round lily pad was changed into an artistic elliptical shape.
There are no kissing tangents.
The dragonfly is positioned looking into the painting.
There is a variety of sizes throughout the painting.
There different amounts of warm and cool colors.
The diagonal line from the dragonfly to the center of the flower implies movement.

Another important aspect of composition - is to include good value contrast.

After a few paintings, you will be able to design good compositions instinctively without using a checklist.

Answers to Common Questions

You may still be wondering about some things.

What's Very Important in Painting Compositions?

Before you start a painting, choose the main subject of the painting. Hint, it's what made you want to do the painting.

Then design everything else in the painting to support your subject.

How Do I Make the Main Subject Stand Out?

Use higher contrasting values, more intense colors, warm vs. cool colors, and hard edges on the subject.

Keep the other areas quieter and simpler with less contrast and softer edges.

How Do I Use Negative Space in a Painting?

Treat the space as a shape that supports the subject and improves artwork.

How Can I Simplify a Scene So It's Not So Busy?

Group values and shapes together. Delete or merge details that are not in the focal area.

What Is Balance in Composition?

Distributing the visual weight so one side of the painting doesn’t feel heavier than the other.

Balance is one of the Principles of Art. Find out how to use balance in your paintings.

Trust Your Instincts

The rules of thirds and center lines are important guidelines for painting art.

BUT - We don't always have to follow the rules for successful paintings.

We have an artistic license to move and change things in our paintings.

When it feels right to us, it will please the viewers. That's what good composition in art is all about.

More About Painting Good Art

Focal Point in Art: Create Artwork to Attract Viewers
You can create a focal point in art. A complete guide of proven techniques using contrast, color and composition for attractive artwork that engages the viewers.
Principles of Art: Use Them with the Elements of Art
Use the principles of art to create successful paintings. Artists create pleasing compositions by using the art elements according to the principles of painting
Values in Painting: Create Strong Artwork
Every artist needs to know how to use values in painting. Color is fun, but using values, light and dark colors is what creates strong attractive paintings.
Meaning of Color: Using Symbolic Significance in Art
Use the meaning of color, color symbolism and how color influences the viewers' emotions and perceptions to empower your paintings with the right color choices.
Are there different types of compositions in painting art?
There are 2 types of compositions in art paintings with many variations. See paintings of the common types; S-curve, pyramid, diagonal, circle, cross, radial, etc.