How Do We Use Lines and Shapes in Compositions?

Lines are used to create emotion and movement throughout our paintings.

We use shapes to organize the composition of the artwork.

How does an artist use lines and shapes?

Lines and shapes create a composition.

How does an artist use lines and shapes in their paintings?

Lines and shapes create our compositions.

Lines Carry Emotions

Painting lines carry emotional energy or peace.

Horizontal lines are calming and restful.
Diagonal lines, even if they are implied, denote movement and dynamic energy.

In the sailboat painting above - the diagonal line of the mast and sails portray energy and movement. The horizontal lines of the water provide the painting with peace and stability.

Using Lines and Shapes for Good Composition

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

There are good and bad lines and some shapes to avoid.

Lines leading the viewer into the composition are desirable.
There can be some lines that create problems.
Geometric shapes may not be desirable.

Leading Lines Are Good!

Use implied or actual lines to bring the viewer into your paintings.

How to us leading lines in painting compositions.

Enter the painting from the bottom left.

Artists often use actual lines leading into their artwork.

The line of a road, a river or a fence may be used to lead the viewers into the landscape painting.

Viewers enter the painting from the bottom left side.

The oranges create an entrance.

Still life paintings may use a stem, the table cloth, etc. as a leading line.

In the painting above the oranges escort the viewer to the vase and then the eyes move around to the flowers.

Avoid Problem Lines

Avoid parallel lines close to the edge of the canvas. They will pull the viewer's eye away from the focal point and often out of the painting.

For example, a tree trunk close to and parallel with the side of the canvas would not be desirable. It would tend to pull the viewer's eyes out of the painting.
In the painting below, the lighthouse is well away from the side of the canvas. It tilts slightly toward the center of the painting to keep it from being parallel with the edge of the canvas.

Lines are an important element of good composition.

The eyes automatically follow lines.

Avoid lines going directly out the painting. They will lead the viewer's eye right out of the painting.

This is especially true of lines going out the corners of the painting.
The top of the lighthouse is subdued to keep the viewer's eye in the painting, instead of directing it out.
The right side of the horizon line has the value contrast lessened and the edges softened to keep the viewers' eyes inside the painting.

Avoid long straight lines.

A long, straight line with no break gives the viewer a highway to travel right out of the painting.

A good composition will break a long horizon line.

Use a bird, a tree, a mountain or something to break the horizon line. We want to keep the viewers inside the painting.

Remember, the horizon line of landscape paintings should be placed above or below the center line for good composition.
Get more tips on how to paint good art.

How Do We Use Shapes in Our Paintings?

All the parts of a painting other than lines are a shape. We build our paintings with shapes.

Obviously, the shapes vary with the subjects we are painting.

But there are some shapes to watch out for.

Geometric Shapes

Geometric shapes are static and non-artistic.

Shy away from using definite geometric shapes like a square, circle or triangle.

Use your artistic license to change geometric shapes. We don't have to paint things exactly like they are in real life.

For example, we may have:

A rectangular building: Move the view of the building to change its shape or camouflage part of the building with foliage or shadows, etc.
A mountain shaped like a triangle: Put whoop-de-dos in the mountain to change its shape from a static triangle.
A lake that is a circle: Meander the shoreline, so it's not a perfect circle.