Composition Types

In trying to find good compositions using all of the various techniques, like Compositional weight, Focal Points, Contrast, etc, you tend to come across the same general sorts of compositions again and again. And while we all want to make innovative stuff, there's nothing wrong with the foundation of our compositions to be based on tried and true formulas. After all, the reason they work is because the eye and brain process visuals in a specific way, and these sorts of rules have been proven to work well with the human brain for thousands of years.

So lets go through a bunch of the more common types of compositions, and hopefully these will help explain some of your own compositions, why they work or why they don't, and inspire you to try using them as the basis for new work.

Here's two great resources on this subject:

[abdallahbridja]

i love how you mentioned creative illustration by Andrew Loomis. first time i read it i didn't understand a single thing and now am actually watching your videos to understand how art pieces function and how to actually make my work visually pleasing. thanks a lot for your work.

[Sucart]

Less than 3 minutes in and it was already a goldmine of information. Excellent video worth years of education. Thank you!

[be]

My glob, I’m doing a painting and I’ve been searching up videos in compositions but i feel like this video really helps me a lot, thank you so much!!!

[sevi-]

This is actually the first video on composition I've managed to find that breaks the rather abstract themes down in a way that I can apply practically. This is a HUGE help, thank you so much for the work you put into this!

[noble_rosethorn]

This got to be the best video I have ever seen on composition. Most often than not people just keep repeating the rule of thirds and golden ratio but you actually went on to explain in detail all these cool different types. You definitely studied a lot of Loomis and it was worth it! Wonderfully instructive!

[haroldasraz]

This is a brilliant, simple, straightforward introduction to composition types. Valuable pointers to get started. Cheers.

[nightmusic]

00:00 Introduction of Credits, Composition and Books
01:15 Introduction of all Composition types
01:25 THE CIRCLE - causes the eye to follow the curve
02:31 THE RECTANGLE - trap the viewer's eye inside
03:04 THE PYRAMID - show stability and balance
04:14 ICONIC - used for Formal or RELIGIOUS subjects
05:14 THE CROSS - LIKE ICONIC but feel a little formal
05:51 THE SLIDE - causes the eye travel along it, give the image a sense of speed, like gravity pulling you down. MAKE the images dynamic and a touch uneasy. TITLING the camera to create "dutch angle" that gives feeling something's wrong, uneasy feels
06:36 Z ARRANGEMENT - like THE SLIDE but add two bars to keep the subject anchored
07:15 L ARRANGEMENT - like THE RECTANGLE but unbalanced if you're not careful. In my opinion, it can create contrast
07:59 H ARRANGEMENT - like THE PYMARID but lack of religious
08:25 Y ARRANGEMENT - like THE PYMARID and THE SLIDE function that creating the eye travel along it
08:51 C ARRANGEMENT - like the L SHAPE and THE SLIDE function that create uneasy feels
09:20 V ARRANGEMENT - like THE PYMARID but INVERTED the functions
09:50 X ARRANGEMENT - create dynamic, excellent, NATURAL focal point and trap the eye in that point
11:22 COMPOUND CURVE - bring the viewer's eye along with it to the focal point
12:00 RADIAL - like COMPOUND CURVE but instead of bringing easy feel, it makes an explosion, dramatic
12:58 SYMMETRICAL - like MIRROR effect (in After Effects) or water REFLECTIONS, make your painting heavily SYMMETRICAL gives that sense of power and ancient majesty
13:56 RULE OF THIRDS - balance the eye
15:19 GOLDEN RATIO - please the eye
17:47 exercise - Combine
19:54 Outro

[ninja_tony]

This might be one of the best videos on composition I have ever seen!

[macronomicus]

Great summary, I'd say its not only useful for painting, in game design there are many points where these can be employed as well, even though its an environment you can move thru, there are many moments where the viewer is likely to be looking in a certain direction & you can frame in compositions from those perspectives.

[Devill.]

I learned something new today, thanks to you.

[utrix_]

I first knew you from your megastructure illustrations which I cherish so much. Now I'm learning composition from you.

[lisalasers]

My mind was going wild with ideas, watching this. i feel like i now understand composition!

[Nebulaoblivion]

Always glad when a new Neil Blevins video pops up! Thank you for teaching us!

[siddd__]

Thank you so much for this video! It was so interesting and well explained, I’ve been looking for so long for something like that so I’m really happy to have found your channel. The explanations were clear and the exemples made them even more understandable. I’m looking forward to watching the other videos you made on this subject :3

[ugottabkittenme]

Absolutely amazing video….
….and subbed!

[derdugati]

Great stuff! Especially the mixing section was very interesting. Thank you!

[sefragstian]

your videos are always so informative and have been super helpful to me on my artistic journey thank you!

[pvillez]

Thank you very much, I learned a lot from this.

[maxhuk]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge 🙏

[AlphaSierraHotel]

Love your work. Thanks for making these.