There are reasons why some paintings look better than others. We all know when something in our work doesn’t look ‘right’, but how do we figure out why and how do we fix it? 

One thing that can be most frustrating for any artist is a painting that is seemingly missing something…it’s just WRONG. Most of the time, these problems have something to do with design fundamentals like scale, color, proportion, etc, which all make up the COMPOSITION. Understanding composition fundamentals is so very important, but how many of us really do understand it and/or how to use it effectively? Composition is a complicated, multi-faceted mystery that baffles even the best of us, but knowing a few simple guidelines can make all difference. 

This is not your typical boring composition course. In this hands-on workshop, artists of all levels will explore essential techniques for designing visually striking and balanced paintings. Using fun exercises that employ everyday activities such as paging through fashion and interior design catalogues and taking photos with your iPhone, participants will build composition sensibilities to create relationships between design elements so that there is balanced visual chorus within the painting rather than a heavy metal melee. 

Whether you're working in realism, abstraction, or any style in between, this workshop will give you the tools to elevate your compositions and create more engaging, cohesive paintings. By the end of the course, you'll have a deeper understanding of how to organize visual elements into a unified whole that captivates the viewer.