COMPOSITION - 3 RULES I Wish I Knew When I Started Painting

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Thanks for watching ! Let me know what your composition tricks are in the comments below. Before you go, remember to help the channel by leaving a like and (if it's not done already) subscribing ! As always, joy and inspiration to you !

[@Shana_Fana87]

Can you look at the Angelus Leather Acrylic Paint color list, and show where all the colors (from the 87 color kit) fits on the color wheel?

[@carolynwilliams4903]

I recently retired. Ihave been waiting all these years to devote all my time and resources to my passion for oil painting, The more artists I watch though, on KZbin, the more my doubt grows in my knowledge and ability!! Aaahhhhhh 🙂 but then I found YOU. I so enjoy..... you! I admire your patience as you teach. The thing that first captivated me was your continual smile and kindness answered some of your viewer's letters. The next thing has to be how extensive and diverse your knowledge is and how well you convey that knowledge never fails to inspire me. Can't thank you enough for all the time and effort you put into your painting videos. ❤️ and ☮️

[@RoundBrushStevesteve]

Have to say, I really like the position of the face when you moved it at the start. I think breaking rules can make things different and difference can also be appealing.

[@neverrmind8]

I thought the exact same thing!

[@jacqfuters_]

I have to say, of all composition books, videos etc I've read and watched, yours is the clearest and actually helps me to understand better composition. Thank you.

[@chukukaogude5894]

You know I found out after painting landscapes and cityscapes, that I was missing something. I took some time learning all about PERSPECTIVE...The problem that made my paintings boring wasn't the lack of perspective. IT WAS THE LACK OF COMPOSITION!!! I realize now it's best to create the composition first then use perspective to complement it. Perspective is used to help our composition sit in a believable 3D world. (If you want that with your painting. Some people ignore perspective and go all on composition and I've seen it still work.) It is not the main thing that causes the emotion, intrigue and feel. I was making a perspective first, then trying to find a composition into the perspective. Doing composition first allows me to make a lot of rough drafts and ideas of how they painting should look. Then I can go into it later and put some perspective in there. Before then I was just doing random perspectives and trying to throw things into it. What I didn't know was it was limiting my creativity. It was also time consuming starting with perspectives.

[@boyfmbalcatta]

Thankyou for a well contrusted lesson in art composition. As an oldie starting out in art, it is an invaluable aid to me making a mess on a surface seem logical.

[@UnbeltedSundew]

That was the weirdest explanation of the golden ratio I've ever heard, but because of it I learned some new stuff about it. It's also known as the Fibonacci Sequence and more importantly most natural forms follow the golden ratio from human proportions to the spirals of a shell. That's one of the reasons why historically artists and architects loved to incorporate it in their works.

[@rogercawkwell5413]

Musical correction! Dividing a string in thirds give rise to a perfect fifth, not a third. (you have to divide the string in five parts for that) ;)

[@millthor]

Actually, what I think he meant is that the string divides itself as it vibrates and the first sound that really differs from the first note is the perfect fifth, so in a parallel with visual arts, it will be a spot that will sound harmoniously.

[@kylegordon3675]

an octave + a perfect fifth, yes. aka the 2nd harmonic or overtone.

[@e.g1369]

Actually, nobody cares.. everyone is here for art.

[@HappyAbbyDunnivan]

Thank you SO MUCH for creating this video! It has been incredibly eye opening and I love the depth of detail you are diving into! I have always wanted more than just the basics on composition, and you gave so many great detailed facts and tools to use for interesting compositions! Thank you so much.

[@robinbest4786]

A great pleasure to follow someone who so clearly knows what he's talking about. I have great respect for those who are good at what they do.

[@cynthiamarston2208]

Discovered (#’s) . Sure can tell when composition is off. “Nailing” it is not so obvious! And breaking rules doesn’t JUST work to get a unique or interesting art effort I have seen a lot trying to but I cannot or don’t accept as something I’d strive for. If I’m going to break rules ( which is like me to do) I better get it better than the rule being broken! So to speak. Ages ago my idea to photograph a scene in a show/ movie made by professional cinematographers for subject matter and it didn’t work out then but now it can due to screen shot! It’s a fun way to study composition and lighting. Editing functions on photos too help to find the right parts to put where within the frame and adjust lighting for what ever purpose. It’s a push in a good direction sometimes

[@jaxobophiuchi676]

Perfect analogy: “make the important elements rotate around the center like the Earth orbits the Sun.”

[@parnava9798]

This video Not only painters it also help photographers so much

[@chhavi_KS]

This channel must to be grow more..... Your teachings are really to the guiding points. Clearer as they could be. Understood perfectly. Thankyou sir!🤗

[@gigigirl56]

Thank you for making such a clear presentation that is so informative. Please make more presentations like this of this fascinating element in art.

[@beehivebeliever]

I appreciate all of the knowledge you share so much

[@priscillaallen5276]

Wonderful information. This video is hugely helpful. It is the first time I have come across the idea that composition can affect a viewers perception. Thank you!

[@SketchWithBex]

Thank you for another wonderfully informative video. I always learn so much from your channel. Thanks for sharing your expertise and creating these wonderful resources 😊❤

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Thanks for watching, glad you like my work 😀 😊

[@hermancroix9241]

You are an awesome teacher and a refined artist with high level of knowledge and deep roots of intellectualism. by the way, are you also a musician? I guess so.

[@timothyclark3342]

Deep ! Thank you

[@scmcdougal8917]

Appreciate this I’ve had to watch it a few times for it to sink I’m glad I’m realizing it now 6 months in

[@MayanksArtWorld]

Thank you so much creating this video

[@mts2705]

Merci pour ces vidéos qui sont de bonnes bases pour se mettre ou se remettre à la peinture !

[@JeanneSilver]

You are absolutely an amazing teacher. I am not a beginner but what I have learned is so vital especially about glazing underpainting and all of that. If I had money I would have done your course. An admirer from afar. I mean art 😂

[@maninani6472]

It's so informative! Thank you so much! I would love to hear more about the composition from your perspective.

[@remorafox5856]

Probably the best guide on the rule of thirds, thanks! :)

[@GKganesan]

Informative. Thank you

[@talleyrandxlll7037]

This seems like a different explanation of the "golden rule" Love it updated: you talk about it towards the end of the video

[@orthal298]

Can't wait.

[@GKganesan]

Thank you

[@shahzadqurashi7728]

Great lesson!

[@giannat2686]

It feels bad to have this much information for free

[@stonew1927]

No it doesn't . . !

[@kylegordon3675]

a string that vibrates 3x more than a given string is not a major third above it, but rather, an octave and a fifth above it, aka "the 2nd overtone"

[@jordanwhisson5407]

Of course in art rules are made to be broken but there has to be a valid and compelling reason for the break from the technical tradition.

[@wolfgangtoeglhofer1710]

Thanks and waiting for all upcoming tutorials. „No boring paintings“ maybe a good path forward

[@arimarshmelloow]

thank you for sharing this!

[@ronni2266]

thank you sir. i need this explanation. i know this is for painting. but i used this for photography.👍

[@najaziz08]

Thank you for an excellent and informative video. Really learnt a lot and subscribed.

[@pianist]

Great and educational video as always, Florent!

[@mariellaparra2]

Esta muy bueno su contenido. Saludos cordiales!

[@adewoleabraham7850]

Thank you sir❤❤

[@nabony9788]

Refais des tuto en français ne nous abandonne pas!!!

[@jackal1776]

Do you have a video where you apply this method onto a canvas?

[@PaoloBizzocoArt]

You got a new subscriber! i really like the way you explain things about art, they inspire me a lot for my art and my youtube art channel Ps Sorry for my english, i'm italian

[@Nicolas.Vincent]

Is it possible to be a great painter at first, but then as you paint more, you get worse and worse? Cause my first paiting, I was offered a comission. Since then, they have become progressively worse and worse. I actually suck so hard at painting! Like BAD! I can't understand it, but I think I quit. I'm actually embarrassed to show my work now. Such a massive waste of time and energy and money and canvas and paint. I can't believe just how badly I suck, but I was good! Such BS!

[@kellyt2018]

Discovered, numbers discovered first is what I think.

[@zachary4670]

I’d like to say that my personal philosophy is not that “rules are meant to be broken”, but rather that “once you completely understand the rules and the rules work, you can manipulate them to your advantage.” Obviously it’s not nearly as catchy, but allow me to explain. In that Degas painting with the gentlemen at the ballet that you showed as an example of dissonance and all that, Degas is still absolutely using the rules of balance. He’s just doing it in a weird way. Notice that the ballerinas take up only the top third of the painting. They’re smaller, but they are brighter and more colorful and detailed and have more movement and basically they’re just more interesting. In the bottom two thirds, Degas places the gentlemen who are dark and kind of uninteresting. This creates a balance between the top third and the bottom two thirds. Similarly, there is balance in the horizontal direction. In the left third, the ballerinas draw most of the attention, which is balanced with a ballerina that is closer and more focused in the right third. Meanwhile, in the middle third, or in the center of the piece, is the biggest and darkest of the gentlemen. This creates a V-shaped symmetry through the whole painting. Degas is expertly using compositional rules, balance, symmetry, etc to draw the eye to the subject of the painting - the lone ballerina on the right, brighter and more detailed and fluid than anything else in the piece - while simultaneously balancing her with contrasting elements - the heavy gentlemen in the foreground and the group of ballerinas in the background - to give the impression of a snapshot. Degas understands the rules so well that he can manipulate them in a way that seems like he’s breaking them, while simultaneously using the rules of balance and symmetry capture exactly what he wants to capture.

[@noeprim2184]

My painting portrait where place in center of paper mesuring space top-bottom-sides what do you think about this composition for portrait? I love the portrait a bit off center to a better looking. Thank you for your tips. Love you painting.

[@jameshealey3425]

1÷1.6= 0.6, which is probly the link between the golden ratio and the thirds.

These rules you explained in here are just formulas, they might work sure, but they do not explain anything. Much of the images you provided as example do not follow the rule of thirds or the golden ratio precisely. You tend to signal characters in the paintings, instead you should look at the shape contrasts they create, those matter more in composition. Contrast distribution is the most important thing when talking of 2D composition. Sharper contrasts will be entrance points and decreasing value contrasts will create a hierarchy. With contrast distribution and creative shape design you will make anything interesting.

[@M0odyBlue]

Maybe you should start your own channel. You seem knowledgeable.

@@M0odyBlue I do teach these concepts in various courses, school, and university level. But having a youtube channel is a completely different beast, requires production, video editing time, and a bit of luck too for the algorhytm to pick your content.

[@stonew1927]

Mmmm, I have a basic question: If rules are made to be broken, then why is it important to know them? And even more plainly, why does composition matter? :)

[@yancowles]

If you actually look into it, it sounds like the evidence for the ubiquity of the 'golden ratio' in both nature and art/architecture is sketchy at best.

[@jennifermendivil9895]

I feel like the picture with the better one. Her eyes were in the middle.

[@burntt999]

lol i was wondering if my video speed was on slow..

[@Dismythed]

Half of that was cerebral. The Fibonachi spiral is easily debunked (Yes, spirals are pleasing, but should not be used to create position within the painting. Eyeing is far better than the Fibonachi spiral at finding what looks most pleasing). More rules are needed to define how a work can be put off-center without breaking the harmony, such as color, temperature, lines and shading balance. The only rules a student needs to know (The last of which you did not cover) in the beginning is 1) focal point, 2) centering the focal point introduces unnaturalness (which can be utilized to tell a story), 3) rule of thirds (The number 3 has no part in this since 2 x 2 points are what guide the subject), 4) follow lines (Guiding the eye) and 5) compositional shapes. Anything more will just overload the student.

[@imadielariel3109]

I agree. I would have liked you to at least mention canvas format and painting complexity and focal point. Beginners will not understand you here. It is too complex/juxtaposed a presentation. But I would love you to continue in composition which is an endless subject. The slides moved too quickly. Say take ten famous works of art showing different painting themes and analyze their composition. I think that might be very helpful. Finish with one of those complex renaissance paintings that have more than one focal point...etc. Merci Florent. Vient de te découvrir, Oh Joie! J'ai enseigné la composition et c'est un sujet qui est compliqué et assimilé lentement par les étudiants qui non pas étudier l'histoire de l'art. Merci, merci.

[@yvettevanveen3894]

Math 😁 there are two number systems. Cultures such as the Piraha don’t have numbers. They have words for one and many. They have the math we are born with. And… there is school math that we learn. we have both.

[@trotterhorsewatsonjr.6668]

Your opening, explanation made the video un-necessary. That is very rare. Your example of the woman being moved all over the surface.

[@someone1415]

How do u keep your art "RAW" when you have to follow rules to make it "appealing"? How do you not be so worried about where things are supposed to be painted? At some point it must taint your inspiration and at the end it ends some being something not straight from the heart but a borrowed design from every artist before you. I ....just...want....to... paint...whatever...tf. i want with NOBODY coming to tell ne its "wrong" 😭 or that it's not art! I just want to paint whatever I have in my heart.

[@zachary4670]

You do that the same way you give impassioned speeches after learning the rules of the language you speak. The rules help an artist communicate with the audience. Internalizing your favorite rules can help you express an idea more easily. I, for one, only ever pay attention to the rule of thirds, and the rule of balance, because those are the ones that “speak to me”. The “rules” Come from centuries of people doing exactly what you said, working “from the heart”. After centuries of people making art, other people went in and analyzed it and realized that a lot of pieces follow the same set of definable patterns. The point of learning composition rules is that you can receive centuries of experience all at once. It simply gives you a springboard. I would be very unsurprised to learn that all the “ruleless” paintings made by someone who doesn’t care about the “rules” still follows patterns defined by the “rules”, and certainly those paintings that most people like will.

[@theunwantedcritic]

Does anybody find it ironic that while he’s talking about how terrible the center is he’s staring directly into the camera with the center of the screen approximately being his mouth and nose?

[@zachary4670]

Yeah but his eyes, the focal point of his composition, are above center. Imagine how weird it would look if his eyes were as far down on the image as his nose.

[@Engelhafen]

Your explanation of biology is a bit strange

[@beanstaIkjack]

Great vid 👏