How to Take Good Photographs for Painting

[@argeancomics3291]

I feel very comfortable knowing that many paintets use photo as background to their works. Ive said im not a fan of plein air. And photos become an incredible resource. Recently Ive read that Marc Bohne dont paint plein air but make resource with photos and many visits to places he pretend to paint, analising details, colors and the ideal day time the landscape is in its splendor. As you say (not quite exactly), good photos make good paintings.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Painting from life is great practice because your eyes give you more information (range of values say) than a photo. But as a tool for painting photos are great.

[@leilaluginbill916]

I have learned so much about art from your videos….probably more than from any other teacher! Even though my preferred medium has been transparent watercolor until a few years ago, watching how you design, sketch, and execute a painting has been invaluable and has inspired me to branch out to gouache and casein. I have found water soluble graphite to be great for sketching and value studies. Painting has been a life saver during these last two years! 75 yrs. and still learning👍👍

[@davidjdavid1824]

Leila, I certainly concur with your sentiments regarding our Canadian teacher. cheers

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Leila, delighted you are enjoying the videos. And I like the water soluable pencils as well. Great sketching medium.

[@cockatielnation5425]

The concept of the design driven composition vs the subject driven composition has revolutionized the way I look at paintings, photos and even real life!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'm really happy to hear it. Thank you.

[@eyeballs46]

Ian is a master. Deep knowledge, an extraordinary ability to impart it and a humility that opens your heart--and your eyes, of course. What a generous spirit.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks so much Mike.

[@jonnawyatt]

I quite like "junkyard" or "industrial" for painting subjects. No matter the subject, Ian's methods and teaching help very much.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks so much Jonna. I'm looking forward to painting that.

[@holly_kay5570]

I was just asking this question yesterday. As I scrolled through my photos looking for one that I might paint, I found that my pictures aren't very good at all. They are things that I found to be pretty, but they are lacking in design elements that would make them interesting to a viewer. Now I know and I think I can take better pics in the future. Thank you Ian for another very timely lesson. Yours are the best!

[@beebee4095]

So it is important to think about Light against dark … Yes you, over the last couple of months you have helped me to ‘break through’ and now my work is a lot better.

[@anamariacosma4265]

I studied Architecture and I work as a freelance book illustrator. Your channel is one of the most valuable source of information in my development as an artist. Thank you so much!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you are enjoying the videos Ana. Best wishes

[@brandoncornwell52]

You are the most instructive painting teacher I have seen on KZbin, and I am truly in your debt. I have spent at least a couple thousand hours painting in oil, learning with every painting, but what I am gaining from instruction in composition is more evident in my work than any other part of the art form. Thank you Ian

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

That really makes me happy you are finding the videos so helpful Brandon. Thank you.

[@briantownsley2718]

Thanks again Ian, I was talking with a fellow artist on location one day, people come by and like to see your painting and we talk to them and our hope is that we inspire them to pick up a brush, it doesn't matter if our paintings are good or not so good but that we hope to plant a seed in their mind to try painting, some say, Oh I could never do that !! yes you can, it just takes a little time but the important thing is we're having fun out here !! We're out in the great outdoors every week with our fellow artists enjoying the day, and we may never be an Ian Roberts or David Dunlop, our paintings may be on display at our local library but we're loving life with friends doing something we really enjoy.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

HI Brian, what you say is so fundamental. And true. I think so many people are afraid of starting. And put their results up against impossible levels of achievement and so quickly quit. I admire your upbeat I'm-going-for-it resolve. My very best wishes.

[@ikjoyce]

I've been working my way through your fantastic series over the last few weeks, really enjoying and learning a lot, and then at the end of this video you quote Marc Weidenbaum, who runs the weekly Disquiet Junto music challenges I've regularly been taking part in over the last 8 years or so. (Met him once too, when he visited the UK a few years ago). Have to love it when two worlds collide unexpectedly! 😃

[@leilaskye8143]

Learned so much why I like to photograph to paint back at home. But never know why. This helps. Small and large, dark and light and tention.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad it was helpful Leila

[@HansKoudenburg]

Thanks again. What you give is not only good advice, but you bring it so, that I get motivated!!!! Thanks again👍 Hans😎

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

That the videos motivate you makes me happy Hans. Really.

[@jonathanroger4705]

What a relief it's not on the technical side and this is why I put off watching it. Fascinating.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you liked it Johnathan.

[@hasaneser9181]

thanks in advance Mr Roberts, i m from Turkey and, what you tell and teach us are really so helpful and fascinating. I ve been already taking painting course but what you teach is extraordinarily useful and clear. Thanks.

[@gosiaplummer4794]

I am still looking for my little junkyards with play of light….. practicing cropping and notan….. thank you for great lesson!

[@priscillaallen5276]

Your fine skill of finding and expressing beauty of form is impressive and something that must be cultivated. Your videos always give me at lot to think about. Thank you Ian.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You're welcome Priscilla

[@eileent8989]

Hi, Ian! I hope that you fully appreciate how valuable your youtube videos are. They are nearly unique in youtube. I have been fortunate in having had some excellent teachers, but I still learn something new from every video that you publish. Sometimes, it's just finally fully understanding the rationale for something that I learned to do in the past and sometimes I am actually hearing an approach that is entirely new to me. (Of course, I think that my ability to fully absorb everything that you teach is in large part due to the hard work of my former teachers. They prepared me well to continue learning by giving me a liberal, but stable, foundation, ) All of this is to say that I know that many teachers have started their digital teaching formats because of covid and I hope that you will be interested in fully continuing some version of weekly digital teaching after we are all able to return to a more normal life. I particularly value the responsive aspect of weekly teaching, as opposed to a dvd course for example, because it enables you to return to some point to clarify it or to expand upon it, if requested. Also, although this sounds a bit vague, I very much like the overall "alive" feeling of this journey with you, as compared to a dvd, perhaps especially because my health status precludes ever taking an in-person workshop with you. So I'm hoping that you enjoy this format, too, and will want to continue it in some manner....perhaps in a paid format like Patreon (and I say that grudgingly because I don't find Patreon to be very concerned about its patrons.....but I digress 😂) I love watercolor so much that I would probably be content if I had to paint the same way for the rest of my life, but my practice is a thousand times more thrilling because I know that I will never run out of learning new ways to be a better painter or a more conscious painter and, hopefully, both. Your teaching has become a big part of that art/life project for me. Thank you.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Eileen, thank you so much for your kind comments. You are absolutely right about how this art practice can keep us engaged forever. It is a great gift. I do have three online courses that I will announce around the end of the year and start again in the new year. You might find them interesting. But I am happy you are enjoying the videos and building on your own foundation of painting. With best wishes.

[@eileent8989]

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Very much looking forward to the courses. :=)

[@nancyshell2855]

I am just learning how to do landscapes. Before I started painting I was a photographer. Thank you for this video it really helped refine my cropping process for painting and improved my landscape painting composition.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

That's great Nancy. Glad to hear the video was helpful.

[@TownHouseFilms]

Inspiring and so much to think about. Thank you.

[@judylearnstopaint1040]

Most helpful! I'll listen again to actually list the composition elements to look for in a photo. Sometimes we want so much to paint the story or subject of the photo that we forget to consider these points, and then wonder why we couldn't produce a successful piece. Thank you!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

That's great point Judy.

[@briantownsley2718]

Ian, I also have learned a lot from your videos, I believe it was helpful that I took a course in photography to learn about composition and rule of thirds etc. When on location with my plein air group We paint from 9:00am to noonish. I find it helpful to be on location as early as possible to try and find a subject suitable for painting and be set up with my sketch and ready to paint by 9:00. Still a little hard for me to figure out cropping and painting without referring back to my camera because that's where the edge lines are, I use a mat when taking my photographs. Also figuring out things that I can leave out of the painting and making sure I have that center of interest. thanks for the videos Ian, I look forward to learning from them.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Brian, I always use a viewfinder, even a rectangle cut in cardboard (2" x 3" say) to figure out what to paint plein air otherwise you just get so distracted by how much stuff is crowding around the edges of what you are thinking to paint.

[@Grumpysusie]

Thanking you for sharing your knowledge and perspective seems inadequate and mundane. I've learned so much from your videos, Ian, and now after many months of watching and listening, I'm improving and growing beyond imagination. You give us all such marvelous gifts in the thought process...bless your heart.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Makes me really happy to hear it Susie. Thank you for watching. All the best

[@kathyriggs2308]

I'm anxious to see the painting of the junk pile.....carry on and thank you again for all your information.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are not alone on the junkyard one. I'm interested to see how it will turn out as well.

[@maryaltabev5275]

This is one I’ll have to watch a few times. I feel that I have to digest all the information you give before I can apply it. Thanks again for all the effort and the clear and concise way you present the information.

[@lisafred1362]

Loved the video and sketches of scenes especially. The garbage dump picture is my favorite.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you liked them and the junkyard (not a garbage dump :) coming soon.

[@hoppingwren]

I love your videos! I watch them each week and they help me think more deliberately about my composition

[@sharonstritzel1864]

Me too!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted Ellie

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Yeah!

[@sandyschmidt8950]

Love your work! Thanks for videos that are really helpful!

[@AinoShperber]

This is so good. Very useful. I am always amazed how terrific your sketches are when the photos look kinda blah. You are so talented.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you Aino.

[@tomhoang4895]

Love all of your videos!!! Thank you so much.

[@summerhi7703]

Thanks for presenting the subject of how to use and improve photos for paintings. I hope you will continue more lessons on this subject. I’m passing this video on to some of my art friends.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you liked it and now I've got a few paintings for the next few weeks using last week's video. But I will certainly talk about it more. And thank you for sharing the videos with friends. All the best.

[@miamoorhead9774]

Thank you Ian! I am learning so much.!

[@sharonstratis2846]

I really enjoyed listening to your thought process behind choosing and cropping photos for painting subjects, especially why you liked the "junkyard" photo so much--a photo that anyone else probaby would have dismissed. Can't wait to see where you from here with the paintings of these photos.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you liked it Sharon.

[@A700xy]

Another revelatory video Ian! I loved the photos and absolutely understand your thought processes. I stopped the video before you spoke and tried to imagine what you were going to say. I even got some things right! But the photo that really intrigued me was the junk yard. I can’t wait to see you painting that one. Thanks so much for all your efforts….I’ve never learnt so much from an online video and my painting has definitely improved as a result.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Absolutely delighted to hear it. And yes the junkyard I'm going to do one week for sure.

[@SingYourselfWell]

Lovely, helpful, and so inspiring again, Ian. Thank you! 💖

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are welcome

[@josephweatherson]

Terrific video Ian. Seeing the poor examples of the photos you shared were perhaps even more instructive than the promising ones--the context from the former helped me to clearly see the context of the latter. Thank you--and I'm very much looking forward to what you paint from the good photos. I think the junkyard is going to be awesome!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Yeah, someone likes the junkyard! I will probably paint them all in the weeks ahead. All the best

[@sachet22]

Enjoyed and understood this great share.

[@patjeffers9431]

This is one of your best, most helpful videos! Many thanks!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks so much Pat.

[@Mr-S.C.]

As a keen photographer and someone who only paints from photographs, I found this your most useful video yet. Thank you Ian.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks for letting me know.

[@joanistotler8804]

Another super video - so informative and concur with all your choices. If it is possible I'd love to see some follow-ups on combining photos. Thank you for your generous sharing - I've learned so much from what you have to say.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Joani. I seldom use two photos together. Combine them. I can't say I never do but I can't think of the last time I have. I usually try and get a photo I like to paint and just paint that.

[@joanistotler8804]

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition me too. 🤗👍🏼😊

[@raj61091]

thank you for sharing your deep knowledge

[@rsbagley3451]

I have learned so much about taking and selecting photos to paint from in taking your wonderful drawing/painting course last year. I don't know if that wasn't almost the most valuable thing to me because how good can a painting be without a good plan to start with? This was an enjoyable refresher and I am sure it was an eye opener to a lot of your viewers. I look forward to seeing your painting of the guy at the market. I admire your ability to paint the figure very simply....might I put in a vote for a video on painting the figure without the detail that always ruins it?

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

HI Ramona, thanks so much for your comment. And yes that is a good idea, the figure without detail. I've got a few paintings to do now from last week's examples. But that figure in the market is a good example. all the best.

[@Isamolle]

Thanks for creating this!

[@maryking7734]

Your information is of the highest quality and beautifully presented. Thank you

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you so much Mary. I appreciate your telling me.

[@DannySabraArt]

Really cool to see your thought process here. I appreciated how the cottage scene could be better if there were more dramatic light. Thanks for this great info. I also think I’ve learned I need to play around with cropping much more than I do! Thanks Ian!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you found it helpful Danny. All the best.

[@Туристизмирамертвых]

Thanks Ian. This topic is most welcome. I, for one, have just started to prepare photographic stock for a long winter. 😊

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you liked it.

[@kevasman9974]

This one was especially helpful, Ian. Many thanks!!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad it was helpful

[@mitchmenzmer3185]

I’m also always looking for potential scenes to photograph for painting subjects and seems like I take lots of pictures and very few end up actually being worth considering for subject to paint. Was good to hear from your experience - sounds like the norm…. Thank you for the tutorial!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Mitch, I'd say it's the norm. I just got a book today from a woman, Caroline Walker, a Scottish painter, and she talked of taking 500 photos for what amounted to about 10 paintings.

[@Mousyfox]

Thank you so much Ian. I've been taking photos for years and have only begun to think about art since I retired almost three years ago. I've taken up Digital art since space for paints and easels and all that is very limited here. My wife paint small watercolours, mainly botanical, but I'm more into landscapes, similar to yourself. So now I'm going to be able to look at my photos with a new knowledge. I'm even going to try those simple sketches, though in one of my digital art apps. They offer so much more freedom, especially for learners like myself. They say it's never to late to start. Well I'm 68, and I read of a lady who's just been published for the first time in her early 80's. So I've got plenty of time to become famous (ha ha ha!, unlikely, but you never know?) Cheers for now and thanks again. I've subscribed because I'm hungry for your knowledge.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Makes me really happy to hear it. Thank you. All the best, Ian.

[@tatianaantoinette9086]

Lovely as always. Training my eye to see the big shapes.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

That's the idea Tatiana.

[@sherylsilberman]

ACK! I just went through most of my photos I was thinking might be possibilities and maybe 1 or 2 are suitable. I went through them drawing out a "road map" of structure (from your design video) for fun to help me see whether there were value masses, verticals etc. that would lend drama to the painting, or whether there was something I could do to change the scene. It is disappointing that so few have any interesting structure but now I know what to look for. Thank you for this very valuable video.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Sheryl, it can be a bit of a shock going through your photos with new eyes. I taught some online courses last year and the week we went from my reference photos to theirs was much the same as you just experienced. But now to go out and re-evalutate, that is a whole new and exciting adventure. Best wishes.

[@PARoth2011]

I will never look at a photograph in the same way I did before this video. Loved the junkyard! What an inspiring teacher you are, thank you so much for all you share to those of us who hunger to better understand art and the process of painting.

[@anuphone2874]

Thankyou for sharing your experiences on choosing a picture of interest. Of late , I am struggling to decide what picture to select. Hope this will put my selections back in perspective 😊

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad it was helpful Anu.

[@theresaharper-dube6844]

Your friend's cottage looks like it is located in Canada - perhaps the Muskoka region of Ontario? I recently returned from a lovely cottage holiday on the Lake of Bays, Baysville, Muskoka Region. Our family meets there annually from various parts of Canada and the U.S. to enjoy days of swimming in the crystal clear lake. I always plan to set aside time to paint the scenery but end up getting distracted and having too much fun. Ian, thank you for your weekly videos - they are such gems! I have worked through your book on Mastering Composition and revisit it often - especially when I get stuck. Again, thank you!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Theresa, I was thinking Muskoka too. And I love Lake of Bays as well. Delighted you are enjoying the videos.

[@debbiepollock8458]

Many of us that apply paint to canvas have not been formally trained. I now feel like I am in an art college Yay!!! Thank you so much for your excellent effort to teach us. I have ordered your book through the library. I have a feeling I will need to buy it later.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Happy to hear you are enjoying the videos Debbie.

[@gaylemartin6498]

Hi Ian. This was very educational. Thank you for your videos. Stay well. g

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

All the best to you Gayle.

[@lynschultz513]

Another great lesson on training us to look for scenes that contain all the elements for a successful painting. Thank you Ian. You are a good teacher. I am excited to see how you end up painting the cottage commission.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Lyn, glad you liked the video. I'm not painting that cottage. My friend's family want her to paint it.

[@song4night]

fantastic information, Ian! Thanks so much.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You're welcome

[@mohandoctor1930]

So beautifully told..! Thank you so much for sharing knowledge…! Very helpful..💕💕💕

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you enjoyed it.

[@iaincphotography6051]

Interesting listening to you talking about photography and how it works for you. Keep up the great work Ian.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I imagine your process is different.

[@emerictoulemonde2645]

hi Thanks for thes fantastic videos . i learned a lot . by the way the corsican village featuring in the video (with the sunlit church) is Cargese on the south west coast of corsica . this chuch is the Orthodox one facing the catholic one on the otherside of the valley one of the most beautiful place in corsica in my opinion .

[@smarterthanawaffle]

That was a great lesson. Thank you.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you.

[@marke464]

Thanks very much for that video, it certainly helped a lot. I was sort of hoping you wouldn't say it is such a big ratio from useful photos to not so useful but I suspected that would be the case. I managed to get hold of your book recently which is a little hard to get over here in the UK. Mastering composition and have been doing the thumbnails off some photos I have. And, as you said most of them don't work at all when I am trying to find the big shapes, they are mostly grey days ( it is the UK after all ) and not much interest. I have been painting quite heavily for three years now and the problem for us beginners is finding enough to paint. I am quite happy to paint every day but finding subjects is difficult which slows the learning process down. I understand I need to plan more and get my drawings correct first but that takes so much time it takes away from the painting. And, the fact I do not live somewhere that I can really get dramatic photos so easily. I think, for the learning process we have to accept that our paintings in a design sense are just not going to be that great.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Mark, I think the process of finding the image has to be integrated into the painting part. It isn't that when you put brush to canvas you are painting and the rest of the time is sort of being wasted. Going out with pencil and paper and doing composition sketches and taking photos is helping shift your awareness to more shape and structural thinking. That serves you when you paint. Embrace it as painting.

[@eileent8989]

Hi Mark! There is an easy answer to one part of your problem...the gray days. Any good drawing book will show you how a light source in various positions casts predictable shadows. It doesn't take long to learn where the light and those shadows will fall on various subjects and then you can imagine them in your photographs and paintings. For example, if it's seven p.m. on a summer night, you will know from your own experience where the sun is and then, from your studies, you will be able to imagine the positions of the sun and its consequent highlights and shadows, Trust me that this is very easy to learn. This pretty much leaves "reflected light," shadow temperature, and chromatic shadows. That will take longer to learn, but the good news is that those are aspects for which the viewer's eye is more willing to accept wide-ranging artistic license, which gives you more freedom to paint whatever looks best to you. It's a good idea to take some photos of the same locations at four different times of the day, on both sunny and dark days, if possible, to refine your predictions. It's also helpful to do some paint studies on sunny days of the colors and temperature of a good, sunny day in that area. Paint studies will give you more accuracy than a photo will. You probably already know most of this from daily experience, so the "learning" here is more a question of just becoming more consciously and accurately aware of light and shadow. This won't be hard to do. Enjoy :=) P.S. I think that as your skills improve, you will find the time spent in learning or in preparing to be much more enjoyable and that you will also come to feel that you are fully painting when you learn, analyze and prepare just as much as when you are putting paint to the canvas with the object of producing a finished work. Applying paint starts to feel like the final stage of the greater project of painting.

[@marke464]

@@eileent8989 thanks for the tips. I will try what you said and see how it goes.

[@BibleStudyPastor]

Very helpful in knowing what to look for. I am sure there are some universal things that apply to nearly everyone. But I would guess personal preference would dictate how the various main elements rank in importance in what you "want" to paint. Great job!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'm hoping my choices of scenes is personal and we'll have all have our favorites. More variety the better. All the best Ralph.

[@jbroy8769]

This was so helpful, thank you!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you liked it.

[@janettovey3928]

Love this one Ian, thanks!!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are so welcome Janet. Thank you

[@lucev7497]

One of the most useful video I’ve seen so far, I do watercolour paintings and I can literally spend hours looking for a good inspiring photograph, and if I take my own, I could take zillion of photos and still not confident into which one I should use, thank you

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Luce, it's a big topic for sure. I go through a lot of photos. Just part of the learning process.

[@sbinnr]

Thank you Ian! You really help me to look at my world differently. I'm now looking for those dark leading shapes and strong contrast as the center of interest. How I love sunny mornings! Thanks!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad to hear it Sarah.

[@roxykcny]

I didn't expect so much information in a short video. I hope you will paint the 2nd because I have a similar photo of a bridge, dull light and dark water. The sunny day has lovely light on the grasses, so much color. The market scene because I wouldn't know what to do with the lost images in the light. The 5th & 6th remind me of Andrew Wyeth so much. Corsica, wow that will be special. Can't wait to see whatever you paint. Thank you so much.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Kathy, I will probably paint all those photos in the weeks ahead. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@artwithmycoffee]

I find the “junk yard” scene with that beautiful light and shadow to be extremely interesting! That would be my immediate choice 😉. Thank you for your insights, they are always helpful. And I just purchased your Mastering Composition book…it will no doubt be very helpful as well.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Christine, I'm looking forward to painting that scene. I'm sure you'll enjoy the book and delighted you are enjoying the videos.

[@colettemorgan4503]

I bought the two books you have on Amazon. I red both of them, Creative Authenticity is such a refreshing delight. I love the idea of taking a nap but don’t waste time. Thank you for being you, it shows in your art and in your writing.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you enjoyed CA Colette. All the best.

[@sharonstritzel1864]

It is so helpful to hear your thinking about the various photos. I am learning so much and really being much more careful in my choices as I learn about structure and masses. Thank you so much!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad it was helpful Sharon.

[@loispeterson2680]

Can't thank you enough for your insightful and useful videos. Especially THIS one, as I am largely learning to sketch and draw from photos of my travels, and your teachings here help me to SEE/LOOK more closely at what I am looking at and for. THANK YOU again.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad I could help Lois.

[@pepelobar1021]

Muchas gracias por su excelente trabajo. Es un placer escucharle y deleitarse con su pasión por enseñar. Desde Madrid (España), un saludo. Seguiremos aprendiendo sobre composición.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you liked it.

[@gentleyogaforanybody1520]

Thank you, such helpful teachings. You're the best educator in composition ever! In fine arts classes I never learned this much

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you are enjoying the videos. Best wishes.

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

Extremely useful... thank you 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad it was helpful Sujanith.

[@maggieinsc1967]

Can’t wait to watch. I am sure I will gain some great Ian wisdom from this video. And it did not disappoint! Thanks.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Margaret.

[@ushadilip3039]

Thank you 🙏🏾, every week I learn something new in the landscape composition.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks so much Usha.

[@kathleenthompson9492]

Thank you again for a much needed topic..! I found this to be extremely helpful. I look forward to receiving your tips in my email every Tuesday.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Kathleen.

[@patricia7434]

Really super video!

[@giovannisiano574]

First of all CONGRATS for the 50+ K subscribers! Lately I have been watching videos about photography - the problem of creating the right compositions and finding/understanding where the lines, spaces, lights, shadows, etc. are is very similar to what we face in painting. It needs a lot of practice and likely deconstructing the "usual" way to look at thing, and look in different ways.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you Giovanni. So many similarities with a good photo and a good painting. All the best.

[@giovannisiano574]

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Indeed. I was studying a bit about Henri Cartier Bresson and his experience with painting before becoming a photographer. Interesting.

[@evandegenfelder4554]

As I said a short time ago when I first stumbled onto your (earlier) videos: I wish mightily that I had had instructors like you when I was in school. It would've saved me years (decades!) of uncertainty, lack of direction and lack of confidence in my work. I've picked up so much from you in the last couple of months, and I appreciate it.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Makes me really happy to hear it Evan. Thank you.

[@luludesjardins]

Once again, thank you so much for your invaluable advice.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are welcome Faé

[@1missmellie]

This lesson in particular really spoke volumes to me! Thank you for sharing and I wish you continued success . . .

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are so welcome Melanie

[@cyndywinkler6051]

Thank you once again for 7 minutes of excellent lessons on things that really are important. Your guidance has helped me improve day in and day out.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You're very welcome Cyndy.

[@orlane219]

Great video! And you are a great teacher conveying an invaluable knowledge and approach on composition. Again thank you for giving so generously and opening to us the world of creation. I try to practice, in watercolor, as much as I can, what you teach. Your videos are inspiring.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'm delighted you are enjoying them Hannah.

[@thomasmeyer2020]

Thank You Ian. This video is so timely for me. My wife and I are leaving for France on Saturday morning and I am planning to take lots of photos for possible scenes to paint later on. If your friends call that a cottage I'd like to see the castle they live in! Thanks a lot for another great lesson. Tom Meyer

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Thomas, have a great trip, hope you come back with tons of great photos. The word cottage doesn't refer to the size (anymore) up north of Toronto. If just refers the building by the lake.

[@leesaunders5495]

Many thanks for your thoughts on taking photos, really helpful to break things down into verticals, horizontals and leading lines to the focal point. This really builds on looking for the dark masses and lighter areas. This alone has improved my sketching and ideas for composition

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted to hear it Lee. All the best.

[@aarushibisht2822]

Thank you for the video! I learnt a lot from it.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are welcome Aarushi.

[@selmaabbott7234]

Thank you so much, Ian. This video is useful and very important, teaching me how to select and crop and choose my photos to paint. Inspiring!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you liked it Selma.

[@CharlesPompilius]

I didn't know about Dennis Miller Bunker. Thanks.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Lovely painter. Tragically died really young. 30 I think.

[@meredithfrauzel5204]

So informative! This video really gives you the tools to look at reference photos with a clear objective and filter out what works and what doesn’t. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you enjoyed it Meredith.

[@colettemorgan4503]

Very informative I do appreciate your effort. You are an awesome painter no question there, but I just love the drawing you made before the paintings. You should make a book of those and sell them.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

That's a good idea Colette.

[@constancescott4039]

Another really helpful video, thanks so much!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you enjoyed it Constance.

[@alicebeshay1744]

You really are the best docent👏👍🌹

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you so much Alice.

[@laurataggart8018]

Love the video. Love the quote. Thanks so much.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You're welcome.

[@Beth5895]

Thank you Ian.. Learning so many great things from you - really appreciate your effort and sharing. Cheers

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are most welcome Beth.

[@danielyork3707]

Mastering composition is more than instruction in successful painting it is also the art of language and poetry in motion, and why I like these videos so much! "Paint shapes not things" Painter, Poet, Professor? ✅,✅,✅👍👍👍

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks so much Daniel. I appreciate your telling me. Best wishes.

[@Surai00]

Excellent video! I try to paint mainly from photos I've taken myself. I live near Niagara Falls, so I have a ton of pictures of the Niagara River, the gorge, and Lake Ontario, etc. I'm trying to get into the city and do some more paintings of the "state" of things. The junkyard example gives me some good ideas, now I just need to be outside when it's the right lighting. That's the tricky part! 😂

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Good luck with the photos. Going out in the early and late light is always right when you want to be doing something else. But hey, the trials of the artist.

[@cruelagomez]

I’m so glad I recently found your videos on You Tube, they are so interesting. This one again very helpful, I am learning a lot these days!! Thank you so much Ian 🙏🏼

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are welcome Maria