Master Painting Composition by Rubens - Part I [Art Techniques] (2014)

[@hafiz2664]

How do they even begin to paint with all the geometry involved? They're so intricate as a foundation yet after the painting is completed, it comes out looking very simple as if easy to copy. I believe Rubens is also a painter that copies alot from the great masters. Amazing.

[@mikalaconway7568]

how can you be certain you arent generating false positives when you check the painting for matching angles? It seems like in such a busy work you would be able to find matching angles almost anywhere.

[@IPOXstudios]

It’s all detective work, so I’m sure in some cases there might be false positives depending on the diagonal in question. When you analyze hundreds of paintings you start seeing the same techniques being used. Thanks for watching!

[@louiscorbett3278]

I am not seeing what you're seeing, what do?

[@maxmagnus777]

I've always wondered why some old masters had low number of paintings. Guess that there is much more work involved in it than just splattering paint on canvas. What would be the next biggest time consuming part besides the geometry?

[@IPOXstudios]

maxmagnus777 that’s a great guess! :D the time consuming parts will vary for each artist. I find the geometry and design part very easy, but the painting process much more difficult. When you use the grids to design a piece, a lot of the techniques are already incorporated like unity, strength, rhythm, movement and dominant diagonals. After that, minor adjustments can be made to incorporate more techniques like arabesques, ellipses, etc. Thanks for watching!

[@maxmagnus777]

@@IPOXstudios hey, didn't expect an answer so soon. I was looking for patterns like on your site and I was unable to find them. Are they still there? (patterns = lines in a square that you placed over a painting)

[@IPOXstudios]

maxmagnus777 I have a few pages and many blog articles for dynamic symmetry, and I’ve made a grid package with 240 different variations you can use in your art. Here’s a link to one of the pages, please let me know if you need further info. Take care! ipoxstudios.com/dynamic-symmetry-grids-for-photographers-and-painters/

[@Gorboduc]

If you throw a hundred lines on a picture they're bound to collide with something. Actual rabatment is much simpler than this madness.

[@IPOXstudios]

Thanks for watching! How many master paintings have you analyzed? Have you applied dynamic symmetry to your art yet? The only reason I ask is because the phrase in your comment has been repeated so many times that it’s becoming cliche. It’s usually repeated by artists that are skeptical and haven’t even tried dynamic symmetry. If they did try, they would understand how the lines help promote design techniques. I have a lot of other videos that can help you understand, but you’ll have to be more open minded than your current design method. Check them out if you like.

[@michaeljohnangel6359]

Bravo Tavis!! Another great video. (I bought your book, by the way, and I am enjoying it.)

[@IPOXstudios]

Michael John Angel thank you, I really appreciate all of the nice comments and support!

[@ratstattoos]

Hi, do you recommend a book or videos of composition exercises?

[@IPOXstudios]

Thanks for watching! I’ve written several books that are available on my site. If you’re wanting to do exercises I’ve just finished a workbook that is available to Master Pass members. Please email me if you have other questions, I’ll be happy to help. ipoxstudios.com/shop/

[@ratstattoos]

@@IPOXstudios yes I want to focus and master composition. I want to make landscapes and environments.

[@IPOXstudios]

@@ratstattoos Excellent, composition is super important to learn!

[@BluBerry537]

You missed the knife in the guy's hand (bottom left). Just saying. Interesting video, thank you!

[@IPOXstudios]

Good eye! :) Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@dovelovedove700]

Can someone explain me this? For me it just look like he placed lines on top of the paintings but i dont udnerstend the meaning of it, i just heard about dynamic symetry now and im sl confuse can someone explain me?

[@IPOXstudios]

Cherrypiexz thanks for watching, I understand how you may be confused. Please watch my most recent video that covers how to start with one line. It will help you out. Take care

[@dovelovedove700]

@@IPOXstudios thank you

[@MsRbushnell]

how do I get the software you use? Rachel

[@ManuLeMayan]

Sacred geometry, hermeticism, alchemy..it's all in the paintings of the old masters. Where did it all come from? Well, Hermes of course :-)

[@MsRbushnell]

I can't afford Adobe, is there a way I can get grids and use them for viewing my paintings at a distance?

[@IPOXstudios]

I hear the software “gimp” is free and similar to photoshop. I also sell grids on the site if you didn’t want to make them. To use them for viewing your painting at a distance you could print the grid onto transparency film. Hope that helps!

[@johnalexanderrinconrodrigu482]

Amazing video, thank you !!

[@IPOXstudios]

Aion Suntelia thanks, you're welcome!

[@hudsonvalley318]

Thanks doing the work. I like Myron. He is top shelf. Peace Bill

[@IPOXstudios]

R Jordan You're welcome! Thanks for watching the video.

[@bersbighead]

Can you make or point me to a video that explains why this isn't just drawing random lines and finding coincidences? I'm new to studying the old masters, so I'm sure I sound pretty ignorant, but at least I'm aware of my ignorance and eager to change it!

[@IPOXstudios]

Thanks for watching and the comment. Here is a video where I show how to create the grid and how to use it further. I will be making another video that will simplify it even further :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpK4pHVrbLp5Z7s

[@bersbighead]

Tavis Leaf Glover Thanks! Keep up the good work!

[@somerandomname3124]

If you want it in the most basic of terms: The old masters were really fucking autistic over symmetry and geometric patterns, so all of their paintings follow a complex geometrical pattern made before they even start because "muh aesthetics."

[@marcelolavin525]

you should analize some neo rauch paintings, btw you opened my eyes thank you

[@IPOXstudios]

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll look into it :)

[@seijianderson8462]

Thanks for such an informative video, this is going to open my eyes in new ways :]

[@paullawrence2525]

pp 161 The Master’s Secret Geometry by Charles Bouleau

[@VieuxBat]

yes, the dynamic grid doesn't work on it, it is a 4/6/9 (correction appreciated if I am wrong) + the two arabesque in heart shape, not a simple middle/diagonal grid, so even more geometry involved. Those painters were more than artists !

[@artromano7554]

does anyone have the link to get the downloads the Tavis offers for photo shop?

[@IPOXstudios]

Thanks for watching! Here's a link to the Photoshop Action download. goo.gl/wBGYZh

[@jasonmarke]

Cool, check out " John Singer Sargent : Secrets of Composition and Design" too.

[@IPOXstudios]

+jasonmarke Thank you, I will check it out!

[@chuongtran8109]

What are you talking about, why you put a bunch of lines in the painting? This is stupid. The artist didn't use those lines as a guide to paint on.

[@chris_jorge]

this is the equivalent of music theory. you dont need to know the why something is aesthetically pleasing to make something beautiful but there are theories as to why they are.

[@SubNorm4L]

These lines wants to explain what's going on from a scientific and objective point of view. I really doubt artists actually used those methods. You can see roughs of their compositions, but I've never seen any artist making such complicated lines on a comp sketch. If they do, they're simple guide lines similar to the "rule of 3rds". Still, I see no artistic value in knowing this. Composition is really abstract and cannot be teached by science and formulas.

[@neildewestelinck6639]

Do you think it's helpful for photographers? I'm trying to build up photography scenes, like movies... But really want to work on interesting compositions. Do you think that compositions that go so deep are interesting for the work at the end?

[@IPOXstudios]

Neil De Westelinck thanks for the comment! Yes, I think it's extremely helpful for photographers. I believe this is how pros like Annie Leibovitz, Gregory Crewdson, David Bellemere, and Erwin Olaf create their images. Planning your composition and design before photographing will always turn out better than winging it. Take care!

[@neildewestelinck6639]

One thing I wonder... just to put it a bit in question. If you have such a grid with so many lines. Are you not trying to find the coincidence with things lining up with the grid? With so much going on in a painting, isn't it always that things going to line up?

[@IPOXstudios]

Thanks for the comment! I guess in some ways you are right, but when the master painters used dynamic symmetry they deliberately repeated the diagonals to create rhythm and unity. They deliberately made edges coincide to create unity and movement. They used the diagonals specifically to create movement and a dominant direction. All of these techniques were calculated and used with a purpose. Take a random painting from the internet, lay a root rectangle on top of it and you may find some areas lining up. The magic is when you find the repeating diagonals across the canvas which were derived from the root rectangle grid. And the coincidences from one side of the canvas to the other...this is the (hidden) proof that their paintings were planned and not arbitrarily designed with intuition or gut instinct. I hope that helps answer your question, take care :D

[@pauldunphy2336]

Tavis Leaf Glover o

[@cricketts801]

Where can I download your actions? I cant find a resource page on your blog.

[@cricketts801]

Thanks. Unfortunately I do not have the cash in the budget at this time. Full time work + supporting 4 including myself = Broke. When I have the extra cash I will join but will enjoy the blog as it is right now. Great videos. Look forward to learning more from you.

[@IPOXstudios]

Glad you're enjoying them man. Also, I have an option to earn a Free PDF book which will go over the design techniques as well. For a good cause and gets you some excellent material to study for your art. www.ipoxstudios.com/abolish-the-rule-of-thirds/

[@cricketts801]

Tavis Glover Where do I send my screenshots? I tried to do it in contact on blog and it will not let me.

[@cricketts801]

Tavis Glover Never mind I think I figured it out. Post at the bottom of your blog.

[@IPOXstudios]

Hey Art Monkey, thanks for doing it, you can send them to tavis @ ipoxstudios dot com. Then I will post them on the page and share with the other artists that want to help change the future of art.

[@Train35711]

i know I'm just catching up

[@IPOXstudios]

Better late than never!

[@VJ-ge7ov]

Me me me me me… is it about you or about art analysis? Get professional and stop waisting viewers time.