STOP Wasting Good Drawing Skills on Poor Compositions!

The best way to learn what compositions grab attention is by examples. These 12 aspects of compelling composition are genrously illustrated with drawings that both clarify the particular aspect, but also together form a visual lesson in themselves. At the end, the artist reveals the drawing he considers as the overall strongest composition. Please agree OR suggest a different drawing in the comments.
#drawingvideo #howtodraw #stephentraversart #drawingtips #artvideo #artist #artwork #pendrawing

[@GAspieler]

Dear Stephen, I am still watching each of your videos, but where did you hide all these amazing drawings? In your videos you are mostly higlighting drawings that you did between 15- 60 mins, but I am wondering how much time do you spend on these larger drawings with markers?

[@stephentraversart]

These larger drawings took around 6 hours. I did a few hundred of them for my Instagram account before I started the KZbin channel. They aren’t freehand though. I used a 4x4 grid on photo and paper and a pencil underdrawing. They take waaay too long to video for KZbin, even if I drew them freehand. 😀

[@GAspieler]

Thanks for answering and directing me to Insta. Just had the first look at it and it is an insane amount of work! I really liked so far how you could draw a very basic scene and make it interesting by your artistic choices. Now that I see these more detailed work with these more complex scenes, it is even more obvious how you manipulate the viewer's eye across the scene or how you emphasize some part of the scene. The drawings tell so much more than the original pictures. I think you should start selling copies of your work :)

[@MKisJ]

Stephen, simply the BEST! KEEP them coming please SIR!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks. I’ll do my best. Please tell your friends for me. 😀

[@trudyj7378]

They are all amazing, beautiful

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Trudy. Kind of you to say😀

[@karincarter4962]

Fantastic drawings! All of them !!! And very helpful information 😊

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Karin

[@verdedoodleduck]

They're all terrific. I vote for the first 'night at the opera' with the crowd gathering, simply because there are two necks showing. :) Maybe the dome of St Paul's, or the spire at Notre Dame, Hotel Russel? I feel like the unmarker-ed drawings should be considered seperately - the markers are too effective for my brain. :)

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks for sharing. Your vote was from a photo I took when we saw a ballet there, so it has good memories 😀

[@peppapotato]

Your videos are really great and helpful. Thank you so much for your channel!

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure

[@Milton1079]

Thanks, Stephen. Most helpful. It makes me wonder whether, for reference/composition purposes, I need to invest in a better camera and to take more time in finding the most interesting viewpoint.

[@stephentraversart]

I just use my iPhone camera. Remember, you’re not trying become a photographer, but if we’re drawing from a photo, the fundamentals of the composition are set by the photo, so we need to start our creativity process at taking the best photo, then the cropping etc, and then the drawing😀

[@Milton1079]

Thanks, Stephen. @@stephentraversart

[@carefreedelight2355]

This is very helpful in terms of the complexity of value v the complexity of subject and complexity of composition. Phew! Looking at your drawings of such complex subject is enough to make me put down my pencil. But I appreciate that was the opposite effect you were trying to create.

[@stephentraversart]

Of course I didn’t start with the these, but we can choose better compositions at whatever level of drawing skills have. 😀

[@dianepetzold1523]

Hi Stephen! Once again you've put together a concise presentation on the subject I've been grappling with in my own work. It's so difficult to harness inspiration, and organize a good composition in the process! I appreciate the care you put into this- you've really helped me make progress in my own painting and drawing work. One of my favorite channels!

[@carefreedelight2355]

@@stephentraversart For this relief, much thanks!

[@fuzzydragons]

14:16 that angle looks tricky to get everything correct and eye catching, its so well done!🥰

[@CC-hv6yt]

All of these are so engaging and beautiful, especially 'Night at the Opera '. Stephen, thank you so much for these helpful videos. Not just including the good examples but also showing what elements might confuse and hinder the viewers gaze.

[@stephentraversart]

Glad you like them! I appreciate your kind words. 😀