Studying composition is where the serious fun begins for Level 3 Drawing Lab students. We’re learning to arrange objects on the page, measure accurate proportions, and depict tonal value masses.
After blocking in several basic shapes, then sketching contour edges, Scout (above pic) used a brush to blend lighter and darker tonal values in charcoal.

In his book Mastering Composition, Ian Roberts writes, “The important point is to create a structure that will establish the placement of the major masses of your composition and the eye’s movement through them.”

Similar to music composers, sketchers can use rhythm and repetition of lines and shapes to fill the page in a pleasing way. A page from Casey’s sketchbook shows an illustration idea that invites your eye to climb along dominant curves to find the picture’s focal point, a figure reading a book…

We’re Always Hunting For Composition…



The week’s efforts by students inspired me to go out and capture this composition of angled wires while strolling near the studio…

Rob Court
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