Part 3 We Better Shape Up

I believe the shapes in a painting are like the music to our favorite song. That’s why our overall design is crucial to the success of our painting, so I put a great deal of effort into my shapes and their placement. Something that I consider is how the shapes interlock and interact together. We don’t want two shapes to be the same size or distance apart.

A good way to start a painting is to have one major shape dominating the painting; this will guarantee that we gain control of the overall composition. With careful placement of our shapes, we can use them to direct the viewer around the scene or if necessary the shapes can stop the eye from leaving the painting.

One important element to consider is the position of our primary focal point; the placement of this shape is possibly the most crucial decision of the painting process. Overall, our arrangement of our shapes should appear effortless and intelligent. By doing plenty of drawing this will improve your knowledge of shapes and know how best to use them.