This document discusses composition in art and provides examples from Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings. It explains that composition is the arrangement of elements within the borders of a piece. A good composition draws the viewer's eye to a focal point. It then discusses different types of compositions like landscape and portrait orientations. Examples from O'Keeffe's works show how she uses shape and focal points. The document concludes by explaining how thumbnail sketches can help artists plan compositions by testing object placement and close-up vs. wide shots before beginning a full piece.

1. Composition

2. Word Bank
- Focal Point
- Negative space
- Thumbnail Sketch

3. Composition
A composition is the arrangement of objects or elements within the border of a
drawing, painting, or design. A good composition brings the eyes of the viewer
towards an area of interest.

4. Different Types of Compositions
Landscape
(paper is placed
horizontally)
Portrait
(paper is placed
vertically)
Square
(all sides are the same
length)

5. Taking Inspiration From Georgia O’Keefe
Can you find the focal point in each of these paintings?

6. When constructing a
composition, some artists
arrange their objects into
shapes. This helps to create
interesting compositions
because it draws our eyes to
different focal points in a
painting.
In this painting we can see that
Georgia O’Keefe has arranged
the flowers in a triangular
shape.

7. In this painting, the focal
point is the bud sitting at the
centre of the painting. The
veins on the leaves help to
guide our eyes to it.

8. In this painting, the
zoomed in
composition of a
rosebud and its
petals creates a
swirling effect, and
pulls our eyes into
the centre of the
painting.

9. Thumbnail Sketches
Before you begin a painting or drawing, it can be helpful to first sketch some
thumbnails. A thumbnail is a small sketch done within a box and are like quick
snapshots of your painting or drawing ideas.
Thumbnails are very useful when testing out different compositions. For example,
different object placements, or close-up vs. zoomed out.

10. Examples of thumbnail Sketches

11. Task – Planning a Composition Using Thumbnails
1. Take out your object and place it on the table in front of you. You
will also be using your viewfinder for this task. Open your
sketchbook to a new page and draw 6 thumbnails: 3 landscape
and 3 portrait.
2. Use your viewfinder to frame your object while you sketch out
different compositions and try to find a focal point. Also, be
mindful of the negative space (empty space) in your compositions.