Composing Pictures

by Donald W. Graham

A picture cannot be weighed, measured, and appraised like a sack of potatoes. Composing Pictures avoids the “discussion by dissection” method of picture analysis, stressing instead the graphic forces that remain valid and essential regardless of how art forms and fashions may change.In thirty-five short chapters, each devoted to a single important concept, the author covers the basics and complexities of graphic composition, including the illusion of depth, the enigma of surface, manifesting and symbolizing force and motion, utilizing borders, graphic accents, patterns, handling dark and light, directing the viewer’s eye, and creating storyboards. These concepts are illustrated by hundreds of diagrams and the work of great artists from myriad historical ages, cultures, and styles.The book not only contains a section on film graphics, but also consistently reminds the reader that the principles of composition relate to the moving picture as well as the still picture.

Genres: Art, Film, Drawing

416 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2010

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

From primitive statements to the sophisticated organization of a mural or a well-designed motion picture, the amount of our emotional response to such graphic organizations, such manifestations of energy, is what determines the successful picture. The degree of vitality of a picture is an indication of its merits as a work of art. [399]

[Jeff Lewonczyk]

I've tried reading this three times over the past few years, and I just can't wrap my brain around it. I feel like there's a lot of great insight in here, but it's been too difficult for me to mine it out of the opaque prose. Ah well, the pictures are interesting...

[Roberto Aramburu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is meant to be read with patience. I didn’t find the concepts too advanced or difficult to grasp, but they are presented in a way that might scare people used to reading step by step instructions. This book is meant to be analyzed slowly. I loved every page and every word, granted it is a bit dry but it’s worth every second I spent reading it.

[Sarah Schanze · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's kind of hard to really rate this book. The concepts within are very important and something all artists need to know, but the way they were presented was a little dry and not always clear to me. The language used felt abstract and lofty, and I had to read entire paragraphs several times and they didn't always stick even then. Still, that's probably just me, and there is some good, profound stuff in here. It was recommended by other artists I really admire, but it didn't make a strong impact on me personally.