I am a daily oil painter. Before I pick up my brushes, I start each session with a a coffee, a few of your videos followed by a 20 minute drawing session. I find that since I have discovered your TH-cam channel I have become increasing conscious of composition in my drawings and paintings. I truly appreciate all of your tips. Thank you. Merrill Sooley - Newfoundland, Canada
Hi Merrill, that sounds like a great routine. Glad you are enjoying the videos and one day I plan on visiting Newfoundland. Every painter I've ever talked with that has been has said it is a must see.
I am so happy I stumbled over this, this is filled with high quality, educational knowledge, very well explained in a sympathetic way. Excellent, thank you Ian. B Lindeberg - Sweden
Thank you, Ian! After reading your Mastering Composition book, the first thing that crosses my mind while looking to any pictures is the structure and the armature. Amazing how the eye gets trained to see correctly. Thank you for the book as well.❤
What an incredible teaching style and confident explanations that are so accessible. Truly a legendary educator that could make any subject truly fascinating.
I’m a big overview person and your similar approach is such a relief. I’ve been floundering around studying drawing and color fundamentals and all sorts of things but never had a clear framework of understanding. Many thanks. 🤗
Thank you, Ian! You are the best teacher I have ever met in my life. I've learned more in two weeks of studying your classes than I've learned in a long life. And this is just the start!
Sir I am learning so much from your videos. I can actually now understand about composition and so many other points which was never clear. You are great teacher.
I became really glad to receive this email. I have worked as a teacher many years and have been a student also. I have had many teachers along my life and I can tell you are one of the best. Thank you! Romelia - Sweden
Thanks for sharing your expertise. I've struggled with paintings and end up not finishing them because I think "this is boring." These lessons are just what I need. This also an art appreciation course in disguise.
Interesting that Sorolla put the foreground basket smack-dab in the center!!.thank you for all your professional help explained in a very clear and sympatheic way.
Yes, that basket smack in the middle is a bit distracting but I suppose Sorolla knew what he was doing. It does point up to the center of interest though. Hmm.
Just writing to thank you sir for your great lectures! I found them incredibly helpful and enjoyable- have been watching them from the first one. Best regards from Poland.
I just learned about your channel today & I've already signed up for your emails & have watched several vidoes. They have so much information that I've found lacking among many instructors. At least among the instructors that I'm aware of. My sketchbook now contains several pages with notes & sketches from these vidoes & i'm still going. Thank you so much!
Very good to see the monthly top up video! To the point and well focused - it would be excellent to have more analyses of compositions by artists. All too often you get overawed by the colour, drama or complexity of a famous painting, that the compositional skill of the artist is hidden from the viewer.
Thank you for this. I’ve studied your book and watched your videos several times over. I love how you plainly illustrate composition and I always keep your lessons in mind as I design my paintings.
Ian, this short video is just enough of a reminder of the need to start first with composition and the part about tension between shapes is something I need to add to my thinking, an echo from earlier times and classes on abstract art. Also nice to have your company while I paint solo.
Thank you, Ian! I have learned so much from your teachings and they have helped me in answering questions that I have with my drawings and paintings. Your video of information about composition is excellent! I am new to your classes and yet I have learned so much. I look forward every day to your classes!!
Thank you Ian for your succinct, but deep explanation! It is so helpful, and on a side note, I thank you for including Joaquin Sorolla's paintings, he was a painter of light, so your expertise helps 'decode' his dexterity. Thanks again!
Thank you so much for those videos. I really struggle to learn from books as I am a visual learner and I need to see what exactly is ment, so by drawing in the lines on the painting helped me to understand the structure. Thank you very much.
Thank you for your expertise and passion to teach others. Not only is your content excellent. You have a gift of multi-dimensional explaining and sharing solutions for your students such as me. Your voice tone maintains interesting balance that creates continues engagement.
Thank you so much Ian! I first found your book in the library, and after reading it I knew I had to own it myself. You're an excellent teacher. This is my first year with a high school art class and I am going to try to make a lesson out of your videos. Looking forward to the rest!!
I am forever grateful for your generosity. You are the kindest person and a treasure, thank you Ian. Also a question: so far finding the horizontal seems rather simple because it tends to be a continuous line that matches the horizon, BUT the VERTICAL always seems a bit more crooked and swirly rather than a stright vertical line, (Like in this Sorolla´s fishermans, I just can´t seem to find it). How do you define vertical when it´s not a stright vertical line? Sometimes there´s a telephone post in the picture and I think to myself "There´s the vertical!" and then it turns out that you pointed out a curvy path as vertical and not the post. So I am a bit lost. Thank you from Mexico.
Hello Ian, I am a huge fan of your Mastering Composition. I view art with critical thinking now and felt your first example with the road led me right out of the painting. Perhaps moving the road to the right might include a focal point with surrounding interest.
I really liked the longer demo! Just listening to you, telling the colors you combined and watching how you handled the brush strokes is very helpful! Such a simple photo interpreted in a striking way!
Thanks for these videos. I read your Mastering Composition book a couple years ago and use it for reference regularly. You explain the concepts from the book so clearly and succinctly here.
*Ian Roberts:* Just found your videos - thanks! I would like to have seen the finished painting of the trees and road that you showed at the beginning.
I paused the painting before you explained. Based on some of your previous videos on composition ( I watch), I can pretty close to analyzing the composition according to your breakdown. But I focused on the "static" focal point... which supports the center of interest, and not the visual flow as you explained. But I did get the geometric structure correct.. This helping me with my own illustration Any I can figure out how to apply this to my live figure drawing. I 100% Love it!
Thank you so much, Ian! This is a really great series and I’m happy to follow. Now I’ve got one question. In both cases on this episode - the photo and the painting - you suggested that the journey of the eye starts in the upper right corner. Would that always be the case? Or is it just a coincidence? And how can I know where the eye is drawn to first? I am always unsure about that. I have a hard time remembering what caught my eye at first sight of any painting. So how can I know about anyone else? Is there a hidden rule to that which I do not know of? Thank you so much for considering an answer!
Oh, another great lesson. At this point I'm not certain if I'm looking at things differently than before, or if I'm attaching, learning, a different language to think about what I'm seeing. Or both, perhaps. Yet at this point my brain is starting to hurt, in a good way.
I’m a spray paint artist here to hopefully learn how to compose landscapes that don’t just draw your attention directly to the center with perfect symmetry. These are really interesting!
Really interesting!Love it! The center of interest in the first photograph really bothered me! IT WAS LEADING ME OUT OF THE COMPOSITION! We can change this! We are not bound by a photograph!
great...thank you Ian. I have a question...doesn't the line from the boat thru both of the dark basket and the light one at the bottom of the painting create a strong horizontal, and isn;t that something you point to in other compostiion videos as important.? i get the need to direct the eye so I'm cofused. are these two different things to consider
I am a daily oil painter. Before I pick up my brushes, I start each session with a a coffee, a few of your videos followed by a 20 minute drawing session. I find that since I have discovered your TH-cam channel I have become increasing conscious of composition in my drawings and paintings. I truly appreciate all of your tips. Thank you. Merrill Sooley - Newfoundland, Canada
Hi Merrill, that sounds like a great routine. Glad you are enjoying the videos and one day I plan on visiting Newfoundland. Every painter I've ever talked with that has been has said it is a must see.
Can’t be reminded enough of these timeless and proven principles - no plan, no foundation = house won’t stand for long. Thx!
That's it. Best, Ian
Thank you Ian. I am looking at photos with new eyes.
Glad you liked it Kathy.
I am so happy I stumbled over this, this is filled with high quality, educational knowledge, very well explained in a sympathetic way. Excellent, thank you Ian.
B Lindeberg - Sweden
Ty! Very helpful!
This is the EXACT video I've been looking for. Thank you for diagramming the visuals. Looking forward to this series!
Great reminder of the importance of composition.... to keep focused on the structure of the painting from the outset.
SOOO INTERESTING, INFORMATIVE & VALUABLE video! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH, Ian!
Thank you, Ian! After reading your Mastering Composition book, the first thing that crosses my mind while looking to any pictures is the structure and the armature. Amazing how the eye gets trained to see correctly. Thank you for the book as well.❤
Thank you, Ian. I have art education, but you helping me understanding everything more deep and see more clear.
What an incredible teaching style and confident explanations that are so accessible. Truly a legendary educator that could make any subject truly fascinating.
I’m a big overview person and your similar approach is such a relief. I’ve been floundering around studying drawing and color fundamentals and all sorts of things but never had a clear framework of understanding. Many thanks. 🤗
Another great inspirational video ! Thank you Ian . Sorolla is a great favourite of mine and Sargent too .Well presented !
That Sorolla painting amazes me with the curved shape dominance and value linking. Wow...what a master of composition
Repetition is the mother of all learning. Thank you for showing so many pictorial examples of other artists compositions and their work!
Thank you, Ian! You are the best teacher I have ever met in my life. I've learned more in two weeks of studying your classes than I've learned in a long life. And this is just the start!
Appreciate you, Ian. Your constant explanation of WHY composition is so important makes me pay attention - and pick up my brushes.
Sir I am learning so much from your videos. I can actually now understand about composition and so many other points which was never clear. You are great teacher.
Love these videos, Ian! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Ian - your videos are so informative and helpful 🙏🙏
Thank you Ian. It amazes me how much composition can make or break a painting.
I became really glad to receive this email. I have worked as a teacher many years and have been a student also. I have had many teachers along my life and I can tell you are one of the best. Thank you!
Romelia - Sweden
Greater video. Composition is the skeleton of every painting. Thanks Ian. Subscribed. 👍
Glad you have you onboard. All the best.
Thanks for sharing your expertise. I've struggled with paintings and end up not finishing them because I think "this is boring." These lessons are just what I need. This also an art appreciation course in disguise.
Interesting that Sorolla put the foreground basket smack-dab in the center!!.thank you for all your professional help explained in a very clear and sympatheic way.
Yes, that basket smack in the middle is a bit distracting but I suppose Sorolla knew what he was doing. It does point up to the center of interest though. Hmm.
Really useful. I just rearranged the painting I'm preparing. Thank you.
I'm delighted you found it helpful.
Just writing to thank you sir for your great lectures! I found them incredibly helpful and enjoyable- have been watching them from the first one. Best regards from Poland.
I just learned about your channel today & I've already signed up for your emails & have watched several vidoes. They have so much information that I've found lacking among many instructors. At least among the instructors that I'm aware of. My sketchbook now contains several pages with notes & sketches from these vidoes & i'm still going. Thank you so much!
Krista, thank you so much for letting me know you are enjoying the videos. I really appreciate your letting me know. More to come! Best wishes, Ian
Very good to see the monthly top up video! To the point and well focused - it would be excellent to have more analyses of compositions by artists. All too often you get overawed by the colour, drama or complexity of a famous painting, that the compositional skill of the artist is hidden from the viewer.
Amazing Sir..love from India ...love your knowledge and way of sharing it with clarity
Great to see a return to YT and a new video; really enjoyed the ones you did on Artists Network channel a while back. Keep them coming.
Thanks Mark. Appreciate it. All the best, Ian.
Thank you for this. I’ve studied your book and watched your videos several times over. I love how you plainly illustrate composition and I always keep your lessons in mind as I design my paintings.
he barely said anything?
Ian, this short video is just enough of a reminder of the need to start first with composition and the part about tension between shapes is something I need to add to my thinking, an echo from earlier times and classes on abstract art. Also nice to have your company while I paint solo.
Hi Molly. Glad you liked it.
Thank you, Ian! I have learned so much from your teachings and they have helped me in answering questions that I have with my drawings and paintings. Your video of information about composition is excellent! I am new to your classes and yet I have learned so much. I look forward every day to your classes!!
Thank you Ian for your succinct, but deep explanation! It is so helpful, and on a side note, I thank you for including Joaquin Sorolla's paintings, he was a painter of light, so your expertise helps 'decode' his dexterity. Thanks again!
Thank you so much for those videos. I really struggle to learn from books as I am a visual learner and I need to see what exactly is ment, so by drawing in the lines on the painting helped me to understand the structure. Thank you very much.
Thank you for sharing composition techniques! I love this painting, and now I understand why!
Thanks so much Margaret. Delighted you liked it.
Very useful. Thank you Sir Roberts.
You are very welcome
Thanks very much- that was really helpful! I look forward to next week's installment.
Hi Fran, happy you found it helpful.
Thank you Ian. I always hit the like button before your videos start. I have yet to be disappointed in that decision.
Thanks for sharing Ian! You are an amazing teacher.
Hi Ian. Thank you for these instructional videos. It is important to be made aware of what we are looking at.
Thanks Gayle. I'm glad you're finding the videos helpful.
I loved the analysis of the Sorolla to wrap up your point - An effective teaching strategy.
Thanks Biro. Glad you liked it.
Thank you for sharing your great knowledge!
Thank you Ian Roberts
you're welcome Nick
So good to see you again, you really make paintings come to life, thank you.
So glad i have found your videos, these are excellent lessons!
Just found you today. Oh my gosh I think I’m going to learn so much from your videos. Thank you!
Thank you for your expertise and passion to teach others. Not only is your content excellent. You have a gift of multi-dimensional explaining and sharing solutions for your students such as me. Your voice tone maintains interesting balance that creates continues engagement.
Awesome. Thanks Ian. This came at a great time as I was thinking about the composition of a large painting I'm working on.
Glad you liked it Patricia
Great time to think about composition...before starting the large ones.
I have both of your books so this was a great refresher! Earlier post I was trying to change the name from my husbands to mine!
Glad you liked it.
Very helpful video. I'm trying to incorporate this into my abstract art.
Thank you very much for this!!!!
I'm deeply grateful..:)
Thank you so much Ian! I first found your book in the library, and after reading it I knew I had to own it myself. You're an excellent teacher. This is my first year with a high school art class and I am going to try to make a lesson out of your videos. Looking forward to the rest!!
that sounds exciting. Good luck.
Thank you so much for these videos. I’ve learned so much from you.
Thank you so much I just discovered u today
I am forever grateful for your generosity. You are the kindest person and a treasure, thank you Ian.
Also a question: so far finding the horizontal seems rather simple because it tends to be a continuous line that matches the horizon, BUT the VERTICAL always seems a bit more crooked and swirly rather than a stright vertical line, (Like in this Sorolla´s fishermans, I just can´t seem to find it). How do you define vertical when it´s not a stright vertical line? Sometimes there´s a telephone post in the picture and I think to myself "There´s the vertical!" and then it turns out that you pointed out a curvy path as vertical and not the post. So I am a bit lost. Thank you from Mexico.
Hello Ian,
I am a huge fan of your Mastering Composition. I view art with critical thinking now and felt your first example with the road led me right out of the painting. Perhaps moving the road to the right might include a focal point with surrounding interest.
I really liked the longer demo! Just listening to you, telling the colors you combined and watching how you handled the brush strokes is very helpful! Such a simple photo interpreted in a striking way!
Hi Judy, thank you for letting me know. Glad you found it helpful.
Thanks for these videos. I read your Mastering Composition book a couple years ago and use it for reference regularly. You explain the concepts from the book so clearly and succinctly here.
Glad you enjoyed the book. And the videos. All the best.
It looks so easy when you see good composition in a painting……but more difficult to do it in your own paintings.
This is wonderful! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience!
*Ian Roberts:* Just found your videos - thanks! I would like to have seen the finished painting of the trees and road that you showed at the beginning.
Ian, I just subscribed. Wonderful instruction! Thank you for sharing!
Gracias! Tus clases me han ayudado a entender la composición y entender cuándo algo no funciona.
I paused the painting before you explained. Based on some of your previous videos on composition ( I watch), I can pretty close to analyzing the composition according to your breakdown. But I focused on the "static" focal point... which supports the center of interest, and not the visual flow as you explained. But I did get the geometric structure correct.. This helping me with my own illustration Any I can figure out how to apply this to my live figure drawing. I 100% Love it!
Love it. Such valuable information!
Only discovered your channel recently. You deserve way more subs.
So this is how it started :) Cool!
Thank you for making these videos!!
Thank you for sharing
very useful and engaging. TY
Excellent video
Thank you so much, Ian! This is a really great series and I’m happy to follow. Now I’ve got one question. In both cases on this episode - the photo and the painting - you suggested that the journey of the eye starts in the upper right corner. Would that always be the case? Or is it just a coincidence? And how can I know where the eye is drawn to first? I am always unsure about that. I have a hard time remembering what caught my eye at first sight of any painting. So how can I know about anyone else? Is there a hidden rule to that which I do not know of? Thank you so much for considering an answer!
Thank you. I have been working on trying to put design above content, shapes above details and content. Not always very easy. :-) Peggy
Thankyou so much for sharing your knowledge
Merci pour ces vidéos très intéressantes
Wonderful stuff Ian.
Ian you have dysmistyfied composition structure. Thank you
Glad you find the video useful. With best wishes, Ian.
Oh, another great lesson. At this point I'm not certain if I'm looking at things differently than before, or if I'm attaching, learning, a different language to think about what I'm seeing. Or both, perhaps. Yet at this point my brain is starting to hurt, in a good way.
It's like a new language, new synapses firing. Glad you're finding them helpful. All the best, Ian
This is so helpful, thank you!
Very good teacher, great job.
Thank you! Like.
Thank you Ian. This is very helpful information.
I am delighted you enjoyed it and found it helpful Barbara. Best wishes.
Thank you!
Wowww!!! Thank youuu Master!!! 🤍☀️✨️
So grateful!! Thank you!
I’m a spray paint artist here to hopefully learn how to compose landscapes that don’t just draw your attention directly to the center with perfect symmetry. These are really interesting!
Very effective 👊🏼Thx❣️
Really interesting!Love it! The center of interest in the first photograph really bothered me! IT WAS LEADING ME OUT OF THE COMPOSITION! We can change this! We are not bound by a photograph!
Thak you so much for the class.
Thank you
Thanks you.
thanks you very much, im a students, and i always trying looking for book or anything talk about composition.
Well said thanks
I'm delighted you found it helpful. Thanks so much.
Great Value Man-thx.
Glad you like it Jeff. Best, Ian.
Thanks you Ian! I really love watching you classes (vídeos). Sorri if i am make a silly question... what kind of pencil do you use to draw?
good teacher
great...thank you Ian. I have a question...doesn't the line from the boat thru both of the dark basket and the light one at the bottom of the painting create a strong horizontal, and isn;t that something you point to in other compostiion videos as important.? i get the need to direct the eye so I'm cofused. are these two different things to consider
Thank you so much 🙏🙏🙏
HI LIsa, you are welcome. Glad you are enjoying the videos.
❤️