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Composition Workshop Module 2.2 Wabi-Sabi 侘寂 and the Diagonal

🕑 Added 2024-05-17 08:36:33 +0000 UTC

Comments

The Cinema Cartography

Hi Yoel, I'm planning more workshops (Colour & Symbolism) and adding extra episodes to this one as well. I'm glad you enjoyed :) ~Luiza

Yoel W

Hi Luiza! I loved this composition workshop; it opened my eyes to several concepts I wasn't familiar with. I wanted to ask if you had plans to offer more similar workshops in the future.

The Cinema Cartography

Hi Rebecca, you should be able to see multiple diagonals. So that's good! Composition in art is also the arrangement of intervals. Those intervals can include the distance between figures and objects, contours, variations of contrast and colour interactions too. Any compositional line you feel arrests you at first is a good way to start dissecting the composition, with practice you will find the primary diagonal or the dynamic diagonals shapes that come from that. In the case of Degas' ballerinas, he is working with dynamic composition, by cutting the painting in half in the meeting of the ballerina's gaze... and using that line to construct the diamond you're mentioning. The ballerina in the forefront is also the one dictating the first secondary line, which follows the inclination of her body. He then uses that as guidance to place all the other figures. I hope that helps :) - Luiza

Rebecca Orton

Hey Luiza, thanks for the module. I'd love to know more on your process of identifying diagonals in the more complex and dynamic pieces. For example, in Degas' ballerinas (pg 7 in the workbook), when I look at this painting I identify different diagonals to the ones here. My initial instinct would be to go to the bold lines i.e. the edges of the skirts, the ballet bar. What are the points of note for you? Are you looking at the ballerinas gaze? the symmetry? the light? I can see that this central 'diamond' shape is quite interesting for the arrangement of the figures but I'm not sure why.