I know you've had the experience of walking into a museum or gallery and being struck by a painting on the far side of a room before you even grasp the painting’s subject.
The drama of its design strikes you—the abstract shapes and their interconnection. That is composition. And all artists, no matter how experienced, are constantly striving to achieve engaging composition. It doesn't just happen by itself. It's the product of conscious attention.
Composition is not a superficial gesture. It is not just a question of lining up a few things on a canvas divided in thirds. Rather, composition is the whole upon which everything rests and to which all is aligned.
It's the abstract shapes on the picture plane, the movement of the eye around the painting, the color intensities one to the next, the role edges play in holding and releasing attention, as well as the armature upon which the painting hangs.
For something so fundamental to successful painting it’s surprising composition isn't addressed more often.
Perhaps this comment by art historian John Canaday, author of the Portfolio series for the Metropolitan Museum and Time/Life, helps to explain why: "Composition is so fundamental to the creation of pictures that a list of the world's greatest pictures would overlap a list of the greatest compositions in a majority of titles. Yet, of all the elements in the art of painting, composition is the least recognized, even when it is playing a major part in the reaction to a picture." By focusing on this foundational tool of all great painting, you'll learn to build compositions that make your own work consistently strong, clear and dramatic.
As in most art forms, with painting there are actually a limited number of elements that determine the success of a work.
Whether you paint portraits, interiors, landscapes, florals, or still-life, the tools necessary to paint successfully are the same. If even one of these elements is missing, the chance of creating a considered harmony in your painting is slim.
In this five-day workshop we'll focus on these elements, one by one. We'll isolate and do exercises with each of them until they become conscious tools in your painting practice. These elements cannot be learned intellectually; they need to be practiced in context.
We will use still-life as the subject for these exercises. Even if you don't normally paint still-life, for the purpose of mastering composition, it is perfect.
Each person has their own workstation so you have almost complete control of your arrangement, its placement, the light source and its direction, as well as your viewpoint. You'll have time to study placement, lines of direction, contrasts, color intensities, transition colors and edges. A series of additional exercises, along with several slide shows and talks, will enhance perception of each of these basic painting elements. It is a full and intense four days.
After the workshop, you'll experience painting differently; the elements that make up a good painting will be more alive and active in your awareness. As you use these tools consciously, your paintings will consistently hold together. When you encounter a problem you’ll be able to more easily identify it, resolve it and proceed.
In essence, you'll have the tools to dramatically improve your painting.
| "The whole arrangement of my picture is expressive. The place occupied by the figures and objects, the empty spaces around them, the proportions, everything plays a part"—Matisse | "To paint is not to copy the object slavishly; it is to grasp a harmony among many relationships"—Cézanne |
Students described their experiences at the end of the Mastering Composition workshop saying, "beyond excellent", "wonderful experience", "very impressive", "bravo", "off the charts".
You will:
Ian Roberts has been teaching painting workshops for over ten years through his school, Atelier Saint-Luc. For many years the workshops
were held in Provence and Tuscany, as well as locations in the US. In addition to painting and teaching, Roberts is the author of Creative Authenticity: 16 Principles to Clarify and Deepen Your Artistic Vision, and two instructional
videos, Plein Air Painting and Mastering Composition, which was selected as a feature presentation by the North Light Book Club. He is currently writing a book on composition for North Light Books.
Roberts exhibits his work in the U.S. and Canada, and lives near Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada.
"I look at my own work entirely differently. I can finally 'see' my own paintings. I can see why they aren't working and what I need to do to get them to work. It is really liberating."
"I'm exhausted but excited about how the artistic path has just changed for me based on the learning this week."
"The workshop is the best I have ever taken. As a student you are challenged to rise to a higher level of excellence. The five days have been a 'slice of artist heaven'."
"Ian is an amazing instructor, communicator and a kind and caring teacher. This workshop will move any artist to the next level."
"There is an art to teaching and you have demonstrated that throughout the week. You seemed to know just what and what not to say, and how much to push and back off. Thank you so very much for opening my eyes again."
"I am a professional artist and university art instructor. This course made me rethink my entire approach to making paintings and I can see it will push and motivate my painting for the next ten years."
"As a professional full-time artist who runs his own gallery I recognize the importance of strong composition in gallery sales. That was my reason for coming on Ian's workshop and the bottom line is, he's good and it helps."
The workshop will take place in the beautiful Town of Blue Mountain, two hours north of Toronto, Canada. The town sits on Georgian Bay, part of the Great Lakes and next to the Niagara Escarpment, a World Heritage Biosphere Site.
We have single room accommodation with one bathroom for each two rooms. Breakfast and three dinners will be catered at this facility. Lunch will be catered at the studio. Vans will be available for all local transportation. We’ll have one dinner at a local restaurant.
From Toronto International Airport you can take a shuttle to our facility, approximately two hours from Toronto for $100. US return. Or if you prefer you can rent a car and drive up yourself. Maps and transportation details are included in each confirmation package.
The workshop starts at 9 a.m. Monday April 25, so you will want to arrive the day before in the afternoon. The room and board package includes dinner and room on the Sunday evening before the workshop. The workshop ends at 4 pm on Friday, April 29.
After the workshop, while in Toronto, you may want to visit the galleries and museums or visit Niagara Falls, two and a half hours away.
Maximum of 12 participants.
Workshop fee: $525, plus 13% Harmonized Sales Tax ($68.25)
Room and board: $525, plus 13% Harmonized Sales Tax ($68.25)
Includes: 5 night’s accommodation, all breakfasts and lunches, 4 dinners, local transportation.
Not included: airfare, airport shuttle or car rental, one dinner at a local restaurant.
Responsibility: Atelier Saint-Luc, Ian Roberts and /or their agents provide services and can not be responsible in part or in whole for any delays, missed carrier connections, delayed departures or arrivals, error or omissions, accident irregularity, faults, loss, damage or injury to persons, or property or negligence of any cause. The company reserves the right to alter arrangements or itinerary if necessary, to cancel tours if enrollment is insufficient to cover costs. By purchasing this tour the participant acknowledges and accepts these conditions.
If you have any questions you can leave a message at 888-333-4541 or use the contact form.
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Other workshops: Plein Air Painting in Provence | The Home Workshop Program