Question about a composition "rule"

[Stormslegacy]

I was reading a good article from wetcanvas.com on compositional rules in landscape paintings and encountered one I don't understand and that has no explanation. The statement is that one should never start a visual path (like a river or road) from a corner. For context, it's the first rule on this page.

Why is starting a "visual path" from a corner detrimental to composition? I'm a bit confused and if someone could demonstrate with an example I'd be grateful.

[Aaron_]

Putting an edge at the frame of the picture is generally bad composition choice as it draws attention to the picture frame itself, and that gives the impression of some object stuck on top of the picture itself and breaks the illusion of the picture as a "window" into another reality.

Obviously putting an edge on the corner is even worse because that necessarily draws more attention to it.

Generally, it's called a tangent in a composition class.

Add: For any picture that has perspective in it, you can think of the picture as a ""window" into another picture space, but the picture itself is a flat surface generally in the shape of a rectangle. The corner of 2D picture obviously has no meaning in the 3D picture space.

When you're starting a path from the corner of the 2D picture, it looks like the path is actually starting from that corner, and that confuses the eye.

[JeffX99]

Yep...you don't want important elements...such as a visual entry path to be in the corner...the "whys" are numerous. For one you don't want the viewer to have to mentally "shift" over to the corner to "enter" the image. Composition is subtle, yet powerful and primarily sub-conscious so you try to avoid anythnig that makes it difficult to enter the image... easy to leave...or confusing to discern.

[JeffX99]

Yeah....they were pointing out the more specific tangent problem of the stream's edge right in the corner, rather than the more braod entry point and lead-in path.

[Stormslegacy]

Yeah....they were pointing out the more specific tangent problem of the stream's edge right in the corner, rather than the more braod entry point and lead-in path.

OH! I think this is exactly where my confusion was too. I could not understand why the example given was improved, I tried staring at it in a mirror too and just could not see why it was better. I think this is it.

ETA
I should add, thank you everyone who has responded, a lot of food for thought here.

[Chris Bennett]

The best rule for achieving a totally balanced, perfect composition...

Keep your brushes and paint in the box and leave the beautiful, blank, white rectangle just as it is.

[JFierce]

Well I think you need to at least establish a focal point.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AiXz2a_kI3.../Red%2BDot.jpg


There we go.

[JeffX99]

I would recommend an inxpensive book that is great for understanding composition - "Drawing Scenery" by Jack Hamm. Go through it and sit there with a stack of paper and basically do your own versions of everything he talks about.

[Alice Herring]

I would recommend an inxpensive book that is great for understanding composition - "Drawing Scenery" by Jack Hamm. Go through it and sit there with a stack of paper and basically do your own versions of everything he talks about.

Okay. I've seen this book recommended enough that now I HAVE to buy it.

[Kamber Parrk]

Okay. I've seen this book recommended enough that now I HAVE to buy it.

Well, dear Alice, in the spirit of "fair use" in continuity of this discussion, and to promote the Gospel of Hamm, so that others might be persuaded to part with the sum of 13.95 USD (or 1/2 that at MY favorite store "Half Price Books")-- have a pertinent serving of Hamm:

[Stormslegacy]

I would recommend an inxpensive book that is great for understanding composition - "Drawing Scenery" by Jack Hamm. Go through it and sit there with a stack of paper and basically do your own versions of everything he talks about.

I will do so. Thank you for the recommendation

[Elwell]

The thing with compositional elements is that they don't exist in isolation. The common compositional "mistakes" are "mistakes" because, on their own, they draw an unwanted amount of the viewer's attention. But if other elements are used to make sure that they don't draw an unwanted amount of the viewer's attention, then they aren't mistakes.

[JeffX99]

One also has to remember that Len Chmiel can kill a bear with his, well, bare hands. While painting. And drinking Pabst.

Edit: He literally does stuff like that road painting and snowy stream going to the corners just to piss people off. Do not fuck with him.

[manlybrian]

This is valuable too, I highly recommend it. Plus it supports CA.org. And hey, if you act now, you can take advantage of the $6.99 download sale! That's a freakin' good deal!

http://theartdepartment.org/download...ey-composition

[Farvus]

In the last months I was experimenting a lot with composition and I find that it's less about rules and more about occurences which you can use either for your advantage or against it.

[cro-magnon]

mmm, i likes them apples, dpaint. i could lick the paint right off that one.

[dpaint]

No. Stay away from Wet Canvas, wannabe's and amateurs. 90% of the people on there handing out advice aren't professional artists. As a couple of examples that contradict that stupidity here is Len Chmiel and Richard Schmid two of the best Landscape painters in America right now

[Venger]

No. Stay away from Wet Canvas, wannabe's and amateurs. 90% of the people on there handing out advice aren't professional artists. As a couple of examples that contradict that stupidity here is Len Chmiel and Richard Schmid two of the best Landscape painters in America right now

Sorry dpaint, both of those example follow their correct version (fig23) rather than fig 22 - I think they're talking about starting your line in the corner.

[dpaint]

Sorry dpaint, both of those example follow their correct version (fig23) rather than fig 22 - I think they're talking about starting your line in the corner.

So what. I can do this all day...more Schmid and Chmiel. Did I say amateurs, I meant rank amateurs

[Venger]

So what. I can do this all day...more Schmid and Chmiel. Did I say amateurs, I meant rank amateurs

Wasn't having a go, I was just pointing out your examples were flawed (in response to the original post)

[dpaint]

Wasn't having a go, I was just pointing out your examples were flawed (in response to the original post)

No problem.

The ideas laid out are just wrong; there are no rules in composition except this. You want to make the viewer look where you want them to look, how you achieve that is up to you. I can show you 100 bad paintings using "correct" compositional theory.

[Kamber Parrk]

So what. I can do this all day...more Schmid and Chmiel. Did I say amateurs, I meant rank amateurs

I haven't lurked that site in awhile. But, it's sort of like Deviant-Art-For-Elderly-People-Who-Like-To-Paint-From-Photographs.