Composition is technical, creative, and incredibly subjective. Marshall teaches us how to learn composition and suggests artists and resources that will help you learn more about it. Marshall talks about breaking apart master paintings to learn how to compose, focal points, contrasts, metaphors, harmonic armatures like the golden ratio, among many other things. Marshall has years of experience teaching this subject so there's a lot to absorb and be inspired by when it comes to composition.

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References and books

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Edgar Payne: Composition of Outdoor Painting
The Elements of Dynamic Symmetry by Jay Hambidge
Pattern and Design with Dynamic Symmetry by Edward B. Edwards
Drawing Lessons From the Great Masters by Robert Beverly Hale
Picture This by Molly Bang
Framed Ink by Marcos Mateu-Mestre

Referenced Artists:

Erik Gist

Golden Ratio

Myron Barnstone

Rembrandt

John Constable

Norman Rockwell

Hogarth’s hand proportions guideline

Alphonse Mucha

Frank Frazetta

Francisco Goya

Howard Pyle

Rachel Morales’ tonal studies (2 tone and 3 tone)

Jessica Nguyen’s tonal studies of Harvey Dunn and Howard Pyle

John Singer Sargent

Winslow Homer

Käthe Kollwitz

Frank Brangwyn

Harvey Dunn

Gustave Doré

Edgar Degas

Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot

Steve Shriver

NC Wyeth

Wayne Thiebaud

H.R. Giger

Joe Madureira