“The first decisions. Before a brush ever touches canvas or paper, there are three fundamental kinds of decisions to be made:
- WHAT is the subject of your picture?
- WHY did you respond to that particular subject?
- HOW should that subject be presented in terms of composition, color, lighting, pattern, or design, and technical methods.
(E. B. Paraphrased) . . . Ask yourself . . . what are you most concerned with. Is it beauty? The message? Or is it the color, light, pattern, space, weather, mood, or shape relationship?”
Excerpt taken from Edward Betts’ Studio Notes — on Design and Composition
Me: It’s good food for thought before launching into a painting.