Robert Henri said “a good painting is a remarkable feat of organization.” Get ready to hunker down and explore the first and foremost demand of picture making – good design. Composition is not simply being able to fit the subject matter on the canvas. Good composition is creating a beautiful and dynamic visual statement through the adaptation of an intentional plan – a coordination of parts to produce a harmonious whole. Intent and purpose trumps all in the planning of a painting. The students will be seated at tables and will work on a series of exercises with a variety of mediums. Students will go on an exploration of all the principles of design: proportion, dominance, subordination, movement, creating emphasis, and space, all as a means to an end. Students will exploit the elements of art: value, line, texture, shape and color in their search for a UNITY OF EFFECT. Students will also come to understand that the viewer can only infer the intent of the painter from the evidence displayed in the design of the painting. Buckle up and get ready for a fast-paced ride through a land of creative and artistic invention. www.susandiehl.com