Quotes on Composition from "Composition of Outdoor Painting" by Edgar Payne

"Blue Canyon" by Edgar Payne

"A fine painting is a composite of all its factors and influences.  Bringing these together, to form this composite, creates the process of composing. Hence the study of composition is a matter of studying art and all of its factors and influences."

 "Compositional stems in pictures serve the same purpose as armatures in sculpture... With iron pipe and wire, the sculptor builds his central supporting framework, indicating the proportions and direction of the main lines or angles of the plan. To this he adds the principal masses, and finally the smaller planes or more subtle modeling... As a matter of fact, in sculpture this stem is a concrete reality, while in painting merely its principle is observed."

"It is a very good practice for every student to make a collection of reproductions of paintings; hundreds can be accumulated. A large variety of compositional plans is a liberal education to anyone studying art. Seeing the pictorial ideas of others gives confidence and encouragement, and a respect for the profession of artist."

"The first and last thing to consider is the instinctive feeling for balance. The more this can be exercised, the more pleasing will be the harmony."

"Compositional stems should be considered as a means to an end rather than an objective in themselves. Therefore, they should be valued only for their place and limitations - then utilized with a happy anticipation of their worth and possibilities."

To be continued