COMPOSITION

art exercises
SWATCHES
CLINT CEARLEY

Preferably, print out this PDF

and complete with pencil or
pen. If printing is not an option,
use a digital painting program
with a pencil facsimile.
 SET 1
Exercises are provided in sets, with
each set progressing the difficulty of
the exercises.

POP QUIZ!
MOVIE MAGIC
PICTURE THAT
ADAPTATION
Pop Quiz! READ ME: Every time a new type of exercise is introduced it will
have an introduction page explaining the goals and common
mistakes. These pages are for instruction and example only, do
In the Pop Quiz exercises your not do the exercises on the intro pages as the same exercise will
retention and understanding immediately follow on its own page. All intro pages feature the tall
of the chapter information will vertical bar on the left so they are easy to identify.
be tested! You will be asked to
connect related information,
chart qualities and answer
multiple choice questions. In the
exercises exampled here, draw a
line connecting the action to its
effect].

CATEGORY: Composition
A TIGHT CROP MAKES SCENE MORE
PERSONAL
WHAT IT’S TEACHING: Memory TILTED CAMERA
retention and building mental
“composition profiles” LOOKING UP AT CREATES FEELING OF
CLAUSTROPHOBIA
TOOLS: pencil CHARACTER
STABILITY
CENTERED
COMPOSITION GIVES A SENSE OF
FLOW
LOOKING DOWN ON
CHARACTER ADDS POWER
CURVED PATTERN MAKES SCENE MORE
IMPERSONAL
CAMERA CLOSE TO
ACTION GIVES FEELING OF
WEAKNESS
CAMERA FAR FROM
ACTION SOMETHING IS "OFF"

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE PAGE, DON'T

DO THIS ONE. DO THE NEXT PAGE.
 Pop Quiz! Draw a line connecting the factor to its effect.

A TIGHT CROP MAKES SCENE MORE PERSONAL

TILTED CAMERA CREATES FEELING OF
CLAUSTROPHOBIA
LOOKING UP AT CHARACTER
STABILITY
LOOKING DOWN ON CHARACTER
GIVES A SENSE OF FLOW
CURVED PATTERN
ADDS POWER
CAMERA CLOSE TO ACTION
MAKES SCENE MORE IMPERSONAL
CAMERA FAR FROM ACTION
GIVES FEELING OF WEAKNESS
BALANCED COMPOSITION
SOMETHING IS "OFF"
IMBALANCED COMPOSITION
INSTABILITY, POTENTIAL ENERGY
BROKEN LINE-OF-SIGHT
DRAWS YOU INTO THE SCENE
OPEN LINE-OF-SIGHT
BLOCKS YOU OUT OF THE SCENE
ASSYMETRICAL COMPOSITION
LOW ENERGY
SYMMETRICAL COMPOSITION
HIGHER ENERGY
 This time, make a line from the mood to where you think it falls on a scale of energy.
Pop Quiz! I don’t provide an answer key to this as it is subjective. What is important here is
starting the practice of asking and answering the question.

HIGH ENERGY

PEACEFUL
MAGICAL
CHEERFUL
DYNAMIC
EPIC
NOIR
MYSTERIOUS
SURREAL
DRAMATIC
COOL
BLEAK
OMNINOUS
HORROR
GRITTY
OPPRESSIVE
CALM
BATTLE
QUIET
HOPEFUL
SAD
ADVENTURE

LOW ENERGY
Movie Magic THIS IS AN EXAMPLE PAGE, DON'T
There’s a lot to be learned from
DO THIS ONE. DO THE NEXT PAGE.
doing studies of cinema scenes.
Sketch the provided still below,
focusing on the composition and
simple values. Don’t be side-
tracked with details. Ask yourself
what emotion the image conveys
and capture that element. Block
close values together, simplifiying
the scene into 3-5 values.

CATEGORY: Composition and

values

WHAT IT’S TEACHING: How to

compose and light scenes for
emotional resonance

TOOLS: pencil or digital painting

program

Common Mistakes
• Detailing. Simplify the image,
don’t detail.
• Over-relying on lines instead of
value tones

I know the pictures and the the sketches don’t

match. Sketches are for execution reference only.
 Return of the King is a fantastic movie full of great shots to do studies from. Do
Movie Magic composition+value studies of the scenes in the blocks below.
Picture This THIS IS AN EXAMPLE PAGE, DON'T
DO THIS ONE. DO THE NEXT PAGE.
Sketching thumbnails is a big part
of being an artist since images
can be made or broken in the
initial concept phase. In Picture A frozen landscape with an arch
This you’ll be given a short scene structure. As a minor element,
description to sketch. You may
also be provided a compositional include a few figures. Scene
pattern or arrangement that the
image must use. These patterns
should be dramatic in tone.
are to give you a starting point
and push you to explore using
new compositional designs.
Canvas dimensions also affect
compositional decisions so you’ll
be working with a variety of
canvas shapes.
These thumbnails should be
simple with no detail and can be
with line only or with basic value
tones like in the previous Movie
Magic exercise.

CATEGORY: Composition

WHAT IT’S TEACHING: How to

compose scenes

TOOLS: pencil or digital painting

program
NOTE: As there is never just one way to compose a scene, you’ll be asked
to create multiple versions from the same description as seen above.

Common Mistakes
• Being to “sketchy” and loose with
your lines. Keep the sketch clean
and understandable.
• Forgetting the mood and how
to use composition to help
convey it.

Like the examples here, the sketches can be line-based and not include
shading or you can use simply values like the Movie Magic exercises.
 Sketch the scene from the provided description in the boxes
Picture This below following the compositional pattern being shown.

A frozen landscape with

an arch structure. As a
minor element, include a
few figures. Scene should
be dramatic in tone.

Focal points should

align to one of the
third intersections
 Using the scene from the photo as a starting point create
Adaptation versions following the directions under the boxes.

Ground is water with ships and a lighthouse - Adventure Alien planet variation - Ominous

Scifi scene, mountain is now a

building in a city - Cool

Add a sinister tower and lava - Knight foreground with dragon

Dangerous on mountain - Tense
 Sketch the scene from the provided description in the boxes below following
Picture This the compositional pattern being shown.

A river delta with rock

formations and a large
statue. Image should be
peaceful in tone.

Symmetrical Asymmetrical
 SET 2
Now that you’re familiar with the
collection of exercises, let’s step
them up!

POP QUIZ!
MOVIE MAGIC
PICTURE THIS
MASTER STUDY
ADAPTATION
Pop Quiz! Match the moods to their factors. Remember, some may have multiple answers.

PEACEFUL HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT

MAGICAL ANGLED ALIGNMENT
CHEERFUL LOOKING UP
DYNAMIC LOOKING DOWN
EPIC
LEVEL CAMERA
NOIR
TILTED CAMERA
MYSTERIOUS
SURREAL TIGHT CROP
DRAMATIC WIDE CROP
COOL HIGH ENERGY
BLEAK LOW ENERGY
OMNINOUS SYMMETRICAL
HORROR ASYMMETRICAL
GRITTY
CURVED PATTERN
OPPRESSIVE
RADIATING PATTERN
BATTLE
HOPEFUL CLOSE TO SUBJECT
SAD FAR FROM SUBJECT
ADVENTURE
Pop Quiz! Without looking back at the list, how many Eye Magnets can you recall?

LIST EYE MAGNETS

 Return to the moon of Pandora in these dynamic scenes. Do composition+value
Movie Magic studies of the scenes in the blocks below. No details, pencil or greyscale digital.
 Same as Movie Magic but now we’re doing studies from classical art.
Master Study Do composition+value studies of the scenes in the blocks, no details.
 Sketch the scene from the provided description in the boxes below following
Picture This the compositional pattern being shown.

A desert landscape with A hero stands before an

a tower structure. Small ancient temple. Tone
figures investigate. should be omninous.
Adventure tone.
 Using the scene from the photo as a starting point create
Adaptation versions following the directions under the boxes.

Gothic horror

All nature, nothing man-made - Peaceful

Cyberpunk

Adventure scene with waterfalls Magical with wizards

 Bookcovers are interesting to layout as you have to leave room for the text
Bookcover (represented by the faint grey boxes). All crucial information should be outside
of those boxes. Design cover following the descriptions under the boxes.

Starship nearing a starbase

Elf and wolf pet in threatening forest

Child sits on the shoulders or head of a large robot

 SET 3
Now that you’re familiar with the
collection of exercises, let’s step
them up!

MOVIE MAGIC
PICTURE THIS
ADAPTATION
 Sketch the scene from the provided description in the boxes below following
Picture This the compositional pattern being shown.

A medieval public square A princess in a Victorian

that is overgrown and palace with abundant
mysterious. flowers. Cheerful tone.

Tilted camera Low camera angle

 Cyberpunk at its finest in Blade Runner. Do composition+value studies of the
Movie Magic scenes in the blocks below. No details, pencil or greyscale digital.
 Using the scene from the photo as a starting point create
Adaptation versions following the directions under the boxes.

Surreal, dream-like scene Gritty war scene

Epic monster vs. city

Bleak forgotten city with High camera view looking down

wandering figures
Picture This Sketch the scene from the provided description in the boxes.

A female explorer Downtown metropolis that

examines a skeleton in is overgrown in a post-
a frozen landscape. apocalyptic scene.
 Create your own scenes using one of the provided letters
Picture This or numbers as a compositional design.
 Bookcovers are interesting to layout as you have to leave room for the text
Cover Job (represented by the faint grey boxes). All crucial information should be outside
of those boxes. Design cover following the descriptions under the boxes.

Crashed spacescraft on the surface of the alien planet

Medieval old king sitting on a throne

Shadowed fortress atop a cliff with the sea below

 Like bookcovers, game boxes are interesting to layout as you have to leave
Cover Job room for the text (represented by the faint grey boxes). Design cover following
the descriptions under the boxes.

Treasure chest with treasure spilling out. Exciting in tone.

Kaiju fighting massive steampunk knight. Epic in tone.

High view looking down of man building top of castle tower. Impressive in tone.