Visual Communication 5 / Visual Techniques 3

PRINCIPLES OF COMPOSITION
Prepared by: Arch. Giancarlo B. Aycardo, UAP
 PRE-LECTURE ACTIVITY:
CRITIQUE OF FRAMING AND
COMPOSITIONS
PART I: STRUCTURES AND THE
EXPERIENCE OF THE BUILT
ENVIRONMENT
 PART II: APPROACH TO
PRESENTATION BOARDS
COMPOSITION
The arrangement of elements in a work.

Focus: is there a focal point?

Organization: is the composition crowded?
Open? Varied? Repetitious?
View point: How does your viewpoint affect
the work?
ELEMENTS OF COMPOSITION
Line – basic element; can be used to create more complex
shapes or to lead your eye from one area in the composition
to another;

Value – the degree of light and dark in a design. The contrast

between black and white and all tones in between;

Shapes – the combination of lines, which can produce

organic, or geometric shapes;

Form – Three-dimensional shapes with length, width, and

depth;

Space – area between and around objects;

Color- differentiates and defines lines, shapes, form and

space;

Texture – the surface quality that can be seen and felt.

PRINCIPLES OF
COMPOSITION
(Glatstein, 2009)

1. Balance
2. Contrast
3. Movement
4. Emphasis
5. Pattern
6. Proportion
7. Unity
Balance is created in a work of art when
textures, colors, forms, or shapes are
combined harmoniously.
Contrast makes use of several elements of
design to hold the viewer’s attention and guide the
viewer’s eye through the artwork.
Movement
is the way a viewer’s eye is
directed to move through a
composition, often to areas of
emphasis. Movement can be
directed by lines, contrasting
shapes, or colors within the
artwork.
 Emphasis
is created when
the artists
contrasts the
elements to direct
your viewing
towards a
particular part of
the image.
Pattern
uses the repetition of
an element across a
work of art.
Proportion is the sizing of elements in a
work of art and their harmonious
combination.
Unity is created
when the principles
of composition are
in harmony.
Compositional
Techniques
(O’Carrol 2022)
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/7d/90/ac/7d90ac0ce394040505c195d10f7ec831.jpg

The Rule of Thirds:

The placement of important elements of the scene
along one or more lines or where their
intersections are.
 https://i.pinimg.com/564x/a1/57/f1/a157f1b9c6c620076c0acefe507a641a.jpg

Centering/
Centered composition
& symmetry
Symmetrical scenes
places elements in the
center of the frame.
Foreground
focus
Including
some
foreground
interest adds
a sense of
depth to the
scene.
 Frame
within the
frame
another way
of portraying
depth by the
use of
framing
elements.
 Leading lines
Uses the leading elements of
the composition to direct
focus into a subject.
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c6/c6/b6/c6c6b60858d1373539c71c9d145051f5.jpg
 Diagonals and Triangles
Incorporating triangles into a
scene is an effective way of
introducing dynamic tension.
 Patterns and textures
Patterns are visually attractive and suggest
harmony. Incorporating patterns is a good way
to create a pleasing composition.
 “Break the
Pattern”
Making elements
stands out from a
composition due
to its contrast
with a patterned
environment.
Simplicity and
Minimalism
Uncomplicated
backgrounds that don’t
distract from the main
subject. Focusing on a
particular detail.
Negative Space

Leaving a lot of
empty or negative
space around the
subject creates
simplicity and
minimalism.
Filling the Frame

Leaving little or no space

around a subject helps
focus the viewer
completely on the main
subject without any
distractions.
 Viewpoint
Manipulating viewpoint for low
or high point of view.
 Contrast of Color

Color combinations
(complimentary) create striking
compositions.
The Rule of Space
Relates to the direction the
subject in your photo is facing
or moving towards.
Balancing Elements
Using a secondary subject of
lesser importance or size on
the other side of the frame to
balance out the composition.
 Juxtaposition
The inclusion of two or
more elements in a scene
that can contrast or
complement each other.
 Golden Triangles
Works similar with the rule of
thirds but using a diagonal line
with two smaller lines dividing the
frame into a series of triangles.
 Golden Ratio
Use of the Phi Grid to
position and frame different
compositional elements.
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/95/4f/f4/954ff43ea8ec6285edacc837dcc97876.jpg
 Using layers
The use of layers of
elements to heighten the
sense of depth.
Compositional Techniques Can
be Applied in the Arrangement
of Elements in a Concept Board.

• Focus/ Focal Perspective

• Experiential Views
• Textual Descriptions
• Strategic arrangement
SOME CASE STUDIES
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT (DIAGNOSTIC EXERCISE)

QUICK SKETCH

Applying the principles of composition and framing of views, render a

quick sketch (may be freehand) of any building type with its
environment using at least two mediums (mixed media).
Visual Communication 5 / Visual Techniques 3
MIXED MEDIA RENDERING
Prepared by: Arch. Giancarlo B. Aycardo, UAP
Exploring Architectural Styles
The Range of
Artistic Styles
as applied to
Architectural
Rendering

Too much expressive artistry is not good. The end goal is to produce comprehensible work.
 THE RANGE OF ARCHITECTURAL
VISUAL STYLES
Outline Sketch Monochromatic
Sketch styles
• Relies on hard outlines that define
the textures, shadows, and at
times, lighting effects.
• May be plain wash to determine
the color of the surface
• Generating volumetric forms
Polychromatic - Sketch Polychromatic-realistic
Realistic Styles
• Relies on lighting effects
• Color value applications are required
• Textures rely on color values and the
applicator techniques (i.e., brush)
• Articulating forms to simulate real-life
objects
Mixed media art refers to a visual
art form that combines a variety of
media in a single artwork. For
example, if you draw with ink, then
paint over it with watercolor/oil.
Mixed media is flexible, and depends on
the properties of the medium used, in
relation to the drawing/art canvas.

• Wet and dry medium

• Water-based and oil-based
• Brush-applied and stylus-applied
• Two-dimensional and three-dimensional
COMPATIBLE MEDIA:

• Acrylic + Watercolor (opaque vs. transparent)

• Oil paint + Oil pastel (oil-based, textural)
• Watercolor (wash application) + Coloring pencil (texturing)
• Watercolor (texturing *& detail) + Alcohol Markers (wash)
• Watercolor (color) + pen and ink (outline detailing)
• Watercolor (color) + colored pencils (outline detailing)
• Alcohol markers (wash) + coloring pens (texture) + pen &
ink detail & outline)
• And many other combinations.
Wet and dry media: This is when wet media
(such as acrylic paint, watercolor, ink, or other
liquid media) combine with dry media (oil pastels,
graphite, crayon). An example is layering a pencil
drawing on top of a painting.
THINGS TO
CONSIDER:
• Chronology of media application
• Drying time of each medium
• Medium compatibility
• Applicator properties
(brush/pen tip)
As applied to perspective renderings, the
balance of the two mediua can be made
flexible and may depend on personal style
and preference.
The dry outline sketch (pen) may be informal
(freehand) or formal (using straight lines
produced by drafting tools).
Color rendering of the watercolor may
also be informal (splatters or scumbles)
or formal (flat or graded) washes.
The articulation of forms may be balanced between
pen and ink and the watercolor application.
Or the watercolor may articulate the drawing by
means of brushwork techniques.
In some styles, the pen and ink may dictate the texture,
shadowing, and articulation of lighting effects.
Detailed outlines of the structure and entourage may be
employed and applied with basic watercolor washes.
Or the general drawing outlines (pen & ink) may be
discreet by means of the control of line weights.
Pen and ink line weights may define
the focus of the drawing composition.
ALCOHOL MARKERS
aka art markers

Is an instant, versatile drawing

medium that uses alcohol-based
inks set in a cartridge and applied
by felt-tip applicators within the
unit.

Alcohol markers produce smooth,

vivid colors and dry very quickly,
making it a favorite drawing
medium due to its efficiency.
Alcohol markers typically has a
fine tip on one end, and a broad
(chisel) tip on the other.

Fine tip is used for applications requiring uniform,

consistent lines (i.e., detail work) , while the chisel
tip is reserved for broad coloring and applications
requiring varying line forms (i.e., wash or
shadowing)
Basic technical consideration
for the use of alcohol markers
as a coloring medium:

• Manner of application
(as coloring tool or as detailing tool)
• Color layering
• Ink drying time
• Compatibility with line drawing
• Paper texture
 The main consideration for
application is that each stroke
produces a uniform color.

The main consideration for

application is that each stroke
produces a uniform color.
With the fine-tip point,
alcohol markers could use pencil and pen
& ink techniques i.e., hatching and cross-
hatching, scribbling, and stippling
technique.

With these, texture can be

simulated/defined, and could contribute
to the detailing of the work.
Alcohol markers most commonly rely on a
prepared line drawings (most preferably, in
alcohol or water-based ink).

The most common application technique is

color layering by use of the chisel-tip point.

Layering is a repeated application

of color or another, to achieve a
darker, more vivid value.
It could be applied supplementing as broad washes to pen and
ink sketches, or, like watercolor add stylistic effect by irregular
texture-producing forms achieved by the chisel-tip point.
 Shadows and shades are
defined primarily by the
grey palette.

Subtle and smooth color transition that

produces gradient could be achieved by the
use of a colorless blender, applied while the
layer of ink is still wet.
To produce a gloss-effect on some textures, a
fine-tipped white highlight pen could be used.
Colored Pencils
are art media constructed of a narrow,
pigmented core encased in a wooden
cylindrical case.
Unlike graphite and charcoal pencils,
colored pencils' cores are wax- or oil-
based and contain varying proportions
of pigments, additives, and binding agents.
Application techniques
rely on the hardness of
stroke, the direction of
the lines, and broad
coloring.

Similarly, colored
pencils could use
pencil rendering
techniques, with the
special techniques
such as overlay,
burnishing, and
scumbling.
Plate No.1

Compositional layout ‘Mixed Media rendering’

Select an online general scene and choose a specific scene to render. In an A3
paper with a standard title block, draw and render the (colored) such scene
using at least one (1) compositional technique discussed.
The work shall be done in mixed-media rendering using your choice of at least
two (2) coloring media. A brief writeup (3-4 sentences max) discussing the
compositional technique used shall be included.
Plate No.1.

Compositional layout ‘Mixed Media rendering’

Select an online general scene and choose a specific scene to render. In an A3
paper with a standard title block, draw and render the (colored) such scene
using at least one (1) compositional technique discussed.
The work shall be done in mixed-media rendering using your choice of at least
two (2) coloring media. A brief writeup (3-4 sentences max) discussing the
compositional technique used shall be included.
 Framed scene for render

Reference General Scene

Page to be submitted along with the final output.

Guidelines:
1. The A3 paper drawing space should be maximized.
2. Frame your chosen view.
3. Plan out your approach first in terms of the layout of elements.
4. The text explanation should be well integrated into the scene
5. The work shall be evaluated with the following criteria:
Sketch work & Rendering 50%
Layout and Composition 40%
Textual description 10%
100%
END OF LECTURE
Thank you very much for listening!