Great demonstration! I wouldn’t have thought that the mundane unassuming scene would result in such a beautiful painting! Truly magical ! Thank you so much ❤

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Thank you very much. So glad you liked it Susan.

Another fantastic demo, especially going from an ordinary scene to a magnificent painting. Lots to learn from this one! Thanks Ian

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Many thanks Leslie. All the best

I remember finding your videos many years ago and since then you have been one of my favorite art teachers. You deserve more engagement!

Just the aspect of the process needed! Great way to kick off a creative week and month. Always with thanks!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it Cameron. All the best

Your centre of interest is also in the golden mean sweet spot! Love it! Thank you Ian!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Hi Richard I didn't actually think of that until you pointed it out. Best wishes.

Among your finest works, Ian. The impression of light is superb on this one.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it and thank you so much Jimmy

hi Ian! working in real-estate marketing, the physical medium is exotic to me. we do, however, prepare colour compositions for the clients and i find your videos most informative. cup of green tea and one of your videos to set the tone for a serene, creative day. since your series on simplifying, i got interested in notan, got a brush marker and sketch occasionally. it's incredible, how powerful the tonal structure is in conveying a strong composition, even if it's not so obvious after the colour production. thank you for sharing your knowledge, and infusing a whole new dimension of inspiration into someones professional life! best, - raf

A great demonstration, Ian! Thank you! Proves the point of learning to see the Grand Canyon at our back yard!❣️❣️❣️

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Exactly. So glad you found it helpful. All the best

It’s all about the light in this painting. Thank you for sharing yet another excellent demonstration.!❤👍

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for watching. All the best.

You demonstrated how even a mundane scene can be really great using the compositional principles you always bring home to us-plus the play of light and dark and warm and cool. I am so glad you’ve given us another monthly video. Thank you!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

My pleasure Lillian. Thank you for watching

Such great instruction! And your painting thoroughly demonstated your point that the light makes the painting, not the subject. Thank you!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much Joanne. Glad you enjoyed it

Fabulous painting! Beautiful! And such a helpful commentary and instructive video. Thank you so much! 🤗🎨

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

My pleasure Dianne. All the best

What a great demonstration! Your demonstration of what seem to be simple techniques, create an amazing painting. Thank you!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much!

Thank you so much Ian for another great demo. My goodness you are confident and brave when painting vertical and horizontal lines in one stroke.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

You are very welcome Julie. Glad you liked watching

Excellent demo… I’m so pleased you touched on street markings, poles and signs, as I recently dealt with this very subject and needed to see how you so masterfully dealt with it… 🙏🎨🇿🇦

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

So glad you found it helpful Franco. It's great when the timing works out like that.

Terrific teacher! Very grateful!!

Always learning when watching you teach, Mr. Roberts!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Thanks so much Dianne. Delighted you enjoyed it

Thank you so much for this amazing demo, Ian. So much to learn from you! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful Kamlesh. Thank you for watching

It is so wonderful to watch you paint!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

Thanks.

Another fantastic Demo Ian and the light that you’ve pulled in, so wonderfully painted… sometimes you look out for what you would like to paint,but can’t see anything, except it’s right under your nose…. Thank you Ian.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

That is well put. How often do we pass (attention elsewhere) something gripping if only seen more deeply. Best wishes.

Very nice painting! It really conveys the sense of the setting sun illuminating the trees in the background.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much Douglass

非常喜欢您对绘画的理解以及无私的奉献，感恩!

PARABÉNS PROF. SUA AULA ESTÁ MUITO BEM EXPLICADA. VOU TENTAR FAZER IGUAL. GRATO

Great demo packed full of information. Great, I learn something every time!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Wonderful. So glad you liked it

Happy New Year Ian! This is my favorite video you have put up to date. Very good explanation of the construct of design!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Hi Yolanda, I am delighted you liked it. My very best wishes for your 2024 as well.

Fantastic.....totally agree .....design is the key!......great lesson thanks!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it. Thank you Paul

Thank you so much for this fun and inspiring video! You are a great gift and so generous with your time and talent. Love this painting!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

You are so welcome Mary! Thank you

Thank you! My current painting has great subject matter but will greatly improve with more value contrast, inspired by you.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

Good luck with that Margaret. All the best.

Always such a pleasure to spend some time in your company, even if it is only on video. Thank you as always.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Delighted you enjoyed our time together.Stephen With best wishes.

Fantastic demo! I really see the design elements and your use of value and temperature to aid the design as well as your shapes and horizontals and verticals. This demo really pulls together all, your designing a composition ideas. Also love your use of Pthalo green! Remarkable job. Great teaching as well as painting!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Thanks so much Mary. Delighted you enjoyed it.

These demos help so much. Thank you.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad you like them. Thank you for watching

Beautiful painting! thanks for the demonstration.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it. You are very welcome

Just brilliant as usual, thank you so much Ian.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it Teresa. Thank you

🌞 Dear Ian, your painting brings me tears of joy, beautiful, beautiful, thank you! It makes me think how gigantic the role of art still is. As the best tool to transform, for the better, the reality around us, the reality inside us. Aren't all the challenges of today, even the technical ones, deeply humanistic and therefore artistic? Kind regards, with a luminous sunset from Brazil.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Thanks so much. And I agree - that search for connection and resonance I think does make a difference. All the best

Another wonderful demo, Ian. For me, the drama is all in the lights and shadows as you so well illustrate. May I recommend another painter (French) who works in a similar style (but with no commentary): Christian Arnould. He has KZread videos worth watching.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed the demo. I'll look up Christian. Thanks for the recommendation. Best wishes.

amazing demonstration Ian and beautifully explained!!!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it Paresh. Thank you

As others have mentioned, I too would have not given that scene a second glance. Other than the contrasts. Simply wouldnt have seen the whole. Yet you saw it, explained your vision and shared your creating of it. Wow and thank you.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

Thank you so much. I am glad you enjoyed watching it. All the very best.

Thank you for sharing insights that I can immediately try to apply!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

You're so welcome Robert. Glad you enjoyed it.

What a fantastic demonstration. Thank you. I learn something new with each post.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

That makes me very happy to hear. Thank you

Great as always.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Thanks so much

absolutely beautiful!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much Danny

It seems to be sooo simple. Your paintings make me speechless because of these wonderful complex colours. So powerful ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ thank you and greetings from Germany, Düsseldorf.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for watching. Glad you liked it!

It’s beautiful Ian. I was all the time thinking that the bushes on the left were too light but in the end it looks perfect. I wonder wether some texture in the road could help without distracting. Very inspiring thank you

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

Thank you. I am so glad you liked it

Wow great painting Ian , and as always great instruction , I am blessed by your generosity , I hope the flood damage is not in your area , Craig

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Hi Craig, thank you and yes we are high but not quite dry. But all is well in our household. Thanks for asking. Best wishes.

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

You are so welcome Joanne

Great ideas about design structure. Thanks for helping me to see it.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful Sharon. All the best.

Loved watching this process

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

so glad to hear that. All the best

The world is more beautiful through your eyes!!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

Thanks Linda.

A lovely painting Ian - this ordinary scene when lit in an exciting way is very evokative - many thanks

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it Peter. All the best

Ian thanks again for this beautiful demonstration

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks so much.

Thank you so much, for that video.

Great demonstration! Thank you!!!❤

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful Denise

Like you have stressed many times before, design, design, design. Making things look easy, comes after the sweat of finding the right subject and then designing it. Then the fun part begins. Thank you, Ian.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

That's it Dennis. All the best.

I love how you "romance the ordinary" by seeing and creating those strong shapes out of a munndane view. Genius!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

I like that expression "romance the ordinary."

@paintlady2268

4 ай бұрын

Love that . . . 'romance the ordinary'!

Thank you Ian.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

You are welcome Joyce. All the best.

Beautiful piece, well done.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Thank you very much Leon

Fabulous - wonderful explanation!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Very Maxwell Parish. Thank You !!!

Excellent demo. Thank you

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it

Great teaching Work, Mr. Roberts Best wishes from Germany

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much Thomas. All the very best.

Beautiful, Ian

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching.

Great painting Ian. Inspiring! Have you ever applied your composition rules to an abstract painting? I’m not an abstract artist myself but in my art development classes I run with young ones, I’m letting them play with colour, texture, line etc. I talk about having the most contrast mainly on the centre of attention, and flow of light and shapes through the paintings etc. Just wondering if you have demonstrated an abstract one before? If not I would love you to show us how you would go about it. There is so much to this painting business isn’t there, that’s what makes it so interesting. Cheers 😊

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Hi Meg, I used to make large abstract paintings back in the 80s. I don't now but I would say the ideas of compositional structure, Ior myself at least, I would need to apply them to an abstract painting as well. For me abstraction is more of a removing from a representational image than just starting to put paint on a canvas and see where it leads. I know a lot of abstraction is done that way. But I'm not sure it is my way. But I hope you are having fun with your classes. Sounds like fun.

you are a master, sir ian :) i became more enganged to arts than before bc of you.. thank you

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

So delighted to hear that. Thanks so much for watching

very nicely explained thought process. thanks. it feels a lot like a puzzle.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

It can be sort of like a puzzle. I hope this video helped you. All the best

Very cool, thank You!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it. Thank you for watching Viktor

You never disappoint. Great lesson 😊

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad to hear that. Thanks Mary

Beautiful, thank you!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

You're very welcome Kevin. Thanks for watching

Great mastery ❤

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

thanks so much

Superb sir as always. You exactly know where to put what and how much. That's the whole game. But it requires a vast experience of a master like you are. Hat's off sir. Warm regards.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

Thank you so much. I am glad you enjoyed watching the process.

Beautifully simplified

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad you think so

INSPIRING, INSTRUCTIVE & INTERESTING!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Thanks so much

nicely done ! i would not have thought of the size of canvas

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Thanks Robbie. Glad you liked it

Very informative . Thanks for sharing.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Great demonstration

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

Delighted you enjoyed it. All the best.

Thanks for this nice and informative demonstration. It's interesting to see how you mixed the colors for the sunny parts. Have you thought about removing or changing the white marking line on the parking area? I mean changing the position with 90°, so that this line would introduce and guide your eye into the painting. Just my personal feeling 🙂

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed the video. I didn't think of putting that line 90 degrees to where it is. The road going back did that enough I thought and the horizontal line helps slow us down from being pulled to the back of the road to quickly. At least in my view.

Excellent demonstration

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

wonderful

Excellent demonstration Ian. Do you oil out the surface before starting with the second layer?

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

Thank you. I didn't oil out. I just head straight in on the second layer. My first layer is pretty thin (thinned with mineral spirits) the second layer thick and I am covering the whole surface again. So really I am not "interacting" the first with the second layer. I am just covering it. All the best.

You are sutch a god teatcher! To simplefly means everything!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

thank you so much

Looks fun.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Thank you

Amazing ❤

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much

I enjoy all your videos. In this painting I would say the bright warm tree shape contrasting with the cool rest of the area is what grabs your attention to start with. Then the focal point becomes the two signs. Your eye bounces back and forth to each one. Since you don’t land in one place it is not satisfying. There is nothing to really hold your interest ultimately.

@simonestreeter1518

3 ай бұрын

It's a great exercise, but doesn't imply a story.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

I'm not sure I'd want someone to end up in one place as if it were a final destination. The point I think is to lead them somewhere but give them pathways out to travel around the painting some more and again be led back to that spot.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

I'm not sure if by implying a story you mean it needs figures or something. I think there are two kinds of narrative. One of the language of paint itself, design, structure, value masses etc and the second is perhaps the idea of story as an implied tale. Not sure you always need both.

@simonestreeter1518

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the interesting discussion! I've been thinking about what makes me continue to enjoy a painting, and it seems to be an implied story, not requiring figures. The sense that something has happened, or is ready to happen. I know it's vague, sorry. The language of paint itself is very striking to me when I view a work in person, but that easily gets lost when you have to buy prints. I consider design and structure as technique or tools.@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

Bravo!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

Thank you George. Best wishes.

The main lesson here is that sound composition can make even boring subjects powerfully engaging. Respectfully, one suggestion I would make is that the curves of the sidewalk and the painted line feel a bit "flabby". I feel the painting would be greatly strengthened by constructing those long curves out of several shorter straight segments. The eye will still read them as curves, but they will feel much more sturdy.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Good advice. All the best.

Hi Ian, Just another question? I really love foggy morning paintings. Just wondering if you have any demo’s around this? 😊

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

The problem is I live in LA and we don't get fog like that very often. Not never but not often and it burns off quickly. So I don't. But if I find myself with a scene or photo that would lend itself to that I'll do it. All the best.

Gracias Ian. Una pregunta: siempre el punto focal o el punto de interés máximo en una pintura, sería la ubicación de la palmera? Al tercio y en el horizonte aproximadamente?

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

I tend to use a simple structure: a horizontal (often the horizon line) and I look for a strong vertical (the palm tree and edge of sidewalk in this panting) that meet at the focal point. Obviously there will be exceptions. But that is what is happening here. Even though the beautiful warm light might seem like the focal point, structurally I think it is the smaller palm tree in shadow just below the lit one. It does in this case fall on the third. But usually if I can I try and push the focal point out past the third so there is more tension. I hope that all makes sense. All the best. Translated to Spanish using google translate (I am sorry about any mistakes): Tiendo a usar una estructura simple: una horizontal (a menudo la línea del horizonte) y busco una vertical fuerte (la palmera y el borde de la acera en este jadeo) que se encuentran en el punto focal. Evidentemente habrá excepciones. Pero eso es lo que está pasando aquí. Aunque la hermosa luz cálida pueda parecer el punto focal, estructuralmente creo que es la palmera más pequeña en la sombra justo debajo de la iluminada. En este caso recae en el tercero. Pero normalmente, si puedo, intento empujar el punto focal más allá del tercero para que haya más tensión. Espero que todo tenga sentido. Mis mejores deseos.

Interessting demo, painting made me think of Edward Hopper

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Thank you John. Kind of you to say

Thank you! I really enjoy every video you upload. Does it sometimes happen to you that you make a sketch / thumbnail of a scene, and after thinking it all through (the composition, values, etc), you lose interest in it? Because it is in a way "a solved case" to you, even though it has a good structure and it could be made into a good painting. Just wondering, what is the approximate ratio of thumbnails to real paintings in your case?

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

I usually only start a thumbnail in anticipation of painting. It is quick, like jotting down an intention. I’m fired up and ready to paint and this is like a roadmap to make sure I’m heading in the right direction. I might have to make adjustments to the thumbnail before starting. But with thumbnails the drawing itself is not for the drawing, but just as an aid before starting to paint. So nothing gets dissipated in that process. Thumbnails would be close to 100%. Now exploring a drawing for it’s own sake, something more finished, that is a completely different story. I might not start a drawing with any intention of turning that into a painting. I just wanted to draw. Sometimes it leads me to realize I’d like to paint it too. Sometimes I, as you express, feel I’ve got as much out of it as I can and don’t want to paint it. When you get to the drawings because they can play their own role independent of making paintings of them, it gets harder to think in terms of percentages. Hope that helps. All the best.

@helene9947

3 ай бұрын

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Thank you so much for answering me, Ian, I really appreciate it. You explained it very well. In fact that inspires me not to give up that easily, but to aim to move from thumbnails to finished paintings in most cases, too. Wishing you all the best from Valencia, Spain.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

Wonderful Helene. That makes me really happy to hear - don't give up. I hope you have fun with it. All the best. @@helene9947

Lovely

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

Thank you.

Completely disagree with the previous comment! Beautiful painting from an unassuming scene. But those lit trees certainly would have caught my eye. By the way, thanks so much for the heads up about the Blackwing Matte pencils! Have completely transformed my drawing!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

I disagree too. And I am delighted you like the pencils. They are the best. All the best

Super 👍

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Thank you!

yeah I totally see the design is way more important

Do you have any tips on how to get started? I have all the paints, canvas and materials I need....but I feel stuck on how to just start painting!

@user-hl9ts9wu1r

4 ай бұрын

Посмотрите "8 1/2" Феллини и вы поймёте , что вы не одинок. Успехов!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

HI Carla, Two things. The fear of starting is always there. For me too. You just have to push through that. Once you do start things start to flow and you wonder why you put up so many internal barriers. I call that the Dance of Avoidance in my book Creative Authenticity. We all go through it. We just learn over time to navigate it better. And two, perhaps start smaller. drawings, of household things. Look at the work of Dike Blaire. Just simple paintings and drawings of household things. Keep it simple, and good luck. That fear is the #1 killer of creativity. So I would say just dive in and see what happens. What can go wrong? I'm half joking on that one. All the best.

@carlamariestudios

4 ай бұрын

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Thank you for your advice. I will start with some drawings first of simple items as you suggest... I ordered your book and I'm sure that will help as well! Thank you again and happy painting!!

@carlamariestudios

4 ай бұрын

I will watch this movie when I can, thank you!@@user-hl9ts9wu1r

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

You're very welcome. I hope you have fun with it. And I hope my book helps too. All the best. @@carlamariestudios

Is the sketch behind you in the opening you or (possibly) David Gilmour?

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

I think anything on that wall would be mine.

@bakersdirtydozen

3 ай бұрын

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition - Sorry Ian. I meant is it a drawing of you or, of Gilmour. It's a great drawing either way.

Salamat po

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

you're welcome!

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching

Excelent class! How.much time did you wait to paint the second layer? Thanks for your help!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

That's a touch one. Probably an hour to an hour and a half. But then I sit and look at and make small adjustments. And so the "time" part gets harder to judge. I spend time letting the painting talk back to me, letting it tell me what needs adjusting. That sort of takes it's own time over a few days. Each thing I notice and the adjustment itself may only take a couple of minutes. So the actual time the brush is on the canvas is not the best measure of how long. Hope that makes sense. All the best.

@henriquejanuario881

4 ай бұрын

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Thanks for your fast answer!

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

you're very welcome @@henriquejanuario881

"Man made, I mean - person made ... " - that was funny...lol

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

Why not keep the cars? They do add interest, unless you are simply more interested in the foliage.

@IanRobertsMasteringComposition

3 ай бұрын

Hi Finn, I just didn't want to deal them - too much trouble for no return is sort of the way I think of it.