The composition serves as the most important component necessary for the organization of any kind of art forms - volumetric, graphic or literary. This element allows you to give the work unity and integrity, subordinating all its details to each other, correlating them with the general idea of the artist.
What in this case relates to a decorative composition? This is a composition that has a high degree of expressiveness. At the same time, it includes elements of abstraction and stylization, which greatly enhances its emotional and sensory perception.
A decorative composition is created in order to achieve the maximum expressiveness of the image. To obtain the desired result, the artist partially or completely refuses the reliability of the picture. The end result of this process is to get something new that cannot be found in the world around.
Decorative and applied composition is formed based on the purpose of the thing. Only after the use of the product is determined, and all the necessary forms are indicated, the master gives it artistic qualities. Such a creative attitude to things is realized with the help of decor. In this case, the composition of decorative art can be attributed to one of its three pictorial forms. Among them, the plot and symbolic image, as well as the ornament. In addition, the entire diversity of compositions is conventionally divided into linear, frontal, three-dimensional and spatial. Let's consider them in more detail.
Story image
Under the decorative composition of this type understand the pattern that the master applied to the surface of the product. Moreover, such an image tells the viewer about a specific event, action or phenomenon.
The plot-decorative composition is most often presented in the form of murals applied to various products of applied art. You can meet her at architectural structures. Drawing a decorative plot composition is a very time-consuming process. However, its result is one of the most amazing in its beauty types of organization of art forms. The source for the plots used by the author is truly inexhaustible. Here are festivities and dates, feasts and gatherings, farewells and trips, scenes from life, illustrations for fairy tales and much more.
One of the varieties of the plot image is stained glass. This name comes from the French word vitrage, which means "glass." Such a plot-decorative composition is placed in a door or window, and is also made in the form of an independent panel. The drawing is applied to glass or other material that transmits light. Color stained-glass windows are often placed in the windows. An example of this is the openings in the Gothic cathedrals. Such products are able to create in the interior a game of light colored in different colors.
Symbolic image
Sometimes a decorative composition is not associated with the transmission of a particular action. On the contrary, it denotes an allegory, concept or idea. Such an image is called symbolic.
Coats of arms of Russian cities can serve as an example of this. Breastplates and orders are also decorative symbols.
Ornament
This type of decoration of objects in arts and crafts is the most specific. The word “ornament” comes from the Latin ornamentium, which means “decoration”. This is a pattern that consists of rhythmically ordered components. Designed to decorate clothes, furniture, weapons, household utensils, etc. Sometimes it is used when painting objects of applied art, as well as architectural structures.
The creation of a decorative composition in the form of an ornament can be based on the choice of one of its three varieties - mesh, closed or ribbon. Decorative elements that are used in such a pattern, masters, as a rule, are found in nature. It can be animals, fruits and leaves. Often you can find a decorative composition with flowers. Sometimes, for elements of ornament, the artist takes objects that were created by human hands.
The form chosen to create the drawing needs to go through complex conversion processes. As a result, she is freed from everything accidental and superfluous. This allows each element to become as expressive as possible.
Of great importance in constructing the decorative composition of the ornament is the balance of its background and motifs, the rhythm in the alternation of color spots, as well as a strict sequence when placing them.
Linear composition
This type of image organization is also called planar. In this case, the content of the drawing is conveyed by the artist with the help of lines having a certain look and character. If they have a horizontal orientation, then the composition is distinguished by its stability. If the picture contains vertical or oblique lines, the image looks dynamic.
In the case of applying a simple geometric pattern to the form, it looks strict. If the image is performed using complex curved lines, this determines the mobility and plasticity of its nature.
Frontal composition
This organization of the image develops in two directions at once, which are located on the plane horizontally and vertically. Moreover, the depth of the picture has no explicit expression. This is the main feature of the frontal composition.
Create it using flat elements. Sometimes image details crash into one another. In this case, they talk about their active interaction. Sometimes the elements of the frontal composition only close together. Their interaction is considered passive.
The distance between the details of the picture with the frontal composition should be chosen so that between them the visual relationship is not destroyed. This will allow the decorative image not to fall apart into separate parts.
In the aggregate, all elements of the frontal composition form either a smooth surface, or are able to create some kind of transitional state between a flat and three-dimensional pattern. A striking example of this is the relief. It is also considered a volume-frontal composition.
Relief is understood as a convex pattern located on a plane. In this case, several of its types are distinguished:
- a bas-relief, representing an ornament or a sculptural image, slightly protruding above the plane;
- high relief, protruding three quarters above the surface;
- reverse relief, slightly deepened in relation to the main background;
- the relief, which is on the same horizontal line with the plane, but has at the same time deeply incised contours.
Very often, the frontal composition is used to create various decorative works. Including murals and carpets, in mosaics and stained-glass windows, in realistic and abstract painting.
Volumetric composition
In this case, for decorative images on the plane, in addition to the vertical and horizontal directions, depth is also relevant. Such a technique leads to the creation of a three-dimensional shape. The composition in this case is three-dimensional. The viewer can view it from all sides. Moreover, the more space around such an image, the more clearly its plastic configuration and general appearance are manifested.
This form looks dense and monumental. Her internal space is minimized. In the case of an increase in the distance between elements of this form, it becomes even more dynamic and open.
If the volumetric image is depicted on a plane, then in order to convey the surface of the object to the viewer, the method of chiaroscuro is used.
Spatial composition
In this type of image, the dimensions of space are predominant, where the placement of objects takes place. But it is worth noting that the importance in this composition of any element, even the smallest, is quite large.
Space can be organized in two ways:
- Inside the boundaries that are formed by objects. This is an enclosed space. Its examples include the architecture of urban squares surrounded by houses or the decoration of museum halls.
- Around the objects. In this case, they talk about open space. For example, a rock garden located in Kyoto, or Egyptian pyramids, "holding" huge distances around themselves.
The main elements with which it is possible to create a spatial composition are:
- volumes that form the space;
- materials used to form objects.
Thus, by volumetric composition we mean a three-dimensional closed form, which a person is able to perceive from all sides. This may be, for example, a sculpture, costume or object created by masters of decorative art. The main role in this case belongs to the tectonic laws of composition, as well as its spatial and spatial structure. This includes the proportionality of the whole and its parts, material, weight, etc. How expressive the volumetric form will be is largely dependent on its interaction with the outside world.
Features of the decorative composition
Working on a drawing, the artist tries to make it so that even the first moment of perception of the picture by the viewer arouses the latter's increased interest in the content. A similar effect becomes possible due to the correctly selected format, the size of the work itself, the color and texture of the painting.
The most important compositional task is the selection of the main. So, to find the main character allows the movements and gestures of the characters, as well as the direction of their views. An expressive tool in this case is light and color contrast.
Knowing the compositional features and patterns that have been discovered for generations by generations of artists, you can build the whole organism of a work in such a way as to affect the feelings and minds of people. The means and techniques used in this way activate creative activity and develop artistic abilities. That is why the basics of decorative composition on fine arts are studied in kindergartens and schools. As a means for highlighting the main idea of the picture, apply:
- Rhythm. In the life around us, various forms of its manifestation, as a rule, are in motion, moving in space. Watching this, our eyes perceive space in its extent. As a result, a person develops a vision of a certain connection that exists between movement and the size of the surrounding world. In the picture, a similar perception is evoked by images of a number of figures. Associatively, the viewer arises the thought of their movement. It is the repetition in the alternation of figures that is called rhythm.
- Symmetry. Translated from Greek, this term means "proportionality", as well as "harmony". Symmetry is one of the most important features of a decorative composition. The idea of this tool gives us nature itself. For example, the structure of a butterfly is symmetrical. After all, all its right parts are equal to the left and equally located, if we consider them relative to the middle. A similar pattern can be seen in plants, which allows the use of symmetry in the construction of decorative floral arrangements.
- Equilibrium. The eyes of the viewer always perceive one or more objects integrally. That is, first of all, a person considers the location of an object in space. This leads to the fact that the viewer perceives a particular object in the picture light or heavy. A small mass will have objects with rugged contours and a surface painted in bright colors. They will seem heavy with large sizes, simplified shape and dark color. The simplest means of achieving equilibrium in a decorative composition is symmetry. It can be achieved with certain combinations of “heavy” and “light” figures. It is worth noting that the beauty and vitality of the drawing to a large extent depend on the balance.
- Asymmetry. Sometimes in a figure or in an object it is impossible to find elements that were located at the same distance from the imaginary axis. In this case, asymmetry takes place. Such a tool allows you to give the picture a dynamic and indicates the potential ability of the composition to move.
- Contrast. In each subject, you can find several signs and qualities that have opposite sides. This difference is called contrast. This means of decorative composition allows you to enhance the feeling of the opposite of objects, their parts or signs. That is why contrast is used to divide the object into separate parts. This technique allows the artist to distinguish from the group of elements the one on which he wants to concentrate the viewer's attention.
- Nuance. In the case of using a contrasting combination of signs, the object becomes very noticeable, but the viewer quickly gets tired, and for a long time he does not consider such an object. In order for the object to have the appearance of a harmonious and holistic organism, the coherence and proportionality of all its parts, as well as their similarity and kinship, are necessary. This is the main essence of the nuance. It, like contrast, manifests itself in movement and in size, in shape, color, texture, lightness and design.
Drawing composition "horses graze"
In kindergartens and in the lower grades of schools, drawing classes are held that contribute to the development of artistic creativity of the younger generation. At one of these lessons, the compilation of a decorative-plot composition “Horses Graze” is recommended. What is the programmatic content of this lesson? Drawing a decorative-plot composition “Horses Graze” is designed to teach children to properly position all the elements of the picture, varying their location on the sheet, as well as the size. In addition, students should develop light and continuous movements when drawing contours. When working on the decorative plot composition “Horses Graze”, it is also necessary to develop the ability of children to accurately paint over existing images.
During the lesson, the teacher is recommended to consider with the students the simplest ceramic products of folk artists depicting horses. At the same time, students should pay attention to the composition. Each child should be encouraged to arrange image elements based on his own vision.
Drawing of a decorative-plot composition “Horses Graze” should begin with a reminder of how ceramic figures are displayed on paper. Children need to move the pencil over the sheet smoothly and continuously. Moreover, none of the lines should be drawn twice. At first, children draw animal figures with a simple pencil. This will check whether they succeeded. Only after this can you start coloring the contours. Finished work should be hung on the board and be sure to consider them with the children.
Creating a picture "Frost on the trees"
To develop children's creative abilities, it is important to teach them how to depict nature paintings on paper. That is why at one of the classes in fine arts it is recommended to make a winter decorative composition. This will allow children to transfer on paper the structure of various trees covered with hoarfrost. Such classes are designed to develop an aesthetic perception for each child, making him want to admire the beauty of the winter landscape.
At the beginning of the lesson, the teacher should talk with the children about hoarfrost, which often happens on trees in winter. It is also advisable to show students the reproduction of illustrations and paintings on which this phenomenon can be seen. Children should be invited to start their drawing with the image of snow on the ground, and after that use a charcoal pencil for trees.