Mastering Composition: Techniques and Principles to Dramatically Improve Your Painting

This book is so well written. So educational and has really helped me to level up my art with foundational principles every artist should know. I highly recommend it. It’s excellent!

Everyone interested in painting should own this book. Supurb quality. Incredible explanations and examples. Ian Roberts is genuinely generous with sharing his art knowledge. This is my absolute favorite art instruction book. And I know it will be yours too. Thank you.

I am enjoying reading this book. It came highly recommended by my online watercolor teacher. The writing is in simple language yet very specific, with clear definitions. I enjoy the art used to illustrate the concepts, and the author makes it clear how the principles enhance the art process. I am reading slowly, making sure I absorb the details fully before moving on, for me it is a deep read learning a new subject to myself.

As a lapsed beginner painter who has decided to finally dive back in hopes of enhancing my skills enough to start illustrating my children’s books, this book is exactly what I needed right now! Roberts’ painting experience and knowledge is vast, his ability to convey that knowledge in clear and practical ways is masterful, and his writing style is succinct yet highly approachable. I am about half way through my first reading and I am amazed at how much I have already learned and, most importantly, retained. Additionally, after a these first 80 pages I feel an increased passion to get started on the exercises (which I will do on my second read through), have had a myriad of revelations about painting, and have had dozens of questions pop into my head that demand I do some extensive and fun experimentation! To sum up, I highly recommend this book for any illustrators or painters who not only want to better understand composition, but also want a plethora of guidance around related facets of creating imagery on a 2-dimensional surface, including digital screens.

This book solved a problem that I had with a painting providing instant value for me. The author understands how to write about art. His descriptions are clear and tangible. The examples clearly support the statements. This isn't woo-woo nonsense, but real advice that applies to all styles and genres of drawing or painting. Absolutely worth the purchase and time to read.

I received the book but there was this little stain spot on the top. I guess it’s because of an old book.. Except for that, I love the book

Outlines many of the fundamental composition principles not commonly taught in art classes in one accessible book. Highly recommended! Also check out Ian’s YouTube videos, they’re similarly packed full of helpful & compelling ideas, and he’s pushed me to improve my art greatly. Many thanks Ian!

I bought Mastering Composition by Ian Roberts a number of years ago. It is the best book I have come across on composition, without a doubt. The principles of composition are covered thoroughly, in an easy to understand way. There are demonstrations on each topic throughout the book to reinforce what you are learning. The various chapter topics such as masses, color shapes and guiding your eye through the picture plane- are rich with information. There is also a chapter looking at some artists from the 19th and 20th century, applying the principles in the book. Also a chapter about finding your artistic voice. I have bookmarked several places in my book since I have found so many parts of it useful to refer back to. This book will give you the tools to take your painting to a new level.

Es uno de esos libros que, aunque sepas pintar, dibujar bien o tus composiciones ya sean correctas, debes tener sí o sí por sus detalladas explicaciones. En mi caso, llevo años ilustrando y pintando, pero vi que era un libro que recomendaban muchos artistas, así que me decidí a comprarlo, ya que no es caro para lo que ofrece. El libro abarca prácticamente todos los temas referentes a la realización de una obra de dibujo o pintura, desde el proceso previo siquiera a tocar un pincel o un lápiz, saber observar el entorno, saber encuadrar... pasando por cómo realizar los primeros bocetos de composición, pensar en el recorrido visual que queremos que el espectador realice, el ritmo de los elementos, los niveles, definir la iluminación, hasta el color y los acabados. Como el propio autor del libro comenta al inicio, le puso el nombre de "mastering composition" por poner un título, ya que el libro abarca muchísimo más que solo la composición. Es un libro muy muy recomendable, sobre todo si te estás iniciando en el mundo del dibujo o la pintura, te ayudará a saber mirar las escenas de otra forma, de la forma que encajen en un formato limitado... a dar a tus obras más chispa. El libro incluye un DVD, que, sinceramente, se lo podrían haber ahorrado, ya que no aporta nada más que lo que pone en el libro, y que además es bastante aburrido, no mejora lo explicado en el libro, es más, el libro es mucho más ameno de leer, que el dvd...

Dit mooi uitgevoerde boek geeft praktische informatie over compositie, dat veel verder gaat dan de algemene regels. Wat moet je doen om het oog van de toeschouwer naar het centrale motief en andere details te leiden? Hoe voorkom je dat het oog van het doek afglijdt of niet verder komt dan één aspect? Ook wordt diep ingegaan op het aanbrengen van donkere tonen en het creëren van spanning. De auteur is een vermaarde docent met heel veel praktijkervaring.

Ian Roberts, a true Master, has written a consummate book on composition. A very comprehensive thoughtfully written book filled with many, many photos as well as detailed explanations and working examples of the technical aspects of good composition. Having just completed Ian's series of on-line courses, which I highly recommend!, this book is the perfect summary of all I learned. I am certain any of his students would test to this. "Mastering Composition" is sure to become a classic. Another fabulous book by Ian Roberts is "Creative Authenticity" an engaging, sensitive, forward thinking book, that will touch your soul.

Excellent and well planned book with fantastic advice. Wish I’d found this years ago as it would have saved me from a lot of failed paintings!

Après avoir vu plusieurs vidéos de Ian Roberts sur YouTube, j'ai acheté son ouvrage technique "Mastering Composition". Regorgeant d'explications et de conseils techniques, ce livre pousse la pratique artistique dans une analyse pointue agrémentée d'exemples concrets. Familiarisez-vous avec quelques termes techniques anglais, et vous comprendrez aisément le contenu. Merci Ian Roberts.