Thread on how to do composition studies! The secret is to look for the big relationships. We are not painting objects, but rather designing an abstract composition that has the feeling we want. Zoom way out, look for big value shapes, and compare across the whole painting! 
After we have our black and white study, then add temperature information on top. Don’t use layer modes like color or overlay, but rather paint directly and opaquely right on top. This will help us gain an understanding of how color relates to value.
Dean Cornwell is great to study for this because we can see his decision making. Look how the value of the dark blue cloth is the same in light as the white dress is in shadow. These are the big relationships to look for, and then naturally the small differences group themselves.
Here we have the same exact values, but with more added temperature information.
Take note of how the strap is light against the skin tone, and then the same skin tone value is used again for when it turns into shadow. This is called counter change, and we can use design tools like that when our value groups are simple!
Look here again for counter change in the top right passage of this painting.
Even in seemingly complicated paintings, like this one by Walter Everett, we can look at the painting very small and see that there are still only a few value groups. The shapes themselves are just smaller and change between groups more quickly.
If you want to learn more about composition, check out my ebook! It has 40 pages of tutorials with lots of bonuses like a glossary, recommended reading, and all the artists names right there with the examples! Stayed tuned for Volume 2 as well!
gumroad.com/l/YPtf/STAYHOMe
gumroad.com/l/YPtf/STAYHOMe
