Composing From a PhotographFollow along with the step-by-step instructions and illustrations to discover how a viewfi nder frame can be used to plan a composition from a photograph.

A photo of Peggys Cove in Nova Scotia, Canada serves as an example (Figure 1).

Step 1: Decide which sections of your photo you want to include in your sketch.

When planning a composition based on a photograph or from life, you can leave out or move anything you want to improve your composition.

This sketch will include the small section of land and two buildings on the left as well as the large rock in the lower right. The boats will not be included.

ISBN: 978-1-927365-42-7Copyright © 2011 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including

electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.

How to Use a Viewfinder Frame

The process of using a viewfinder frame to choose a composition when working from a photo or real life

Flesch-Kincaid Grade level: 7.2Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 70.6Drawspace Curriculum 4.1.R1 – 3 Pages and 6 Illustrations

Figure 1

Tip!

A camera can capture subjects you have an interest in drawing – especially those that won’t stay still, such as children or puppies. In the quiet of your home studio, you can then print off your favorite photos and use a viewfi nder frame to choose compositions.

2 Drawspace Curriculum 4.1.R1

ISBN: 978-1-927365-42-7Copyright © 2011 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including

electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.

Step 2: Place your viewfi nder frame on your photo.

Adjust both sections of the viewfi nder frame until you fi nd a composition you like. An ideal composition is framed inside the viewfi nder frame in Figure 2.

Step 3: Mark four small dots on your photo inside the four corners of the viewfi nder frame.

The dots identify the corners of your chosen composition (Figure 3).

Step 4: Remove the viewfi nder frame and use a ruler and a ballpoint pen (or fi ne tip permanent marker) to connect the dots (Figure 4).

The favorite section of the photo is outlined and patiently awaiting an artist’s sketch.

Figure 3

Figure 2

Figure 4

Figure 6

Drawspace Curriculum 4.1.R1 3

ISBN: 978-1-927365-42-7Copyright © 2011 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including

electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.

Composing an Artwork from Life Using a viewfi nder frame to draw from real life is pretty much the same as using it to draw from a photo. The big difference is that you can’t outline an actual scene in the real world as you do in a photo. You may be in trouble if you start drawing lines on all the trees and people in your scene!

Step 5: Draw the view you see inside the outline.

If you want, you can outline a drawing space before you begin. Two options include a simple contour drawing (Figure 5) or a more advanced detailed drawing (Figure 6). Take note that the boats were replaced with a section of water.

Figure 5

Tip!

Every few minutes you should hold the viewfi nder frame up again so you can check the proportions of your drawing.

The basic process of using a viewfi nder frame when drawing from life is as follows:

Step1: Hold your viewfi nder frame up in front of your scene.

Step 2: Look through it and adjust its opening until you fi nd an ideal composition.

Step 3: Begin drawing what you see inside the opening of the viewfi nder frame. You can prop up the viewfi nder frame on something or simply hold it with the hand you’re not using to draw.