"...the shift from thinking in terms of subjects to thinking in terms of shape and masses eventually just clicks. From that point on you will find you are constructing your paintings differently. It's one of those "aha" experiences... Attentively practicing this exercise on a daily basis will give you a holistic way to hone your artistic skills."
"The basic idea is this: Every day draw a small 4" X 5" (10cm X 13cm) or so composition in pencil on paper. You don't need to go out and search for anything too elaborate. Choose things that are right around you... Make the emphasis of each composition the quality of the shapes, the abstract arrangement of the value masses and the edges between them. Think in terms of shapes rather than outlines of objects. Engage the whole picture plane with the masses."
"The most important thing is to be attentive mentally to what you are doing. If you do a composition a day just because your "supposed to," you'll find it is just a daily bother. But, if you slow down, you will find it is an effective way to master framing, armature, values, abstract masses, edges emphasis and so on...nothing will allow you to master composition - and thus painting - more quickly than this exercise. Practice daily and your artistic skills will grow by leaps and bounds within the course of a year."
From "Mastering Composition" by Ian Roberts, pages 62-63
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