Post 128: Composition 2. Rule of Odds

Composition: The Rule of Odds

Part 2 of my series on Composition

Many of the "rules" of photography and cinematography are also used in art - drawing and painting. Let's take a look at the Rule of Odds and no, I am not talking about ice cream cones with eyes, that is quite normal in the art world. My previous blog post on Composition was on the Rule of Thirds, now let's look at the Odds.

Odd Numbers and Even Numbers

As many artists refuse to or rarely follow any 'rules', the composition of things are more like guidelines so that your photographs, your art is visually more interesting to look at. So how you place the elements on your canvas can take it up to another level by at least taking the guidelines into consideration.

 

Basically, the Rule of Odds is that whenever possible, your composition will be better with an odd number of objects than an even number of objects.

One, although the "Loneliest Number", is a nicer focus in a very busy scene.

Three flower vases are better than two.

Five lemons are more interesting than four.

Seven golfballs might be confusing on the green, but on a canvas, better for the eye to view.

Even in decorating, odd numbers of things or collections of similar things are easier to view than even numbers. Our brains try to unconsciously group things with even numbers into pairs. Odd numbered objects has the tendency to hold the eye a little longer, viewing the individual elements on the canvas. 

Give it a try. Go to your favorite still life painting - I bet it is composed of an odd number of objects. Unless the artist is a rule breaker of course...

 

Photo by Roberta Sorge on Unsplash 

Again, give it a try in your next composition. Go ahead, be "odd".

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This is part of a series of blog posts on the guidelines, or rules of composition. Look for all of them in the Search this Blog feature at the top right by searching for the word "composition". I hope you enjoy the posts!

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Local Art: Visit us at Clearbrook Center of the Arts at Tackett's Mill in Lake Ridge, VA on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 – it’s free to see the artwork! Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

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Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com & her Blog at https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/.