Powerful Tools for Composition with Mitchell Albala (Ep.104)

Welcome to the conversation with Mitchell Albala.

Widely recognized for his expertise in composition and color, Albala is the author of two must-read books Landscape Painting and The Landscape Painter’s Workbook.

And that’s where we’re going to spend the bulk of today’s interview. We are jumping straight into the heart of his process. You’ll discover the transformative power of the BIG IDEA and learn how it shapes his approach to painting. We’ll also take a deep dive into composition, including a crucial step many artists overlook before they start their value studies. And we’ll explore why the format - the square or rectangle, you choose for your painting is far from arbitrary—it can make or break your composition.

If your goal is to improve your understanding of composition, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Podcast Art Club: Find your Ad Free Feature here.

Extended Cut Bonus (Art Club)

In the bonus segment, we turn our focus to color. Mitchell shares insights on why your approach to color might be missing key elements and how to build a more comprehensive strategy. Listen here!

Learn more about Albala:

WEBSITE / BLOG / YOUTUBE / INSTAGRAM / WORKSHOPS / BOOKS

Links Mentioned in the Show:

Video Lesson: Exploring Composition through Shape and Notan
The Landscape Painter’s Guide to Selecting Reference Photos (Differentiation)
Development of an Abstract Landscape (In the interview we’re talking about a foggy lighthouse.)

More Great Links:

Kick the Creative Slump

The 20for20 Art Challenge makes it easy—just 20 minutes a day for 20 days to push past resistance and blocks. Start with Workshop Week, beginning June 23 to get support planning your project with a mini-class and reference images, then dive into the Challenge on July 1. Sign up today: learntopaintpodcast.com/20for20artchallenge 🎨

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