Have you ever felt that something in your composition just isn’t working, but you can’t quite tell why?
Or wished your illustrations carried more emotion — that quiet something that pulls the viewer in and makes them feel?

Composition is more than where you place things — it’s the invisible rhythms that guide the viewer’s eye and evokes emotion.
In this second part of my Art Composition Fundamentals series (which you can do in whichever order that you want!), we’ll dive into the expressive side of composition — exploring shape, flow, and feeling as tools to build more intentional and emotionally resonant images.

(You can take this class on its own or after Value Contrast, Shape & Balance — both work in any order!)

We’ll start by learning how to read images like an artist. Through examples from master painters past and present, you’ll discover how simple values, abstract structure, leading lines, and intentional flow, shape the viewer’s experience—and how feeling can become your North Star, guiding every creative choice in your illustrations.

Then, we’ll turn theory into playful exploration.
Using cut paper and simple shapes, you’ll create your own black-and-white compositions—experimenting with value, movement, and emotion. We’ll build from intuitive collages to more intentional pieces, learning to design with both instinct and awareness.

Finally, you’ll use everything you’ve learned to brainstorm a personal piece—starting from a spark of an idea, exploring mood and storytelling through shapes, and translating it into dynamic thumbnails. You’ll also learn a useful concept about ungrouping your values from your objects, which helps simplify and strengthen your designs.

By the end of this class, you’ll be able to:

Strengthen your understanding of compositional principles
Understand how shape, flow, and value create visual movement and emotional depth
Build your own compelling layouts with confidence
Infuse your illustrations with greater feeling and depth
Feel more comfortable with the process — from sketchy thumbnails to intuitive exploration

Approach composition as a journey of discovery — not perfection.
Whether you’re an illustrator, painter, or visual storyteller, this class will help you see your work in a whole new light—one that’s guided by both structure and feeling.

Isabela Livingstone

--

1