Sometimes you would come across a painting and spend a long time in front of it, yet you're not quite sure why you're more attracted to that painting than the piece next to it. This is probably because the painting has a good composition that captures the viewer's attention.
When an artist starts a painting, he would create a composition that would guide the viewer into the painting and keeps his or her attention for as long as possible. In this painting of my friend Ed, the Western viewer usually starts looking from the left (like in reading). The viewer would start from Ed's right elbow, up his shoulder and to his face (the point of interest of any figurative painting). Next, the dark and strong-shaped shadow on the closet door takes the viewer to Ed's left hand, then down on to his left torso side, along the briefs to the right hand on his hip, then back again to the right elbow. The strong contrasts in color values and edges guide the viewer, without him realizing it. The journey in elliptical motion begins again, but during the second time around the viewer would notice other secondary features, such as Ed's reflection in the mirror.
In my opinion, the mark of a successful painting is that it manages to capture the viewers' attention for a long period of time.
Nothing to wear
16 x 20 inches, oil on canvas board
