If art is communication, our work that really engage people is telling us something. We are connecting, speaking to other people in ways that they can receive and respond to.

When a piece both pleases us and feels true, and engages the viewer in a strong way, what characteristics does it tend to have? First, the work shows a strong sense of purpose or intention. That may come through in in subject matter, color or other visual elements, scale, or any aspect of the work that has a certain boldness to it. The work also arises from personal meaning—it is sincere, authentic, not derivative--what we call personal voice.

Very impactful work also typically shows a mastery of technique and high levels of craftsmanship, although that alone may not carry the piece, if expression is not also part of the work. Finally, we respond to beauty, in the sense of work that has depth, power, and meaning,

Finding ways in our work to stay true to our own ideas and communicate with others in a strong and engaging way is one of those life-long challenges that we take on as artists. We will have pieces that hit that mark and many others that do not. Paying attention to our work that does fit both criteria is worthwhile—not to repeat it in a formulaic way-- but to try and understand what it has to teach us.

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It is important to not settle too quickly on your composition. Poor composition is perceived by viewers right away, causing a feeling of confusion, imbalance, and a sense that the artist has lacked intention. As the entry point for your viewer's attention, a good sense of organization and structure is essential. Although it is often a only minor addition or change that brings the work together, finding that last decisive move may require a lot of patience.

While intuition plays a role in finding good composition—an arrangement simply “looks right”—for strong and consistent work we also need a more intellectual understanding. Having a flexible and developed visual vocabulary and an awareness of design principles are important for creating and evaluating your compositions. Being willing to edit, or remove unnecessary aspects of your work, is vital. Feedback from another person is often helpful too, since we can lose sight of the big picture while immersed in the details.

Composition is so challenging that many artists settle into one approach that works and stay there for years. It can be hard to step away from something you have developed. But remember that compositions convey meaning, and if you don’t allow them to change over time, your meaning becomes overstated.

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