Art Analogy: Design vs. Composition

Doug Swinton
3 days ago
2 min read

You’ve heard it a bajillion times before.

Then she says, “What the heck does that even mean?"

You’re one potato, two potato in—and it hits you. Something clicks. Maybe nothing, maybe everything—who knows? But listen to it!!!

Shablam.

The whole picture becomes clear.

Design… Art… (Musical Structure)

This is the underlying architecture of a song. In the song Levon by Elton John (Click here to listen), it’s the chord progression, melody, rhythm, and form that pulls you in. You feel the rise and fall of the melody, the way the chorus lifts, the tension in the verses—this is the foundation of the design. The structure itself communicates the song’s message, even before you connect with the lyrics.

The lyrics are laid over that structure. They may be abstract (“He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas Day”), but it’s the delivery—the phrasing, the emphasis, Elton’s vocal choices that give the song its punch. Beyond meaning, it’s placement and rhythm that make it sing.

Art Analogy: Design vs. Composition

Design: This is your structure—the big abstract shapes, the divisions of light and dark, the patterns. If you squint, it still works. These are the bones of the skeleton, if you will. Like a song’s chord progression or melody, it has to hold up before anything else is added.

Composition: that’s what lies on top of the design. That’s the placement—the pop of red, the figure, the texture. These are the words and phrases, but spoken in a visual language. They don’t need to be literal, but they must land in the right places for the painting to sing. Look at Carolyn Anderson’s work and you will see. A solid design and structure. She just added the magic juice on top.

Final Thought.

Get the design right first. Then place your players within that design where they’ll shine—and Bob’s your uncle. Or, as a musician might say: “Write a great tune first. Lyrics are the dressing, but the tune has to carry the show.”

Strategy before execution. Just like in music. Just like in painting.

Keep those brushes swinging—And don’t forget… one potato, two potato.

—Your friend in art

Doug.

Ps. Can you imagine how good Carolyn Anderson’s lemonade would be?

Here are four Carolyn Anderson paintings (https://www.carolynanderson.com/works) for your perusal.