Welcome to the Canon of Design page for everyone! If you’re new to the Canon of Design, please read the intro and learn what motivates the world’s best site, dedicated to sharing the design and composition secrets of master painters, and translating them for artistic photographers.
They won’t teach you these composition, design, and visual perception (Gestalt psychology) techniques in expensive schools. You’ll be stuck with beginner tools, like the rule of thirds and leading lines. Powerful tools are needed if you’re wanting to become an elite artist.
We must never feel as if we’ve learned enough…that’s when mediocrity begins to hold us down. Quality knowledge is an asset, and it’s the key to being a successful photographer.
These 130+ articles created for everyone are also posted to my blog, but I’ve created this list to help you find them easier. I’ve also included a list of amazing downloads available to everyone!
Members of The Master Pass can enjoy 500+ Linear or Structured articles based on composition, design, and inspiration. They get the juiciest selection of all of the articles, plus a Resources page full of more downloads. Exclusive content for the elite!
Downloads Super Cool
The Ego Manifesto for Artists (PDF Download) (2541 downloads )
Street Photography Assignments (4342 downloads )
Vincent van Gogh Color Theory (1547 downloads )
Drawing Game High Res (4775 downloads )
Drawing Game Mobile (3509 downloads )
What is the Golden Section Infographic (3193 downloads )
Golden Ratio-Parthenon Infographic (3121 downloads )
Dynamic Symmetry Notes from Video (4823 downloads )
European Grid Sizes - Sample (6913 downloads )
Awesome Videos Amazingly
Check out all of the YouTube videos on my channel! Made for you, to help you understand how to master composition, design, and dynamic symmetry. It applies to painting, street photography, wedding photography, fine art photography, sculpting and more.
To see the other videos, please click on the upper left corner of the playlist (three horizontal lines).
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Excellent Articles for Everyone
Check out the awesome articles created for everyone below! Get inspired and feed your brain!
Searching Fast– Use Control + F on a PC, or Command + F on a Mac to type in a keyword and find what you need quicker (Fun keywords to try = analyzed, resources, Bresson, Leibovitz, Rubens, Bouguereau, Phi, Gestalt, grid, rule of thirds, color, cinema, street photography, quote, inspiration, technique).
1 of 365 – Introduction
2 of 365 – Annie Leibovitz – ANALYZED PHOTO #1
3 of 365 – What Makes Me an Expert on Composition?
4 of 365 – The Simplified Concept Behind the Rule of Thirds
7 of 365 – Canon of Design Essentials- VISUAL GLOSSARY
8 of 365 – Using the Rule of Thirds: I am Guilty, Most of Us are
10 of 365 – The Rule of Thirds Inventor: John Thomas Smith
11 of 365 – What happened to design?
14 of 365 – The Simplicity & Beauty of Dynamic Symmetry – VISUAL GLOSSARY
20 of 365 – Laocoon – ANALYZED SCULPTURE
24 of 365 – The Rule of Thirds and the Chicken Soup Analogy
25 of 365 – A Misleading Guide to Mastering Composition
26 of 365 – Alik Sakharov (Game of Thrones) – ANALYZED CINEMA
36 of 365 – The Rule of Thirds and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
52 of 365 – The Future of Design in Art
53 of 365 – Gestalt Psychology Introduction – Part I
74 of 365 – Composition for Dummies
77 of 365 – Gregory Crewdson Documentary
80 of 365 – Using the Phi Ratio Doesn’t Mean You are Part of a Cult
84 of 365 – Seth Godin on Mentorship
95 of 365 – A Painter Finding His Way with Composition
96 of 365 – Happy New Year Artists!
101 of 365 – Surfing is an Art
105 of 365 – Phi Lecture by Barnstone Student Ryan Brooker
112 of 365 – The Desolate Arcade
116 of 365 – The Impassioned Eye with Henri Cartier-Bresson
118 of 365 – The War of Art with Steven Pressfield
120 of 365 – Share the Secrets of Design with Myron Barnstone
123 of 365 – Timing is Everything
124 of 365 – Rubens – ANALYZED PAINTING #1
126 of 365 – Boxing is an Art
132 of 365 – Say Hello to Other Artists
136 of 365 – Joe McNally Photography Quote
139 of 365 – Alfred Stiegletz Documentary
140 of 365 – Learning Art from Those Before Us
143 of 365 – Good or Great Photography
146 of 365 – Technology Fails Design
147 of 365 – Application & Repetition Leads to Experience
153 of 365 – Composition in Painting and Photography is Essential
154 of 365 – Einstein’s Struggle
158 of 365 – What Makes a Painting Valuable
164 of 365 – Anatomy by Robert Beverly Hale
171 of 365 – Golden Ratio and Mona Lisa -ANALYZED (Phi Calipers)
174 of 365 – Odometer vs Facebook Likes
176 of 365 – Artistic Composition is a Choice
185 of 365 – Alan Watts – If Money Were No Object
186 of 365 – Forging Masterpieces
188 of 365 – The Painful Puzzle
192 of 365 – Photography: Stretch Before You Exercise
195 of 365 – Can the Untrained Eye Recognize Design
196 of 365 – Tom Keating on Master Painting
197 of 365 – Art: Getting Your Money’s Worth
199 of 365 – Art: Learn to Roll with the Punches
200 of 365 – Web Art Academy Lessons
202 of 365 – Drowning in the Rat Race
206 of 365 – Oil Painting Realism
207 of 365 – Designing is for Weirdos
211 of 365 – Focus Your Artistic Efforts and Excel
213 of 365 – What Happened to Our Free Time
214 of 365 – Insights on Landscape Photography
215 of 365 – Gregory Crewdson – ANALYZED PHOTO #4
225 of 365 – Art and Pandering to the Masses
226 of 365 – Henri Cartier-Bresson – ANALYZED PHOTO
227 of 365 – How Inspiration Fades in Photography
237 of 365 – If Van Gogh had a Facebook Page in 1887
241 of 365 – Steve Jobs Quote
248 of 365 – John Free Street Photography Advice
252 of 365 – Henri Cartier-Bresson Quote
262 of 365 – Find a Happy Balance
265 of 365 – The Quest to Replicate Nature in Technology
266 of 365 – Johannes Vermeer – The Master of Light
273 of 365 – Camera Gear is Based on a Matter of Purpose and Quality
276 of 365 – Excellent Street Photography by Alex Webb of Magnum Photos
279 of 365 – Campfire’s and Camping Nowadays
280 of 365 – Annie Leibovitz 1993 Documentary
284 of 365 – Bat Boy Syndrome and Remarkable Art
288 of 365 – Do What You Love – Follow Your Passion
290 of 365 – Edgar Degas Quote #2
294 of 365 – Life is Like a Cinnamon Roll
297 of 365 – World Desensitization
300 of 365 – The Old Masters, Standing in Awe
301 of 365 – Look at that Camera, You’re Not a Serious Photographer
305 of 365 – The Perception of Spoken Words
309 of 365 – Promoting Great Art and Composition
315 of 365 – Art, Social Media, and the Empire State Building
319 of 365 – Bouguereau Quote 2
321 of 365 – Couch Potato or Master Painter
326 of 365 – Modern Day Slavery
329 of 365 – The Ignorant Teapot Calling the Kettle Black
335 of 365 – Jim Carrey: Inspiration from a Goofball
339 of 365 – Van Gogh Quote #2
343 of 365 – Schools are Factories for Obedience
347 of 365 – Edgar Degas Quote #3
349 of 365 – Christina’s World Stuck in a Corner at the MoMA
350 of 365 – Karl Blossfeldt and His Artistic Representation of Nature
366. Mastering Composition & Henri Cartier-Bresson (Video Response)
367. Moving to Hawaii to Pursue Photography and Composition
368. Film Photography Inspired by Bresson (Waikiki Meetup)
369. Myron Barnstone Interview: A Journey to Find the Techniques of Design
370. Color Theory, Monet, and Bruno Barbey – Part I
372. 40 Street Photography Tips from Brutal Self Critiquing – Part I
375.Taking One Photo with William Eggleston
376. NEW Flickr Street Photography Account
377. How Picasso Found Subject Matter for his Painting
379. The Fading Giants of Magnum Photos
380. Top 10 Free Books from the Metropolitan Museum of Art
381. How Tall was Henri Cartier-Bresson?
382. Leonardo Da Vinci Quote, Picasso Master Copy, and Tiny Habits
383. 5 Reasons Why Scanning Your Own Film is Better
384. Would You Cease to Exist if Facebook Disappeared?
386. Printmaking Artist Gustave Dore
387. Harold Speed: Drawing with Dither
388. Your Portfolio is like a Window for Shoppers
389. Photography Composition with Cutouts Transforms Landmarks
390. Child Prodigy of Painting, Photography, or Mastering Composition
392. Losing a Hard Drive Full of Photos was Gut Wrenching
396. 10 Myths About the Rule of Thirds
397. Peer Pressure Can Make You Sharp or Dull
398. When a Photo Becomes Reality: Losing a Loved One
399. Mastering Composition to Get More Keepers in Street Photography
407. Can an Artist be Born a Genius
411. Mr. Robot Creates Visual Tension with Composition Techniques
415. An Update to My Artistic Journey
420. Rest In Peace Myron Barnstone – 10.29.16
422. Famous Artist Birthdays and Inspiration
425. Virtual Mentors to Inspire Your Artistic Journey
429. “Moby” the Mobile Studio: for Painting and Photography
431. Dynamic Symmetry: How to Use it in Photography and Painting
433. My $200 Pencil Sharpener for Drawing
437. Email Q & A: How Did the Masters Learn Dynamic Symmetry?
439. Mastering Composition to Get More Keepers: P.O.V. B+W Street Photography
443. Vincent van Gogh Gold Mine of Paintings and Drawings
445. Absinthe: Murder, Mayhem, and Master Painters
446. Email Q & A: Blade Runner Analyzed Cinema
451. Cinematic Test Shots with the Sony A6500 and Mavic Pro Drone
458. Top 20 Discoveries from Canon of Design
460. Dynamic Symmetry, Composition and Henri Cartier-Bresson
462. Why is the Rule of Thirds Grid on Pro Cameras?
470. Vincent van Gogh – Color Theory
472. Proof that Henri Cartier-Bresson Used Dynamic Symmetry in Photography
482. Golden Ratio in Art: Parthenon and Euan Uglow [Techniques]
490. The Masterful Design Techniques of Martine Franck [Cartier-Bresson]
515. Photography Composition and Tips for Beginners [Digging Deep Into 8]
525. Solaris by Andrei Tarkovsky – Analyzed Cinema
531. Nature Consumes Everything Eventually
542. How to Design a Book Cover and Abstract Letters with Dynamic Symmetry
552. *Street Photography Compositions with the Ricoh GR III (with P.O.V. VIDEO)
557. Dynamic Symmetry: How to Easily Understand Ratios (Super Simple)
565. How to Master Manual Mode and Avoid Auto Mode Flaws (Exposure Triangle)
570. Top 10 Ways to Spark Creativity
573. Dynamic Symmetry and Design Techniques in Epic Paintings (Video)
579. Perfectionism and Your Art (Paris)
583. Dynamic Symmetry and Absinthe Inspired Drawings – Four (Paris Video)
587. Bresson Photos Reimagined as Satirical Paintings (2020)
590. The Ego Manifesto for Artists – Quick Guide (PDF Download)
600. Dynamic Symmetry Grid Package – Intro for Beginners (ECOSYSTEM)
605. *Design Techniques for Quick Portrait Paintings (Fun Video)
611. How to Force Growth as an Artist (Fun Video)
615. Complementary Colors – The Biggest Myth of All Time (Video)
622. Deborah Turbeville Best Compositions (ANALAYZED PHOTOS)
627. Annie Leibovitz Group Photo – ANALYZED #10 (Video)
631. Dynamic Symmetry – Top 7 Misconceptions You Should Know
636. Top 7 Female Master Painters – Before the 1900’s
647. Anatomy Mistakes by Master Painters – Does it Matter?
652. Andromeda and Perseus – A Quirky Love Story (Greek Mythology)
656. A Quick Guide to Art Periods, Movements & More
661. Paul Cezanne Still Life Painting (ANALYZED VIDEO)
668. Joel Meyerowitz Top Design Techniques (ANALYZED PHOTOS)
671. Dot Bunn – Secrets of Color & Design (Landscape Painting)
677. Create Killer Compositions Like Kubrick – The Shining (ANALYZED CINEMA)
681. Dune 2021 Composition Techniques -Part Two (ANALYZED CINEMA)
688. 12 Things I Learned from Van Gogh (Master Copy)
692. Rule of Thirds – The Number One Reason NOT to Use It