Artist’s Design: Probing The Hidden Order Order the book from Amazon.com here

This book on artistic design composition identifies and describes the elements of design -- the basic requirements of a painting ; the role of the artist's means to achieve an integrated work of art ; the role of tension and movement ; the use of the track of vision to control the path and pace of the viewer's eye; and the use of a variety of design scaffoldings to provide solidity and clarity to a painting. 250 illustrations (190 of which are in color ) are integrated into the text to demonstrate these principles. Many of the paintings included, although masterpieces in their own right, are rarely seen in anthologies.

This book will appeal to:

• The artist : both students and professionals of all competencies--painting students who wish to understand basic art concepts and art professionals who seek to renew, fortify, and stimulate the ongoing pursuit of design variation.

• Other art professionals : historians, teachers, and gallery personnel who occasionally want more information about the structure in a particular painting.

• The amateur art connoisseur : who wishes to understand more specifically the basis of excellent art.

• Libraries : home, public and art school. This text has become a standard reference book.

Sample:

Millet's depiction of "The Sower" in the act of sowing impresses with its majestic simplicity of action. The stalwart figure strides rightward but leans leftward in the picture. The hill dips rightward but the bullock team drives left. The sower's arm extends leftward, but the viewer anticipates that it will soon move right. The elemental power which this painting displays is due to direct statement of the movement, controlled countermovement, and the absence of diminishing detail."