The notan is a type of compositional study that reveals the underlying foundation of a composition through the use of just dark and light, black and white. Although a notan relies on light and dark to define it’s shapes, it is not a value study in the usual sense; it is primarily and shape- and pattern-defining tool.
In this concise 13-minute video, I introduce the concept of notan using contemporary and classic examples.
Additionally, my latest book, The Landscape Painter’s Workbook, has a full chapter on notan, “Notan and the Compositional Study.”
- Shape and Pattern Definition, Not Value
- Strict and Liberal Forms of Notan
- Building a Better Study: Notan Technique
- Notan Apps
- Review Questions
- Exercise: Orienting to Notan
- Exercise: Notan from Observation
Additional Resources
The Landscape Painter’s Workbook: Essential Studies in Shape, Composition, and Color, Chapter 4: Notan and The Compositional Study.
Notan: Compositional Studies with the “Notanizer” App
The Wisdom of Notan – A Brief Introduction
Painting Exercises: Limited Focus, Shape, Color and Notan in Studio Landscape
10 Comments
Thank you for sharing this. It is so clearly explained, it will help me a lot.
Great insight in using color contrast versus value contrast to enhance the composition. I get this issue a lot in local plein air painting where often the values are not that strong in their differences on cloudy days. I feel I can now better push the colors to get the contrast to make a better painting.
Thank you for creating and posting this video, Mitch. I found your explanation regarding the ultimate benefit of the Notan to be very helpful; you definitely clarify its use as a tool for composition beyond simply value structure. Much appreciated. Thanks!
Found the Notan video on YouTube. Wonderful! Some nationally known pastelists have recommend Notan studies before tackling a pastel painting. Now that I’m in oils for the past 2 years, I am grateful for this reminder and instruction. Quick Notan studies are the way to go before I put expensive, impasto oils to canvas. Saves a lot of scrubbing and sanding! I also use my iPad Photoshop program to posterize to two values to apply to all my inspirations from Google images to see how realists and abstract artists set up their basic compositions. Great video! John Clegg
Glad to see the notan is of benefit to you, John. The is one filter, both in regular Photoshop and in the iPad Photoshop, that is ideally suited for Notan. “Threshold” converts an image to black and white and then lets you control the distribution of those darks and lights. By moving the slider to the left or right, you can see how the image looks when the darks are dominant or when the lights are dominant. Nothing else can give you a live, animated experience of the changing dynamics of a notan design in this way.
Thank you Mitchell, very enlightening.
One of the best talks on composition I’ve seen. Instead of the traditional ideas about thirds, focal points, leading the eye in around, etc., this is more useful to the contemporary artist who is interested in creating original compositions. I can even see applying it to my geometric abstraction. Thanks for posting.
Love your work, too.
Thanks, Will. I’m glad you’re “getting” the notan. I do like to think that my approach to teaching composition takes a different track than usual, and that it is helpful to contemporary artists. So thanks for validating that!
I’ve been studying Notan from a cut paper perspective and this was eye opening. Great presentation and examples.
Thanks, Gloria. The cut paper approach to notan is very challenging, but can be an eye opener. Of course, the notan is all about eye opening! and seeing deeply. Congrats.