Let Your Art Breathe:
The Power of Visual Exits in Your Art

“Together Through It All” 24″ x 72″ by Julie deBoer, Artist & Founder

You know what I love most about you, our community of artists? Is that you’re not afraid to ask questions, to reach out and engage with me, and each other. It’s quite wonderful.

I received an email a few days ago, after our weekly live event, with a follow up question from an artist who had her painting critique by Mentor Doug Swinton. It was a BRILLIANT question! Did you know you can come to all our weekly live events? Grab a free month here.

The question was in response to Doug’s teaching which I summarized as:

Always leave a visual EXIT for the viewer’s eye to escape through, within your composition.

The question was this:

I thought you don’t want an exit in your composition, rather you want the viewer’s eye to be led AROUND the composition?

Great question! Let’s dive into the answer together.

Avoid trapping the viewers eye.

Create visual space to explore.

Yes! Our goal as artists is to lead the viewer’s eye around our composition, keeping them interested and engaged with our art. What we want to avoid, at all costs, is allowing the eye to be pulled off our work. The viewer’s eye should DANCE and FLOW throughout your piece, exploring and responding to what you’ve created.

But there is ANOTHER WAY to lead the viewers’ eye that is often overlooked.

That is INTO the composition, not simply AROUND the composition. Think 3-dimensional depth here – the directional flow from foreground to background. 

It’s easy for artists to unintentionally block this type of flow. The result can be significant. Blocking flow into the composition can make the viewer feel HEMMED IN, TRAPPED, or ANXIOUS. And we certainly don’t want that!

“Bird Houses” by Mentor Deborah Tilby

Do you see it? The top right corner of the composition reveals the sky and is POWERFULLY effective in creating visual space without drawing the eye off the piece. The eye has a place to exit the scene without leaving the painting because the details and strong contrast around the subject (birds, house and poles) continually draw the eye back into the composition. This allows the sky to do its work of creating space.

Use Strategic Exits
Without Losing the Viewer

“Preparing for Shabbat” by Mentor Sandy Blass

The implied sky space allows the eye to exit the scene without leaving the artwork. A beautiful narrative, wonderfully executed.

Create Positive Energy & Curiosity
Through Depth & Space

“Light My Way” ORIGINAL on the left by Mentor Lori Goldberg and my EDITED VERSION on the right

Now, do you see what I mean? It’s hard to miss, isn’t it.

Without the sky holes providing space and a visual exit, we suddenly feel HEMMED IN. The eye darts around looking for an exit and within a few moments, we may start feeling a little anxious and look away.

Now go back to the original on the left and enjoy the feeling of ease, curiosity, and positive energy that exudes this wonderful work of art.

Take a fresh look at your own artwork.
Are you creating space to breathe?

Take a fresh look at your own work today—are you inviting the viewer in, guiding their journey, and giving them room to breathe? Thoughtful composition isn’t just about what you include—it’s about the space you create.

You know you can come right? You can come to every event for a month for free. All you have to do is click here, sign up, and show up. Oh, and if you can’t make it live, you can watch the recordings! It’s a no-brainer.

Keep on creating! See you next week,

Julie deBoer
Artist & Founder