Illustration Tutorial: How to Break Down a Surreal Composition

Discover how abstract shapes and visual hierarchy help reveal the deeper meaning in a painting—featuring a breakdown of Renee McGrit’s surreal composition.

Understanding composition in art is key to unlocking how visual storytelling works. In this breakdown, artist and educator Tanya Konova takes us inside one of her favorite artworks by Renee McGrit, guiding us through the creation of a compositional summary that reveals the painting’s deeper meaning.

Using abstract shapes, Tanya simplifies the elements of the artwork without focusing on detail. She begins by blocking out the sky in light blue, then anchors the eye with the compositional center—a dark nest contrasted with light egg shapes, strategically placed to draw immediate attention.

From there, she introduces the background mountains, which upon closer inspection, form the silhouette of a giant bird—a clever visual technique that adds a surreal and symbolic layer to the image. Tanya points out how contrast, balance, and focal points are used to guide the viewer’s eye, step by step, unveiling new meaning as you observe more closely.

Even small elements like a white moon in the sky are included with compositional intent—to anchor open space and keep the visual rhythm flowing.

Whether you're a painter, illustrator, or designer, mastering compositional analysis will enhance how you see, create, and interpret visual work. If you want to go deeper into techniques that guide the viewer’s attention through a piece, explore Tanya’s full Domestika course on composition in visual art.