Mark Hoffmann Explains Hierarchy

technical stuff…

Every Thursday Mark Hoffmann does a live painting thing, where he talks as he paints on instagram.

I asked some questions.

And Mark was so kind to clue me in on his way of working. When working with color I find it hard to separate the elements in my composition.

Mark Hoffmann explained that by the time you’re trying to do that, it’s already too late! The time to think about the elements in your illustration is when you’re planning the illustration.

The idea is to create Hierarchy.

The main element gets more ‘stuff’, and the secondary element gets less ‘stuff’ and so on.

An example of ‘stuff’:

1. Saturation, Contrast, Line, Composition

2. Saturation, Contrast, Composition

3. Contrast, Composition

4. Composition

Have a decending order of stuff that goes in down the Hierarchy

I tend to do this intuitively and and manually as I wrestle with an illustration. But having a plan from the outset. Is a really good idea. And I’m looking forward to trying it.

Mark says, “it’s always good to make lists to work through”, either on paper or at least in your head.

I was thinking of Mark’s ideas as I watched Red Panda, and got a good appreciation of how visual hierarchy can be achieved.