How to Use a Viewfinder for Artwork

A viewfinder can be a very useful tool for cropping any subject into a pleasing composition for creating painted artworks. Here is how to use a view finder to crop an image and how to use that image for a painting.

Things You'll Need

• A viewfinder
• A subject
• Pencil
• Paper
• Your art supplies

Instructions

1. Stand back from your subject.

2. Place the viewfinder in front of you so that the viewfinder frames the subject.

3. Adjust the viewfinder so the the subject is cropped to a pleasing composition. This means eliminating elements that distract from the main subjects.

4. Sketch what you see in the viewfinder.

5. Use your sketch for your painting.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use your hands as a simple viewfinder by making right angles out of your thumbs and index fingers.