That a viewer does not see what the artist intended does not make the composition a failure... In reality all artists speak first to themselves and then to an audience.
Mike SvobWhen we look at a painting, listen to a piece of music, read a novel, or watch a movie we are taking in the artist's composition. The composition is the totality of the work.
Mike SvobThink of the centre of interest in a painting as you would read it in a novel or see it in a movie. The crisis or climax is that point when you simply can't put the book down or wouldn't dare leave the movie, for whatever reason.
Mike Svob