dedication This book is dedicated to my wife, my daughter and my mother: Mary Beth for her unending patience and support, Elizabeth for her spirit and Mom for her prayers. acknowledgments My years editing have taught me that every book is a team effort, not the product of one individual. This book could not have hap- pened without the help of the following peo- ple, to whom I extend my deepest gratitude: Jennifer Lepore Kardux for her patient and firm direction; Rachel Wolf for her wise counsel from the very beginning; Wendy Dunning for her wonderful design work; and to all the contributing artists whose work graces the pages of this book. Most of the ideas in this book are not my original creation, although I hope their syn- thesis into my concept of the one rule of composition makes them more accessible