"There are no rules and regulations for perfect composition. If there were we would be able to put all the information into a computer and would come out with a masterpiece. We know that's impossible. You have to compose by the seat of your pants"

Arnold Newman’s words explore the elusive and intuitive nature of artistic creation, particularly in the realm of composition. He dismisses the idea that creating something visually or emotionally compelling can be reduced to a set of fixed instructions or a formula. Unlike solving a mathematical equation or following a recipe, composing an artwork, a photograph, or even a piece of music does not yield predictable results when rules are mechanically applied. The act of creating something extraordinary defies codification precisely because the process is deeply personal and uniquely influenced by variables that cannot be predetermined or quantified.

Newman uses the analogy of putting information into a computer to illustrate a world where perfect composition could be attained by following concrete rules. If artistic mastery could be achieved by algorithm, truly original work would cease to exist, as art would become formulaic, stripped of nuance, emotion, and the unpredictable spark of creativity. What he asserts is that art exists beyond the realm of simple logic or computation; it lives in intuition, the subconscious, and the interplay between intention and accident. Attempting to standardize creativity would eliminate the very qualities that make art resonate with individuals on a deep and unrepeatable level.

To compose “by the seat of your pants” is to embrace spontaneity, gut feeling, and individual response to the world. It recognizes the value of personal experience, experimentation, and adaptation in the moment. An artist must be willing to take risks, to trust their instincts, and to respond dynamically to the subject and environment. Sometimes what feels right defies traditional rules, and it is precisely in those moments of creative freedom that a composition comes alive. Newman encourages creators not only to learn from tradition but also to move beyond it, fostering the originality, emotion, and vitality that make composition an act of genuine personal expression.