art quiz 5
distorted scale
An artist may deliberately distort scale to create an abnormal or supernatural effect
contrast
artists look to create effects of contrast by positioning elements next to one another that are very different
asymmetrical balance
balance is achieved between elements of different visual ways -visual weight: this applies when elements in the left and right sides are not the same
human proportion
carefully chosen proportion can make an art object seem pleasing to the eye - this goes for the human body too - the ancient egyptians used the palm of their hand as a unit of measurement - the ancient greeks sought an ideal beauty in the principle of proportion - real human bodies do not have exactly these proportions, but when the ratio 1:1:618
rhythm
gives structure to the experience of looking - guides our eyes from one point to another in a work of art - there is rhythm when there are at least two points of reference in an artwork - the intervals between elements provide points of reference for more complex rhythms
symmetrical balance
if a work can be cut in half and each side looks exactly the same - near perfect. symmetry exists in the human body - ex. the white house
radial balance
is achieved when all elements in a work of art euidistant from a central point and repeat in a symmetrical way from side to side and top to bottom - can imply circular and repeating elements - sometimes used in religious symbols
line
is an effective way to focus a viewers attention in an artwork
Unity
provides an artwork with its cohesiveness and helps communicate its visual idea -an appearance if oneness or wholeness - artists are comcerned with three kinds of unity: compositional, comceptual, and gestalt
conceptual unity
refers to the cohesive expression of ideas within a work of art - the expression of ideas may not look organized but and artist can still communicate them effectively by selecting images that conjure up a single notion - artists bring their own intentions, experiences and reactions to their work - these ideas- conscious and unconscious can also contribute to the conceptual unity of a work
hierarchical scale
refers to the deliberate use of relative size in a work of art, in order to communicate differences in importance - larger= more important - smaller= less important
progressive rhythm
repetition that regularly increases or decreases in frequency - can make the eye move faster or slower across the surface of the work
the golden section
the golden section is a proportional ratio of 1:1:618. which occurs in many natural objects
placement
the placement of elements within a composition controls rythm and creates multiple focal points
alternating rhythm
- artists can intertwine multiple rhythms until they become quite complex - alternation of rhythms can add unpredictability and visual excitement
simple repetitive rhythm
A repeating "pulse" of similar elements sets up a visual rhythm that a viewer can anticipate - such regularity communicates reassurance - the design of buildings is often intended to reassure us about the stability and durability of the structure - for this reason architectural designs often incorporate simple repetition
variety
a collection of ideas, elements or materials that are fused together into one design - variety is about uniqueness and diversity - artists use multiplicity of values, textures, colors and so on to intensify the impact of a work - variety can invigorate a design - the artists way of giving a work of art a jolt
unity: compositional
an artist creates compositional unity by organizing all the visual aspects of a work - too much similarity of a shape, color, line or any single element of principle of art= monotonous and/or make us lose interest - too much variety can lead to a lack of structure and the a sense of a central idea
scale
artists and designers make conscious choices about the scale of their work when they consider the message they want to put across - a small scale work implies intimacy - large scale works can be experienced by groups of viewers and usually communicate big ideas directed at a large audience -practical considerations can affect an artists decision about scale
proportion
the relationships between the sizes of diff. parts of a work make up its proportions - by controlling these size relationships, an artist can enhance the expressive and descriptive characteristics of the work
focal point
the specific part of an area of emphasis to which the artist draws our eye
repetition
the use of repetition usually results in the creation of a pattern - creates unity by repeatedly using a similar shape, value, color or other elements - religion of a pattern can impose order on the composition - alternating patterns make a work more lively
gestalt unity
the whole seems greater than the sum of its parts
balance
usual or actual weights are distributed in such a way that they achieve many - just as real objects have physical weight, parts of a work of art can have visual weight or impact - if the amount of the visual weight does not have a reasonable counterweight on the opposite side, the work may appear to be unsuccessful or unfinished - if there are reasonable visual counterweights the work seems complete and balance has been achieved
scale and meaning
usually a monumental scale indicates heroism or other epic virtues ex. war monuments
Emphasis and Subordination
when an artist emphasis different elements in a work of art, he or she creates visual relationships and connects between them - the opposite of emphasis is subordination