Chapter 6 Art (Unity, Variety, Balance)
Symmetrical Balance
If a work can be cut in half and each side looks exactly (or nearly exactly) the same, then it is symmetrically balanced -Near-perfect symmetry exists in the human body -Because it is a part of our physical body, symmetry can seem very natural and we can make natural connections to it
Compositional Unity
-An artist creates compositional unity by organizing all the visual aspects of a work -Too much similarity of shape, color, line, or any single element or principle of art can be monotonous and make us lose interest -Too much variety can lead to a lack of structure and the absence of a central idea
Balance
-Balance refers to the distribution of elements, whether unified or varied, within a work -Just as real objects have physical weight, parts of a work of art can have visual weight, or impact -If the amount of 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 -Balance is imposed on a work when the artist achieves an appropriate combination of unity and variety
Conceptual Unity
-Conceptual unity refers to the cohesive expression of ideas within a work of art -The expression of ideas may not look organized, but an 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
Gestalt Unity
-Gestalt is a German word for form or shape -Refers to something in which the whole seems greater than the sum of its parts -We get a sense of gestalt when we comprehend how compositional unity and conceptual unity work together
Unity
-Provides an artwork with its cohesiveness and helps communicate its visual idea -Artists are concerned with three kinds of unity: compositional, conceptual, and gestalt (the complete order and indivisible unity of all aspects of an artwork's design) -refer to composition of order and harmony -Unity gives a work a certain oneness or cohesion
Radial Balance
-Radial balance (or symmetry) is achieved when all elements in a work are equidistant 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 and architecture where repetition plays an important role in the design
Variety=Diversity
-Variety is a kind of visual diversity that brings many different ideas, media, and elements together in one composition -Variety is a collection of ideas, elements, or materials that are fused together into one design -Variety is about uniqueness and diversity -Artists use a multiplicity of values, textures, colors, and so on to intensify the impact of a work -Variety can invigorate a design -Variety is the artist's way of giving a work of art a jolt -Variety is expressed in contrast and difference
Asymmetrical Balance
-When artists organize a composition they often use different visual "weights" on each side of it -This applies when the elements on the left and right sides are not the same, but the combination of elements counters each other