CHAPTER 6 NOTES

Unity

An overall sense of oneness or unity can be created by maintaining a constant element throughout a work Imposing order and harmony on a design Can be visual or conceptual unity Provides an artwork with its cohesiveness: all parts seem necessary, belong together to make a coherent whole

Variety

Artists can incorporate the principle of variety in their work by having various colors, shapes, textures, etc. Variety is a kind of visual diversity that brings many different ideas, media, and elements together in one composition Variety adds visual interest

Proportion

Comparative relationship or ratio of things to one another size relationships between parts of a whole, or between two or more items perceived as a unit Proportion is often been used in art to represent beauty or an ideal

Radial Balance

Elements radiate from a center point The following examples show radial balance:

Emphasis/Focal Point

Having emphasis or a focal point brings the viewer's attention in to a particular part of the composition. Focal Point - the main point of interest in a work of art. This area of the composition holds the viewer's attention A focal point can be achieved by accentuating certain shapes/forms, intensifying value or color, strategically placing objects/isolating objects, etc.

Horizontal, Vertical, & Diagonal Balance

Horizontal balance - the elements in the left and right sides of the composition are approximately equal in number or visual emphasis Vertical balance - balance arranged according to a horizon line and to what is above and below it; elements in the top and bottom of the composition are balanced Diagonal balance - elements on either side of a diagonally divided pictorial space seem to be about equal in weight, number, or emphasis See examples on pages 98-99

Suzanne Valadon, The Blue Room

Includes three contrasting patterns The blue bed covering, in the lower portion of the painting The green-and-white striped pattern in the woman's pajama bottoms Above the figure is a mottled pattern The differences in these patterns energize the work

Symmetrical Balance

Is created through approximate symmetry - the whole work has a symmetrical feeling, but there are slight variations that give variety/visual interest (more so than a mirror image would). The arrangement of forms on either side of a dividing line or plane are similar The following examples show symmetrical balance in art:

Golden mean / Golden section

Mathematical set of ideal proportions (1.618 proportion) often applied to art and architecture Principle that a small part of a work should relate to a larger part of the work in proportion to the manner in which the larger part relates to the whole This is often seen in nature (in plants, petals, seeds, etc.)

Progressive Rhythm

Minor variations in rhythm The rhythm of elements change slightly as they move or progress Examples in the following slides:

Unity

Other ways that artists create a sense of unity: The grid can often be used in a work of art to unify the various elements of the composition Placing objects in close proximity to one another in a composition can create visual unity The repetition of common shapes, colors, textures, etc. can also create a sense of unity Color and value The use of line and how it can lead the viewer's eyes around the composition can create unity See examples on pages 84-87

Scale

Scale means size in relation to a standard or "normal size," the size we expect something to be.

Multiple Focal Points

Sometimes a work of art has multiple focal points. This draws our attention to several different parts of the composition, giving each equal importance. At the same time it diminishes the significance of each, compelling us to consider the whole work of art over any one part of it. See example on page 94

Distortion of Scale

Sometimes artists distort the scale of an object to challenge the viewer to look at the familiar in a new way to provide a new perspective on something or on the relationship between things.

Afocal

The absence of a focal point Sometimes artists avoid having a focal point. In the following examples, the artists avoided having any emphasis or focal point in their work. This lack of emphasis often creates a feeling of confusion or sensory overload, as there is no place for you to rest your eyes.

Ordered Chaos

The artist's depiction of a chaotic subject with a unifying sense of order. A subtle unifying element brings order to the composition and keeps it from being completely chaotic. A great example can by seen in Veronese's The Wedding Feast at Cana. In this busy painting, the architectural elements and use of one-point perspective help unify and bring order to the busy chaotic scene of figures.

Visual balance / pictorial balance

The distribution of apparent or visual weight of the elements in art (two-dimensional)

Balance

The distribution of weight throughout a composition. Balance refers to the distribution of elements, whether unified or varied, within a work Is visually pleasing, gives a sense of comfort. Actual balance & visual balance

Relative size

The size of an object or figure in relation to other objects or figures By establishing the relationship between the familiar and the unfamiliar, the artist can help us understand the size of something

Hierarchical scaling

The use of relative size/scale to indicate the relative importance of the forms being depicted. The most important figure (a king or god) will be portrayed as much larger than other figures. (larger = more important) The following slides show hierarchical scale, where one figure is depicted much larger than the others to emphasize their importance:

Pattern

The use of repetition in a work of art usually results in pattern Artists often create unity in works of art by repeatedly using a similar shape, value, or color, etc. An artist can use repetition of a pattern to impose order on a work

Principles of Design

Unity Variety Balance Emphasis & Focal point Rhythm Scale Proportion Pattern

Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen,Mistos (Match Cover)

Uses monumental scale to poke fun while expressing admiration for the little things of everyday life Oldenburg transforms the essence of everyday things as he magnifies their sculptural form Oldenburg believes that the items of mass culture, no matter how insignificant they might seem, express a truth about modern life

Chuck Close & pattern

Uses motif to unify his paintings Uses a repeated pattern of organic concentric rings set into a diamond shape as the basic building blocks for his large compositions There is a difference between a close-up view of the painting and the overall effect when we stand back from this enormous canvas A grid that subdivides the entire image organizes the placement of each cell

Alternating Rhythm

When different elements in a work of art or architecture are repeated in a regular, predictable order as seen in the following slide:

Asymmetrical Balance

When one side has more weight than the other, but the piece still maintains a sense of balance. One side of a composition can have different shapes/values/colors/textures, but they are arranged in a way that gives a sense of balance. Generally with asymmetrical balance, your eye is drawn more to one side of the composition The following examples show asymmetrical balance: