Creating a visually-striking composition requires a thorough knowledge of art elements and principles. Art principles are created by combining art elements such as line, shape, value, texture, form, color and space. The elements are the building blocks that go together to produce visual principles such as harmony, variety, balance, movement, emphasis, proportion and rhythm. Whether analyzing or composing artwork, one must have a complete understanding of how art principles are created.
The Art Principle of Harmony
Visual harmony is achieved when all of the art elements within a work of art interact well. Many times, this can be accomplished by using similar types of shapes, lines or colors within a work of art.
A harmonious work of art might use only organic or only geometric shapes and lines to create a unified composition. Colors could also be used to create a feel of unity within the piece. Using all cool or all warm colors would help to produce a harmonious work of art.
The Art Principle of Variety
A strong composition will also demonstrate the principle of variety. Variety is accomplished by using differing lines, shapes and colors within an artwork to make key areas stand out.
Variety can be used to pull the eye to a focal point within the artwork. For instance, if a red dot is placed within a artwork that uses primarily cool colors, the eye will be pulled to the red dot. Artists can use this idea to direct a viewer's eye to a place within the art that he or she wants to emphasize.
Variety can also be accomplished by altering the types of shapes or lines used within an artwork. For instance, a geometric shape could be placed within a composition that uses primarily organic shapes and lines. This difference in shape, helps to emphasize the area of the composition in which the shape is placed.
The Art Principle of Balance
All artists must pay attention to how a work of art is balanced. The art principle of balance refers to the way in which visual weight is distributed throughout a composition. Compositions can display either symmetrical or asymmetrical balance.
Symmetrical balance refers to a composition in which the visual weight is perfectly and evenly distributed each side of the artwork. A symmetrical composition can be divided down the center and each side will be close to a mirror image of the other.
Asymmetrical balance refers to those compositions in which the visual weight is not evenly distributed to both sides of the work of art. Asymmetrical artworks will have a dominant side in which the majority of the visual weight is placed.
The Art Principle of Movement
Movement refers to the way that an eye moves throughout a work of art. It does not refer to a depiction of movement within an artwork. Because of this, movement can be referred to as visual movement.
An artist creates visual movement to drive the eye to the focal point of the artwork. The artist might try to use lines and shapes that point toward the focal point to move the eye to that area. Many artists also try to create a visual loop in which the eye moves in a circle throughout the artwork. This visual loop keeps the viewer engaged in the work of art and keeps the eye from straying outside of the picture plane.
The Art Principle of Emphasis
Emphasis refers to the need of an artist to create a focal point within a composition. The focal point is the most important part of a work of art and the viewer's eye should be drawn to that area.
The point that is emphasized is the part of the painting, drawing or sculpture that the artist feels is most important. In a portrait, the focal point will almost always be the eyes of the subject. In more narrative or expressive works of art, the focal point could be anything that the artist wants to emphasize.
Emphasis can be achieved by using a combination of elements to create visual movement to the focal point. Using contrasting colors can also help to emphasize a focal point.
The Art Principle of Proportion
Proportion refers to the way that items work together within an artwork. Artists must make sure that the relative sizes of items within a composition make logical sense.
In most cases, artists try to make all of the parts in a composition relate logically to each other, and artists strive to depict the human form within the proper proportion.
Artists can also play with the idea of proportion to emphasize certain ideas. For instance, Michelangelo's sculpture, La Pieta, features the virgin Mary holding Jesus after he was crucified and Mary is significantly larger than Jesus. This shift in scale is used to show the fragility of Jesus and to emphasize Mary's maternal relationship to Jesus.
The Art Principle of Rhythm
Rhythm refers to the use of visual repetition within a work of art. Repeating visual elements can create visual energy and interest.
Rhythm can also be referred to as pattern. Patterns within an artwork are created by repeating certain colors, line or shapes in specific areas. Rhythm can be used to create texture and variety within a work of art.
Assessing the Artwork as a Whole
Developing a complete understanding of the art principles of harmony, variety, balance, movement, emphasis, proportion and rhythm helps viewers to better understand how a work of art is composed. By identifying and evaluating the effectiveness of principles within artwork, viewers can understand what makes one work of art more successful than another. Those who examine the visual principles will continually strengthen their visual literacy and develop a deeper understanding of visual art.
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