Which is where equal elements are placed on opposite sides of a central axis?

Presentation on theme: "BALANCE AND COLOR Art I. Balance  Balance is the principle of design concerned with equalizing the elements in a work of art.  Balance causes you to."— Presentation transcript:

1 BALANCE AND COLOR Art I

2 Balance  Balance is the principle of design concerned with equalizing the elements in a work of art.  Balance causes you to feel that the elements in the artwork have been arranged just right.  Central axis: a dividing line that works like the point of balance in the balance scale. Can be vertical or horizontal.

3 Formal Balance  Occurs when equal, or very similar, elements are placed on opposite sides of a central axis.  The axis can be real or imaginary

4 Symmetry  A special type of formal balance in which two halves of a balanced composition are identical, mirror images of each other.  (Bilateral symmetry)  Used to express dignity, endurance, and stability.  Approximate symmetry: a type of formal balance with small differences on either side of the axis.

5 Symmetry

6 Approximate Symmetry

7 Radial Balance  Radial balance occurs when the elements of a design come out (radiate) from a central point.  The axis is the center point.

8 Radial Balance

9 Informal Balance  Informal balance gives the viewer a comfortable feeling when looking at it.  Involves balance of unlike objects (two unlike objects have equal weight).  Another name for informal balance can be ASYMMETRICAL balance.  Seems less planned when in fact it takes more work to balance out the objects!

10 Informal (asymmetrical)

11  http://thehelpfulartteacher.blogspot.com/2011/02 /asymmetrical-balance-creating-dynamic.html http://thehelpfulartteacher.blogspot.com/2011/02 /asymmetrical-balance-creating-dynamic.html

12 Your Assignment  You will be choosing to create either an ASYMMETRICAL balance design, radial balance OR a SYMMETRICAL design.  Your design will need to be unique to you! You will need to use the entire space provided.  We will be learning the color schemes – you will be incorporating a color scheme into your design using colored pencil shading techniques.

13 Objectives  Demonstrate knowledge of balance  Demonstrate knowledge of color schemes  Demonstrate craftsmanship with presentation of project  Demonstrate colored pencil shading techniques  Create an original balance design

14 Process  Step 1: Come up with a unique design. Research some designs in your textbook, on the internet, etc. You may combine images together to create a composition.  Sketch 3 ideas (thumbnails) in your sketchbook  Step 2: study the color schemes.  Step 3: choose a color scheme you wish to use on your project.  Step 4: Draw an outline on a final piece of paper and shade it in with colored pencil techniques.

15 Student Examples

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17 Grading Criteria  Craftsmanship10pts  Color Scheme20pts  Balance20pts  Technical Skill20pts  Originality20pts  Participation10pts Total:100pts

The principles are:

Balance

Balance is the concept of visual equilibrium, and relates to our physical sense of balance. It is a reconciliation of opposing forces in a composition that results in visual stability. Most successful compositions achieve balance in one of two ways: symmetrically or asymmetrically. Balance in a three dimensional object is easy to understand; if balance isn't achieved, the object tips over. To understand balance in a two dimensional composition, we must use our imaginations to carry this three dimensional analogy forward to the flat surface.

Symmetrical balance can be described as having equal "weight" on equal sides of a centrally placed fulcrum. It may also be referred to as formal balance. When the elements are arranged equally on either side of a central axis, the result is Bilateral symmetry. This axis may be horizontal or vertical. It is also possible to build formal balance by arranging elements equally around a central point , resulting in radial symmetry.

There is a variant of symmetrical balance called approximate symmetry in which equivalent but not identical forms are arranged around the fulcrum line.

Whether the solution is simple or complex, some form of balance can be identified in most successful compositions. For a further discussion of balance in design see these sites:
Symmetrical balance
Asymmetrical balance

Proportion

Proportion refers to the relative size and scale of the various elements in a design. The issue is the relationship between objects, or parts, of a whole. This means that it is necessary to discuss proportion in terms of the context or standard used to determine proportions.

In contrast, the proportions of a private home are usually more in scale with human measure, and as a result it appears more friendly, comfortable, less intimidating.

Use of appropriate scale in surface design is also important. For example, an overly large textile design can overwhelm the form of a garment or a piece of furniture.

A surprising aspect of proportion is the way ideal proportions can vary for the human body itself. Styles change in bodies as they do in clothing. Prior to the 16th century, for example, the female body ideally had large hips and belly. Only later was a small waistline stressed.

In the 17th century and many other periods, the ideal body was much heavier than we would accept today.

Of course, in the last 35 years the ideal personified by the fashion model has fostered a standard which idealizes exceptionally slender body proportions for women. In this century, sports have provided models for ideal male body proportions. Beginning with the rise of televised football in the 1960's, and the subsequent fitness boom, an increasingly exaggerated muscular silhouette, corresponding to that of the uniformed and padded football player, was presented as the ultimate male form. Only in this period could Arnold Schwartzenegger have represented the heroic ideal body image. This trend reached its most extreme form in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Since that time the emergence of basketball as the predominant American sport has led to a more naturally proportioned fit body ideal for men.

In addition, artists frequently take liberties with the natural proportions of the human body to achieve their expressive goals. A well known classic example is Michaelangelo's David, in which distortions of proportion are used by the artist to depict both the youthfulness of the boy David, together with the power of the hero about to conquer the giant Goliath. The surrealist painter Magritte often used distortions of proportions to create striking effects.

When equal or very similar elements are placed on opposite sides?

What is a central axis in art?

When elements are symmetrically arranged around a central point in all directions What is it called?

Is the type of balance when both sides of the central axis are not identical yet appear to have the same visual weight?