2.1 Balance
7 min read•august 19, 2024
is a crucial element in art and design, creating visual harmony and stability. It involves arranging elements to achieve equilibrium, whether through symmetry, asymmetry, or radial patterns. Understanding balance helps artists craft compositions that are visually appealing and emotionally impactful.
Various techniques like the and aid in achieving balance. Different types of balance, such as static vs dynamic or horizontal vs vertical, can evoke specific moods. Balancing color, , and space further enhances compositional strength and viewer engagement.
Principles of balance
- Balance involves arranging elements in a composition to create a sense of stability, harmony, and equilibrium
- Understanding the different types of balance allows artists to create visually pleasing and engaging compositions
Symmetrical vs asymmetrical balance
Top images from around the web for Symmetrical vs asymmetrical balance
Symmetry | Lotus Temple, New Delhi, India | Nam | Flickr View original
Is this image relevant?
Symmetrical Balance, Asymmetrical Balance, Horizontal, and Diagonal | Flickr - Photo Sharing! View original
Is this image relevant?
Visual Elements | Boundless Art History View original
Is this image relevant?
Symmetry | Lotus Temple, New Delhi, India | Nam | Flickr View original
Is this image relevant?
Symmetrical Balance, Asymmetrical Balance, Horizontal, and Diagonal | Flickr - Photo Sharing! View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
Top images from around the web for Symmetrical vs asymmetrical balance
Symmetry | Lotus Temple, New Delhi, India | Nam | Flickr View original
Is this image relevant?
Symmetrical Balance, Asymmetrical Balance, Horizontal, and Diagonal | Flickr - Photo Sharing! View original
Is this image relevant?
Visual Elements | Boundless Art History View original
Is this image relevant?
Symmetry | Lotus Temple, New Delhi, India | Nam | Flickr View original
Is this image relevant?
Symmetrical Balance, Asymmetrical Balance, Horizontal, and Diagonal | Flickr - Photo Sharing! View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
- occurs when elements are mirrored or evenly distributed on either side of an axis (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal)
- Creates a sense of stability, formality, and order
- Often seen in classical architecture and traditional art
- involves arranging elements of varying sizes, shapes, and colors to create a sense of equilibrium without mirroring
- Offers a more dynamic and visually interesting composition
- Requires careful consideration of visual weight and placement
Radial balance
- is achieved when elements radiate outward from a central point
- Creates a sense of movement and energy
- Commonly seen in mandala designs and circular compositions
- Elements can be arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically around the central point
Crystallographic balance
- is a complex form of balance that combines symmetry and asymmetry
- Involves repeating patterns and shapes that create a sense of order and structure
- Often found in nature (snowflakes, honeycombs) and can be applied to art and design
Techniques for achieving balance
- Various techniques and principles can be employed to create balanced compositions
- Understanding these techniques allows artists to make informed decisions when arranging elements
Rule of thirds
- The rule of thirds involves dividing a composition into nine equal parts using two horizontal and two vertical lines
- Key elements are placed along these lines or at their intersections
- Creates a sense of balance and visual interest
- Helps guide the viewer's eye through the composition
Golden ratio
- The golden ratio (approximately 1:1.618) is a mathematical proportion found in nature and art
- Used to create harmonious and aesthetically pleasing compositions
- Can be applied to the overall composition or individual elements
- Helps establish a sense of balance and visual appeal
Balancing positive and negative space
- refers to the areas occupied by the subject or main elements in a composition
- is the area surrounding the subject or between elements
- Balancing positive and negative space creates a sense of equilibrium
- Negative space can be used to define and emphasize the subject
Types of balance in composition
- Different types of balance can be used to create various visual effects and evoke specific emotions
- Understanding these types allows artists to choose the most appropriate balance for their intended message
Static vs dynamic balance
- creates a sense of stability and calm
- Achieved through symmetry or equal distribution of visual weight
- Suitable for compositions that aim to convey a sense of order and tranquility
- creates a sense of movement and energy
- Achieved through asymmetry and the use of contrasting elements
- Engages the viewer and adds visual interest to the composition
Horizontal vs vertical balance
- refers to the distribution of elements along the horizontal axis
- Creates a sense of stability and calmness
- Often used in landscapes and still life compositions
- involves the arrangement of elements along the vertical axis
- Creates a sense of height, grandeur, and spirituality
- Commonly seen in portraits and architectural compositions
Balance of value and color
- Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color
- Balancing light and dark values creates a sense of depth and dimension
- High contrast can create drama, while low contrast can evoke a sense of harmony
- involves the use of complementary colors, color temperature, and saturation
- Balanced color schemes create visual harmony and evoke specific emotions
- Color imbalances can create tension and draw attention to specific areas
Psychological effects of balance
- The way elements are balanced in a composition can have a profound impact on the viewer's emotional response
- Artists can use balance to evoke specific moods and convey intended messages
Emotional impact of balanced compositions
- Balanced compositions can create a sense of stability, harmony, and order
- Evokes feelings of calm, peace, and satisfaction
- Suitable for compositions that aim to provide a sense of comfort and reassurance
- Well-balanced compositions are visually pleasing and easier for the viewer to process
Imbalance and tension
- Intentional can create a sense of tension, unease, or dynamism
- Draws the viewer's attention and evokes a sense of curiosity or anticipation
- Can be used to convey feelings of instability, chaos, or movement
- Imbalance should be used purposefully to support the intended message or emotion
Balance in representational art
- Representational art depicts recognizable subjects from the real world
- Balance in representational art can be achieved through various approaches
Naturalistic balance
- involves arranging elements to closely resemble their appearance in the real world
- Aims to create a sense of realism and authenticity
- Requires careful observation and accurate representation of proportions, perspective, and lighting
- Suitable for compositions that aim to capture the beauty and harmony of the natural world
Exaggerated and stylized balance
- involves intentionally distorting or emphasizing certain elements for artistic effect
- Can create a sense of drama, emotion, or symbolism
- Requires a strong understanding of the principles of balance to maintain visual coherence
- involves simplifying or abstracting elements while maintaining a sense of equilibrium
- Creates a unique artistic style and can convey specific moods or messages
- Requires a keen eye for composition and an ability to balance simplified forms
Abstract balance
- Abstract art does not depict recognizable subjects from the real world
- Balance in abstract art is achieved through the arrangement of shapes, colors, and forms
Nonobjective balance
- Nonobjective art does not represent or depict any recognizable objects or subjects
- Balance is achieved through the pure arrangement of visual elements
- Relies on the principles of design, such as contrast, repetition, and visual weight
- Requires a strong understanding of composition and the ability to create harmony without referencing real-world objects
Intuitive balance in abstract works
- involves creating equilibrium through instinctive and spontaneous arrangement of elements
- Relies on the artist's innate sense of balance and composition
- Can result in unique and expressive compositions that evoke specific emotions or moods
- Requires a deep connection between the artist and the artwork, allowing for a free-flowing creative process
Balance across art movements
- The concept of balance has been interpreted and applied differently across various art movements and periods
- Understanding how balance has evolved over time can provide insight into the cultural and artistic context of each era
Classical and Renaissance balance
- Classical art (ancient Greece and Rome) emphasized symmetry, proportion, and harmony
- Reflected the ideals of beauty, order, and rationality
- Influenced the development of the Renaissance art movement
- Renaissance art (14th-17th centuries) continued to emphasize balance and proportion
- Incorporated linear perspective and naturalistic representation
- Aimed to create a sense of depth, realism, and visual harmony
Modern and contemporary approaches
- Modern art (late 19th-mid 20th centuries) challenged traditional notions of balance
- Explored new forms of expression, such as abstraction and non-representational art
- Emphasized individual artistic vision and experimentation
- Contemporary art (mid 20th century-present) continues to push the boundaries of balance
- Incorporates a wide range of media, styles, and concepts
- Often seeks to challenge viewers' perceptions and evoke thought-provoking responses
Combining balance with other principles
- Balance is one of several principles of art and design that work together to create successful compositions
- Understanding how balance interacts with other principles can help artists create more effective and engaging artworks
Balance and emphasis
- Emphasis refers to the focal point or area of interest in a composition
- Balance can be used to guide the viewer's eye toward the emphasis
- Intentional imbalance can be used to create contrast and draw attention to the focal point
- Combining creates a clear visual hierarchy and helps convey the intended message
Balance and movement
- Movement refers to the path the viewer's eye takes through a composition
- Balance can be used to control the flow of movement and create a sense of visual rhythm
- Asymmetrical balance and directional elements can be used to guide the viewer's eye through the composition
- Combining creates a dynamic and engaging visual experience
Balance and unity
- Unity refers to the sense of harmony and cohesiveness in a composition
- Balance contributes to unity by creating a sense of visual order and stability
- Consistent use of elements, such as color, shape, and texture, can enhance unity and balance
- Combining creates a visually pleasing and well-integrated composition that effectively communicates the intended message or emotion
Key Terms to Review (30)
Abstract balance: Abstract balance refers to a compositional principle in art where elements are arranged in a way that creates a sense of equilibrium, but not through traditional symmetry. Instead, it emphasizes a dynamic distribution of visual weight and form that can evoke feelings or ideas rather than merely replicating reality. This type of balance allows artists to create tension, movement, or harmony through the thoughtful placement of colors, shapes, and textures.
Asymmetrical Balance: Asymmetrical balance refers to a type of balance in a composition where elements are arranged unevenly but still create a sense of harmony and stability. This approach often relies on visual weight rather than symmetrical mirroring, allowing for more dynamic and interesting compositions that can lead the viewer’s eye through the artwork.
Balance: Balance refers to the visual stability achieved in a composition, where elements are arranged in a way that creates a sense of equilibrium. This concept is crucial in art and design as it helps guide the viewer's eye and ensures that no single element overwhelms the others, contributing to an overall harmonious appearance.
Balance and Emphasis: Balance refers to the visual distribution of elements within a composition, creating a sense of stability and equilibrium. Emphasis, on the other hand, involves highlighting specific elements to draw attention and create focal points within the artwork. Together, balance and emphasis help artists guide the viewer’s eye and convey meaning effectively.
Balance and Movement: Balance refers to the distribution of visual weight in a composition, while movement is the path the viewer's eye follows through the artwork. Together, these concepts help create harmony and guide the viewer's experience, ensuring that no single element overwhelms the others and that the viewer is engaged throughout the piece.
Balance and Unity: Balance and unity refer to the principles of design that help create a cohesive and harmonious composition in visual arts. Balance involves distributing visual elements in a way that achieves a sense of equilibrium, while unity ensures that all parts of a work contribute to a single, cohesive whole, making the artwork feel complete and intentional.
Classical balance: Classical balance refers to a specific type of visual equilibrium achieved in a composition, where elements are symmetrically arranged around a central axis. This concept emphasizes harmony and proportion, often evoking feelings of stability and order. It plays a crucial role in the perception of space and can enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of a work.
Color balance: Color balance refers to the adjustment of the intensities of different colors in a composition to create a harmonious visual experience. This concept is crucial for achieving a pleasing distribution of color, which can affect the mood, depth, and focus of a piece. Understanding color balance helps artists manipulate the emotional impact of their work by ensuring that no single color dominates unless intentionally designed to do so.
Contemporary Balance: Contemporary balance refers to a modern understanding of how visual elements are distributed in a composition, allowing for dynamic arrangements that may not adhere to traditional symmetry. This balance can include asymmetrical and symmetrical elements, emphasizing movement and interaction within the artwork. Contemporary balance often challenges the viewer's perception, creating an engaging experience through innovative uses of space, color, and form.
Crystallographic balance: Crystallographic balance refers to a specific type of balance in art and design where the composition is organized around a central point or axis, creating a sense of symmetry and harmony. This approach often involves geometric forms that radiate outward from a central element, fostering a dynamic yet stable visual experience. It is characterized by the even distribution of visual weight, which helps to draw the viewer’s eye throughout the artwork while maintaining equilibrium.
Dynamic balance: Dynamic balance refers to a state of equilibrium achieved when an object or figure maintains stability while in motion or experiencing change. This concept is essential in understanding how elements interact within a composition, as it allows for a sense of movement and fluidity while still being visually cohesive. It differs from static balance, where all elements are at rest and symmetrically arranged, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of weight distribution, visual interest, and overall composition.
Emotional impact: Emotional impact refers to the ability of an artwork to evoke feelings and resonate with viewers on a personal level. It encompasses the emotional responses that can arise from visual elements, composition, and subject matter, influencing how a piece is perceived and understood. The strength of emotional impact often lies in the balance achieved within the artwork, which can enhance or detract from its overall message.
Exaggerated balance: Exaggerated balance refers to a compositional technique where visual elements are arranged in a way that emphasizes asymmetry or distortion while still creating a sense of equilibrium. This approach often enhances the emotional impact of a piece by drawing attention to specific areas and guiding the viewer’s eye, making the artwork feel more dynamic and engaging.
Golden Ratio: The golden ratio is a mathematical ratio, approximately 1.618, often denoted by the Greek letter phi (Φ), which is believed to produce aesthetically pleasing compositions in art and design. This ratio can create balance and harmony in visual elements, helping to guide the viewer's eye naturally across the artwork while enhancing the overall appeal and effectiveness of the composition.
Horizontal balance: Horizontal balance refers to the visual equilibrium achieved in a composition when elements are arranged evenly across a horizontal axis. This balance is essential for creating a sense of stability and harmony in an artwork, influencing how the viewer perceives and interacts with the piece. Achieving horizontal balance often involves careful placement of objects, colors, and shapes to ensure that neither side feels heavier than the other.
Imbalance: Imbalance refers to a lack of proportion or equality among different elements in a composition, which can create a sense of instability or tension. This concept is essential for understanding how visual weight is distributed, influencing the viewer's perception and emotional response to a piece. Imbalance can be utilized intentionally in art to provoke feelings or draw attention to specific areas, contributing to the overall message or aesthetic of the work.
Intuitive balance: Intuitive balance refers to the natural sense of harmony and stability that an artist uses when creating a composition, relying on instinct rather than strict mathematical or symmetrical rules. This balance is achieved through the thoughtful arrangement of visual elements like shapes, colors, and space, creating a feeling of equilibrium that resonates with the viewer. Intuitive balance is often more subjective and allows for personal expression, as it can vary widely depending on the artist's intent and emotional connection to the work.
Modern balance: Modern balance refers to a compositional technique that emphasizes equilibrium in visual elements within an artwork, often achieved through asymmetrical arrangements that create a sense of harmony and stability. This approach challenges traditional notions of symmetry and allows artists to explore dynamic interactions between shapes, colors, and spaces, leading to more engaging and expressive works.
Naturalistic balance: Naturalistic balance refers to a visual equilibrium that mimics the organic and dynamic stability found in nature. It involves achieving a sense of harmony in composition through the careful arrangement of elements, creating a realistic portrayal of weight and distribution as seen in real life. This approach emphasizes proportion and alignment to produce a cohesive and lifelike representation.
Negative Space: Negative space refers to the area around and between the subjects of an image, helping to define shapes and forms. Understanding negative space is crucial for creating a sense of balance and harmony in a composition, as it influences how positive space interacts with surrounding areas, patterns, and overall structure.
Nonobjective balance: Nonobjective balance refers to a type of visual balance in art that does not rely on representational forms or recognizable objects. Instead, it focuses on the arrangement and relationship of colors, shapes, and lines to create a sense of equilibrium. This balance is crucial for achieving harmony in abstract compositions, allowing the viewer to engage with the artwork on an emotional or intellectual level rather than a literal one.
Positive Space: Positive space refers to the area within a composition that is occupied by the subject or objects, drawing the viewer's attention. This concept plays a critical role in the overall visual impact, guiding how forms are perceived and how they interact with surrounding elements, such as patterns, balance, and the relationship between positive and negative space. Understanding positive space helps artists create depth and dimension in their work, enhancing the viewer's experience.
Radial Balance: Radial balance is a design principle where elements are arranged around a central point, creating a sense of harmony and equilibrium. This type of balance is often seen in natural forms, architecture, and various art pieces, enhancing visual interest by drawing the viewer's eye towards the center and radiating outward. Radial balance can evoke feelings of movement and unity, making it a powerful tool in composition.
Renaissance Balance: Renaissance balance refers to the harmonious distribution of visual weight in artworks from the Renaissance period, emphasizing proportion, symmetry, and the overall stability of a composition. This concept is essential in creating aesthetically pleasing art that draws the viewer's eye and conveys a sense of order and clarity.
Rule of Thirds: The rule of thirds is a compositional guideline that divides an image into nine equal parts using two horizontal and two vertical lines. This technique helps artists and photographers create balanced and engaging compositions by placing the most important elements along these lines or at their intersections, leading to more dynamic and visually appealing images.
Static balance: Static balance refers to the stable equilibrium of a composition or an object where all elements are arranged in such a way that it appears grounded and secure, creating a sense of rest. This type of balance often emphasizes symmetry and can evoke feelings of calmness and order. It is crucial in visual art as it helps guide the viewer's eye and creates a strong focal point.
Stylized balance: Stylized balance refers to a type of visual equilibrium in art and design where elements are arranged in a way that emphasizes symmetry or asymmetry while incorporating stylistic elements. This concept goes beyond mere physical balance, as it includes the artist's interpretation and creative choices, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing composition that may not strictly adhere to naturalistic proportions or forms.
Symmetrical balance: Symmetrical balance is a design principle where elements are arranged evenly on either side of a central axis, creating a mirror-like effect. This balance helps to convey stability, order, and harmony in a composition, making it an important aspect of visual organization. It contrasts with asymmetrical balance, which achieves equilibrium through differing elements.
Value: Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color, which plays a crucial role in creating depth and dimension in a drawing. It helps convey the illusion of form by emphasizing the relationship between light and shadow, as well as influencing how colors interact with each other. Understanding value is essential for achieving balance, creating effective compositions, and expressing emotion in artwork.
Vertical balance: Vertical balance refers to the distribution of visual weight in a composition, creating a sense of equilibrium along a vertical axis. It involves arranging elements in a way that draws the viewer's eye up and down the piece, ensuring that neither the top nor bottom appears heavier, which contributes to a feeling of stability and harmony within the artwork.