Post 139: Composition 5. Subject Symmetry and Visual Balance

Composition: Subject Symmetry and Visual Balance

Part 5 of my Composition Series

Visual Balance in art is described as, "when an Artist distributes the forms, color, line, and other elements of art to spread out in the space. Balance is one of the Principles of Art and Design and an essential one. People who do not understand balance in arts will feel that something is not right in the artwork." - From Madhansart.com

If your subject(s) are balanced across the canvas it could be that a visually heavy single item on one side is balanced by several smaller items on the other side. For instance, a single large tree to one side of the canvas has a grouping of smaller trees across from it. This helps to visually balance the design, not only with the number, but the 'weight' is distributed, via the colors, numbers, sizes, etc. Sort of like a balance on a scale of a single object may weigh the same as many objects on the other side.

 

 

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash 

The balance in the image should be from left to the right, from top to the bottom and from foreground to background. Water reflections are very cool and interesting ways to show symmetry.

 

 

Photo by Matt Gross on Unsplash

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This is part of a series of blog posts on the guidelines, or rules of composition. Look for all of them in the Search this Blog feature at the top right by searching for the word "composition". I hope you enjoy the posts!

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Local Art: Visit us at Clearbrook Center of the Arts at Tackett's Mill in Lake Ridge, VA on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 – it’s free to see the artwork! Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

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Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com & her Blog at https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/.