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The Artist's "Methods"
Balance: Balance refers to the arrangement of elements on either side of a center line. Shapes, colors, and values can be arranged to create a sense of comfort and balance. Most successful compositions achieve balance in one of two ways: symmetrically (formal balance) or asymmetrically (informal balance). Radial symmetry is the result of arranging elements equally around a center point.
Contrast: Contrast refers to differences in values, colors, or other art elements. Contrast is used to make artwork exciting.
Emphasis: In artwork, visual emphasis is placed on the most important parts of the work (focal area). Other things in the artwork may be important, but we look in the focal area to see what the artist emphasized.
Movement: Artists use visual movement to guide the viewer eye to move along edges and lines, and paths made of connect shapes of similar value or color. Such movement often leads us to the focal area and gives our work a sense of unity and organization.
Pattern: Patterns are made in art when the same shapes or elements are repeated again and again. Pattern can be regular or irregular. Regular patterns result with elements that are carefully controlled and repeated accurately whereas irregular patterns are found with random repeated elements that don’t seem planned, as found in nature.
Rhythm: Rhythm is based on the repetition of art elements. Developing rhythm in a work of art will help unify the surface and create a feeling of planned organization. Regular rhythm is planned by using the same elements repeatedly, but not necessarily exactly. Irregular rhythm is developed when elements are repeated but with more variety, i.e. a city skyline, or waves in the ocean.
Unity: Unity makes a work of art feel complete and finished because everything (such as color, texture, repetition, movement, and the subject) seems to be in harmony and work together. While variety keeps the artwork interesting, consistency will create unity. If everything looks too much alike, the work may appear dull, whereas unity with variety is much more pleasing.
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