Balance

Symmetrical Balance A form of balance achieved by the use of identical elements and/or colors on either side of a real or imaginary dividing line. This is usually the least interesting type of balance. HorizontalVerticalDiagonal

Victor Vasserely Untitled

Pablo Picasso Bull’s Head

Victor Vasserely Untitled

Approximate Symmetry A type of balance that uses similar elements and/or colors on either side of a real or imaginary dividing line.

Grant Wood American Gothic

Andy Warhol Campbell’s Soup

Vincent van Gogh Wheatfield

Wayne Thiebaud Pie Counter

Radial Balance A type of balance that uses elements distributed around a center point or arranged in a circular pattern.

Jasper Johns Target

Robert Smithson Spiral Jetty

Asymmetrical Balance (Not symmetrical) A type of balance in which the elements are different from one side to another. This type of balance uses contrasts in size, shape and color to achieve balance. This is usually the most interesting type of balance.

Vincent van Gogh Starry Night

Piet Mondrian Composition with Red, Yellow, and Blue

Frederick Remington The Scout

Salvidor Dali The Persistence of Memory

Roy Lichtenstein Wham!

David Hockney Mother

Elements The basic parts of a work of art. Examples include color, shape, line, texture, and space.

Composition The placement or arrangement of the elements in a work of art.

Media, Medium The materials used by an artist to create a work of art. Examples include paint, plaster, bronze, pencils, wood, and crayons.

Subject Matter The person, place or things represented in a work of art.

Organic Shapes Shapes made of irregular or curved lines or shapes that might be found in nature.

Geometric Shapes Shapes made of straight lines or shapes found in geometry. Squares, triangles, circles, pentagons, etc.