Some More Compositional Tools (Focal point and Emphasis, Rhythm, and Scale & Proportion)
Gericault, Horse Attacked by a Tiger What is the artist asking us to pay attention to?How is he doing that?
Degas, The Café Singer Focal point: an element in the composition that commands the viewer’s attention and invites them to look closer.
Focal points often occur when one element differs from others A light element in a mostly dark design When most elements are soft edged, a hard edged component becomes the focal point If most things are realistic the expressive part is the focal point (or vice versa) Text or graphic symbols When most shapes are consistent but a few differ (circles in a square design)
Stuart Davis, Composition Focal Accents are more than one focal point in an image.
Shepard Fairey In a straightforward image, the focal points are obvious. What is telling us the flowers are the main focal points?
Jeff Wall, The Pine On the Corner Focal points often occur when one element is different than others.
Seattle Weekly Magazine
Text or graphic symbols
Eakins, the Agnew Clinic Emphasis by isolation: when one element is placed off from others.
Jacque-Louis David, The Oath of the Horatti Emphasis by Placement: many elements point to one area, our attention is directed their
Vermeer, The Music Lesson
Grunewald: Christ Descending from the Grave DOMINANCE: Attracts a viewer’s attention through one element dominating the piece
Sol Lewitt, Wall Drawing All over design: focal points are eliminated to emphasis the surface of the entire piece
James Ensor, Christ’s Entry Into the City Where is the focal point? What is emphasized?
SCALE: A term for size. Usually refers to the size of the object relative to the human body or the life-size of the object. Robert Therrien, Stacked Plates
Scale can refer to size within the image or in comparison to real life
Fra Fillipi Polli, Saint Lawrence Heirarchical scale: importance is determined by size
Medallion, Ming Dynasty
Chris Burden, Los Angels Police Department
James Rieck, Shirtsleeves
Julie Mehretu, Goldman Sachs Lobby
Mehretu, Goldman Lobby, Again
Nasca Drawing, Peru
Proportion Refers to relative size, measured against other elements in a composition. For example, in these caricature images, certain features are out of proportion (ears, chin) relative to the rest of the face---in this case, for comic effect.
Charles Ray, Family Romance Illustration of Scale and Proportion shifts
Rene Magritte, Personal Values Contrast of scale: when different scales are used within the same image
Bridget Riley, Drift Rhthym: a visual as well as musical sensation. Related to the impression of movement.
Chairs by Charles Rennie Mackintosh Rhythm requires repetition of elements.
Louise Bourgeois, Partial Recall
Piet Mondrian, Broadway Boogie Woogie
Ed Ruscha, Goodyear Tires, Laurel Canyon, CA Progressive rhythm: shapes changing in a regular manner. Here, the oil stains from parked cars get darker and larger the closer the spaces are to the store.
Robert Delaunay, Composition Alternating rhythm: Motifs alternate regularly to create a pattern
Malevich, Machine Composition Kinestethetic: When a visual experience stimulates another sense. Here, the sense of sound
Malevich, Suprematist Composition What kind of sound is suggested by this composition vs. the previous comp?