What is Composition in Art? Understanding Design Elements, Principles and Composition
Artistic composition is the way a creator structures their artwork. It is the design that brings all of the elements in a visual work together and unifies them. Although the individual elements of a composition including the brushstrokes, figures, or gestures can have their own beauty, it is the combination of the elements through the artist’s composition that can take their artwork to the next level.
Broadly, composition in art includes the various features that make up a painting, drawing, or sculpture. This can include the structure and overall organization of the elements, the use of line and space, color, light and the use of shape, texture and form.
Design Elements and Principles
The basic design principles and elements describe the aspects of visual composition, such as line and texture, that artists use to create a balanced, interesting and beautiful artwork.
Line: Lines are used to create shapes and define space. They can be curved, diagonal, or angular. Lines can be used to draw the viewer’s focus, or to create an interesting pattern or texture.
Shape: Shapes are forms created by the use of lines, or by the area where two colors meet. Shapes can be geometric or organic and can hold symbolic value.
Space: Space is made up of the empty areas around and in between objects. It is important for the understanding of the overall composition, as it allows for calmness, movement and tension.
Texture: Texture can add dimension and interest to an artwork. Artists use various techniques to create textures, from laying down marks with a brush, to building up and scraping away layers of paint.
Form: Form is the illusion of volume, weight and mass an object within a composition can appear to have. This is typically achieved through the use of tone and shadow.
Value: Value is the lightness and darkness of a color and is created through the amounts of light and dark within the composition.
Color: Color can influence the viewer’s interpretation of artwork and create mood and atmosphere. Colors have an emotional structure and certain combinations can create certain feelings.
Principles of Composition
Principles of composition are the guiding rules that artists use to organize visual elements, such as line and shape, to create an aesthetically pleasing artwork.
Harmony: Harmony is the sense of balance in a composition that visually pleases the viewer. It can be achieved through the use of repetition, contrast and similarity.
Rhythm: Rhythm created through the elements of an artwork can be achieved using various methods, such as repeating a particular element, overlapping, size, texture and color.
Contrast: Contrast can create excitement and interest within a composition. This can be done through the use of opposing elements, for example, dark and light values, or complementary colors.
Focus: Focus is used to create interest and draw the viewer’s eye. This is almost always achieved through the use of tonal contrast or vibrancy of color, with the highest contrast value being used to draw the viewer’s focus.
Emphasis: Emphasis is used to make the focus of the artwork stand out. This usually involves putting a large or brightly colored object or figure in the center of the composition or lightening the value of the object or figure.
Unity: Unity is the sense of oneness that is achieved when all the visual elements of a composition work together to create something that is not only pleasing to the eye, but conveys the artist’s intention.
Balancing Forces: Balancing forces are created through the use of light and dark elements along with the size and placement of elements within the composition. This creates a sense of equilibrium and gives the artwork a feeling of balance.
Composition in Art: The Basics
The basics of composition in art are based on the understanding of how the various elements and principles work together to create visually pleasing and effective artwork.
When creating artwork, artists need to consider how the various elements will work together to create the desired composition. It is important that the artist pays attention to details such as the balance between light and dark values, the placement of lines and shapes, the use of contrasting colors and the use of texture to create interest in an artwork.
Understanding the principles of composition is also important as they are the tools artists use to guide their viewers’ attention, create equilibrium within the artwork and ultimately reinforce the artist’s message.
By combining a good understanding of the elements of design and principles of composition, artists can create artwork that not only looks appealing to the eye, but emotionally resonates with its viewers. With the right combination of knowledge and creativity, a meaningful and beautiful work of art can be made.
