Composition in Art

Composition in Art

Middle School Art

What makes up composition in art?

• The Elements of Art describe WHAT qualities are in a picture (line, color, shape, texture, form, and space).

• Composition describes HOW the artist arranged these qualities in the picture area.

• The Principles of Design describe composition. Objects may be arranged with emphasis, movement/rhythm, pattern/repetition, variety, proportion, contrast, unity, balance, and harmony.

Emphasis and Movement

Identify the focal point.

That is Emphasis. This thing is most important in the picture.

How is the artist leading your eye there?

That is Movement. This is also known as rhythm.

Pattern and Variety

Do you see many similar lines and shapes?

This is Pattern . Repetition is another name for this quality.

Are some lines and shapes different?

This is Variety.

Proportion and Contrast

The size of objects when compared to the whole picture is Proportion, or Scale. What is the largest object in this artwork?

When an artist shows two objects that are similar but very different in one way, that is Contrast. What Contrast do you see?

Balance

Balance means that the artist has made the picture so that a large object does not overwhelm the whole picture.

What has the artist added so that the viewer looks at other parts of the picture?

Unity

Unity in an artwork means that the artist has highlighted the similarities of picture elements.

Repeated shapes, lines that are continued across the picture, and objects placed close together are three ways that artists create unity in a picture.

Which of these devices has the artists used here?

Harmony

Harmony means that all the elements of the picture work together to create a whole that is meaningful.

While this image is action-filled and dynamic, the artist has used colors and textures that create an overall feeling of harmony. What can you find?