大象传媒

Variety - EduqasContrast

Variety refers to how artists and designers add complexity to their work using visual elements. Contrast, difference and change, and elaboration all add visual interest to an artist鈥檚 work.

Part of Art and DesignPrinciples of Design

Contrast

Image caption,
Vertigo film poster, Saul Bass

This film poster by Saul Bass has used contrast to create visual impact.

There is high contrast between the red-orange background colour, the white of the spiral shape and the black of the figure falling through space.

The large, black lettering of the Vertigo title contrasts with the much smaller, white, simple typeface used for the rest of the film credits. Both the black and white lettering stand out from the bold, eye-catching red background.

Image caption,
Vertigo film poster, Saul Bass
Andy Warhol, Cow (F. & S. II.11), 1966, Screenprint
Image caption,
Andy Warhol, Cow (F. & S. II.11), 1966, Screenprint, Christie's Images

Andy Warhol's Cow (F. & S. II.11) (1966) is a composition that is unified as it only has one subject 鈥 the cow.

It shows variety in the high contrast between the pink and yellow colours used, and in the contrast between the realistic photograph of the cow and the unnaturally bright colours.

Andy Warhol, Cow (F. & S. II.11), 1966, Screenprint
Image caption,
Andy Warhol, Cow (F. & S. II.11), 1966, Screenprint, Christie's Images
Andy Goldsworthy. Crow feathers. Midsummer snowballs
Image caption,
Crow feathers. Midsummer snowballs, June 2000 漏 Andy Goldsworthy. Photo copyright Jenny Matthews

Andy Goldsworthy鈥檚 Midsummer Snowballs (2000) was a group of thirteen snowballs created in Scotland and placed in public places in London.

There is variety in the contrast of the snow they are made from and other materials that are revealed as the snow melts. In this picture the white snow contrasts with black feathers through colour, texture and form.