The arrangement of elements in a composition can create balance or imbalance. Three key ways to create balance are through symmetry, asymmetry and radial symmetry.
Sydney Opera House, the Taj Mahal and a Saul Bass poster show how the colour, shape, size, quantity, texture and position of objects can give an artwork a sense of balance.
Balance in art refers to how different elements are arranged in a composition.
Every element has a visual weight. How 鈥榟eavy鈥 it looks depends on the following:
Position 鈥 the further from the centre of a composition the heavier
Shape 鈥 complex shapes feel heavier than simple shapes
Size 鈥 larger elements feel heavier than small elements
Quantity 鈥 increasing the number of elements gives a greater combined visual weight
Texture 鈥 complex, detailed textures tend to be heavier.
We tend to find balanced compositions more visually pleasing and comforting. Unbalanced compositions can make us feel uneasy.
Artists and designers often consider the placement of elements within a design or artwork to ensure it is well-balanced and aesthetically pleasing. One of the simplest ways to do this is by using symmetry.