Journal Assignment: Composition Collection

Principles of Design
Principles of design refer to the visual strategies used by artists, along with the elements of art, for expressive purposes. They include unity and variety, emphasis and focal point, balance and rhythm, and scale and proportion. All of this principles, along with the elements of art (line, shape, value, color, texture, space, time and motion), are considered to be the basis or platform to achieving an overall seemingly pleasant composition; without the proper execution of the stated elements and principles above, a person could deem a work of art to be "bad." But what makes a composition "good" or "bad"? The aesthetics of your culture greatly impact what you considered to be "good" or "bad" art.

Good Compositions:

As previously stated, balance is a key component to any good composition. Balance brings visual stability to a work of art, which this composition accomplishes. The center of attention, or the focal point, of the composition is naturally the bride in the middle, with three bridesmaids on either side of her, creating a symmetrically visually balanced work. For a work to be considered symmetrically balanced, there needs to be similarity of form or arrangement on either side, in this case three bridesmaids on each side, of a diving line or plane, the bride.

Variety, the complement of unity, adds visual fascination to any given composition. Varying shadows, textures, objects, shapes and sizes add an air of ambiguity to the piece above because it shies away from looking staged or placed. In a perfect world, all objects in the piece would be aligned so all could be seen in equal and precise views, but the jumbled and eclectic arrangement of the kitchen utensils add interest; almost wanting for the viewer to see what may be hidden in the depths of the shadows or behind one of the objects.

To have a successful composition, an artist must have a point in which the viewer's eye is naturally drawn towards-- the focal point. The focal point is an area or part of a composition that seizes and maintains the viewer's attention; to do so, an artist can visually create a line without actually drawing one. For example, in the piece above, the focal point is the last sidewalk lamp at the end of the walkway. The viewer's eye naturally starts at the foreground of a composition, in this instance it is the sidewalk lamp closest to the viewer-- the one positioned in the far left foreground The eye then travels in a "line" to the second sidewalk lamp, which in turn, leads the eye to the last sidewalk lamp-- the focal point.

Bad Composition:

The seven principles of design and the six elements of art are established for a reason. There are many things wrong about this composition that make it a bad one, no quotations needed this time, it is bad. First off, the balance is atrocious; the portion of the building in the left of the piece is overbearing and too heavy for any visual interest. Secondly, where is the focal point? Where is the emphasis? There is not much variety textures-wise, but what is it the viewer is suppose to be drawn towards? Is it the giant clock? Is it the set of windows on the second floor? Or how about the railing? Seriously, what should I be focusing on? Pretty much the only thing this composition has got going on, is the emphasis of the large protruding brick wall adorned with a drain pipe, and it is a dismal example of emphasis at best, if at all. Overall, this arrangement is sloppy and visually displeasing.

Bibliography:
Fichner-Rathus, Lois. Foundations of Art and Design. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2008. Print.