What is meant by the word balance?

Balance - A 'principle' of design...

Balance is one of the principles of design and is an important tool used in creating a composition. In art it refers to the concept of how an artist creates interest through the arrangement of objects or elements in a composition. The artist can manipulate the placement of elements in a particular way or use color, texture, or weight to create either a sense of symmetry and equilibrium or disequilibrium in order to support the creative statement he wishes to make.

The artist can divide a composition in half with a vertical axis or a horizontal axis and place objects of equal weight or interest on both sides of the axis. The artist can create interest in a composition depending on how they choose to use balance. Remembering always to incorporate or include the other principles of design. There are different ways to create balance such as symmetrical, asymmetrical and through radial balance.

Images from left to right - #1,2,3

• Image #1 - Here we have three examples of a typical and simple farm scene. In the first image on the left, we see that the barn is meant to be the focal point, but it is counter balanced by the dark grove of bushes to the right. At the same time the dark value of the bushes distracts and overpowers the size of the house. The weight (volume of size and space) of the large bushes in the foreground also overpowers the composition.
• Image #2 - In the second composition the weight of the background and the bushes in the foreground also overpower the small barn, tipping the scales of balance in such a way that the barn is not strong enough to carry the composition.
• Image #3 - In the third image, one can see the horizontal axis and the barn appears as the heaviest element in the composition, (weight) and with a little cropping of the image, would offer balance for an asymmetrical composition. The background and the foreground offer valuable negative space and a place for the eye to rest. Of the three photographs, the third photograph, though not perfect, offers the greatest potential for a painting.

• South Pasture by Neadeen Masters, CDA , HA - This painting lesson below will show the student how to create unity and balance in a painting via design and color. This is an e-packet and is available for your immediate download as soon as it is purchased.

$7.95

Symmetrical balance is utilized by many artists who paint historical and traditional stroke work. In the image below, one can see that the design elements are equally placed and repeated on both sides of an invisible vertical axis that runs up the middle of the trunk. Symmetrical balance also creates a sense of equilibrium which adds to harmony. In this example below, one can see an example of bilateral symmetry where both sides on the vertical axis are equal to each other and mirror images of the other.

Symmetrical Balance Image used with permission from the Norwegian Vesterheim Museum.

Many artists use asymmetrical balance, drawing on a perceived center of gravity to help create a balance around it. In the painting below, we can see that the fruit and shells on both sides of the basket of flowers (radial axis) helps to determine this balance, yet both sides are still different from each other. Artists use this style of asymmetrical balance to develop greater interest and flow.

Balthasar van der Ast, Dutch Master, 1593-94- 1657

Asymmetrical Balance is seen in the two examples shown here. Both traditional 'Fine' Artists and Historical Decorative artists apply the Principles of Design.

Design with balance for visual harmony and interest...

Whenever we design a painting, one of the most important considerations is balance for visual harmony and visual interest. Balance can be achieved through equal distribution of weight, or color, texture or interest. When a painting is out of balance, the interest becomes a distraction rather than an asset, so how we distribute this interest is vital to the overall harmony of the composition.

When we describe 'balance' we often think of symmetry or asymmetry, with the latter as being 'out of' balance. Symmetry, a concept used in design, can be explained as a particular design layout which can be equally divided in half, with one side being the mirror image of the other, this style of layout is often found in very formal or structured compositions and in historical decorative art such as many stroke designs. However there can also be an asymmetrical layout which can be quite interesting and very attractive. The latter is usually favored and is more often used in landscape, still life or floral compositions which desire a more spontaneous or casual or less orderly manner of organization.

There are many other ways to create balance, such as mentioned through the use of color and texture. (See other topics in this section)

• Lavender Morning by Neadeen Masters, CDA, HA - This painting lesson below will show the student how to create movement, texture and balance in a painting via design and color. This is an e-packet and is available for your immediate download as soon as it is purchased.

$9.95

Symmetrical designs - when true equilibrium is the goal...

When Equilibrium is the Goal of the design

When true equilibrium is the goal, as in a formal stroke or scroll design that would be found in the world of Historical Decorative Art, this style of design 'layout' is often selected. When we observe the scroll design above, we can see that it is in perfect balance. The tree in the example above shows balance in nature too. If we drew a line through the vertical center of the images, we can see that there is equal weight on both sides. If we think of a set of scales, with even weight placed on both sides, the scales balance. If the weight shifts heavily from one side to the next, the balance is also shifted and we then have an 'asymmetrical' design.

We often find symmetrical designs in wallpaper, fabric and dish patterns. When order is required it is easier to do so with symmetry.

Almost Symmetrical for Interest

There are times when perfect symmetry can be a little boring and not offer enough variety for an interesting composition. However there are times when the design weight can be slightly shifted in such a way to add greater interest without upsetting the usual symmetrical balance. This is a design feature that we see in many stroke designs. Not perfectly symmetrical, but almost symmetrical for interest.

Historical stroke work bowl, Norwegian Rosemaling, Gudbrandsdal Style, originally designed by artist David Jansen, MDA and painted by artist Susan Abdella, MDA

Negative Space plus Weight can create balance...

Most artists have an innate sense of balance, they have a 'gut' feeling about the distribution of design weight. Asymmetrical designs also show harmony, in a disorderly manner the imbalance is off set by areas of greater 'rest' or of less interest.

If a line was drawn through the vertical center of both the images below, one can see that the leather buckets in the first image, and the pillow in the second image sits on the right, so does the larger decanter, one can say that the visual 'weight' has shifted so these compositions are not 'symmetrical'.

Image One

• See the two examples featured, here you will see in image #1, the heavier weight of the leather buckets is off set by the greater rest full space on the left.
• Image #1 - Why is this design called asymmetrical?
• Is the negative space also interesting?

Image Two

• The same concept applies to the image in #2, the background wall offers a place for the eyes to rest. The plain wall offers less contrast to the strong visual interest of the wine glasses and decanter.
• #2 Where does the eye find a place to rest?
• Can this be the power of the negative space?

'Give what you have. To someone it may be better than you dare to think' ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow