ARTology: Balance, figure & proportion

Balance: A stable state characterized by equal opposing forces.

Our sense of balance is connected to some of our most primal discoveries of how our bodies work, as balance is necessary to stand, run, jump, etc. In Taoist thought, balance is the ultimate power and goal of the universe, represented through the yin-yang symbol. A traditional Navajo greeting may refer to the harmonious relationship between humankind and nature; physical and spiritual.

Blair Reickmann’s 2014 entry, “The Shortest Route”, plays off rhythm through a balance of weight, structure and functionality.

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Figure: What stands forward in a composition, in contrast to ground, which recedes in a composition.

The degree of harmony or tension between figure and ground contributes immensely to the effect of an art piece. Through understanding and use of unusual figure/ground relationships, artwork is generally made more interesting to the eye.

“Believable Possibilities”, James Wilson’s 2014 ArtPrize entry, captures all the possible human rhythms on a Midwestern farm that the painting can grasp. Figure and ground are uniquely blended to encompass the entire scene so that no part dominates another, but rather stands visually appealing as a whole.

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Proportion: Comparison between size and quantity of parts as they relate to a total physical form.

Ratio is a comparison of any two quantities. Ratio formulas are often used to determine visual order or balance. Proportional systems establish visual relationships of size, shape and quantity between the parts of each form and its whole. Each shape should be made to interact with the shapes around it.

Elizabeth Brandt’s 2014 entry, “Random Thoughts”, explores connections between color, shape, and proportions. She plays off the idea that for every cause there is an effect. With each piece of fabric included or removed, it affects the proportions of other elements in unexpected ways.

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See and learn about other artists who convey balance, figure and proportion in their work by “liking” our Facebook page:

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