Art Midterm

Balance
The distribution of visual weight in a work of art

Formal/Symmetrical- having an equal composition if folded in half

Informal/Asymmetrical- where one side dominates, but balance is still
achieved
Radial- when elements of a design come to a central point

Repetition
Uses the art elements in planned or random repetitions to enhance surfaces of paintings or
sculptures

(AKA) Pattern- Something that repeats in a composition

Organized Pattern-the same element repeating in an organized manner
or composition
Random Pattern- groups of similar motifs or elements arranged
randomly or haphazardly in a composition

Rhythm
The repetition of visual movement

Regular- repeating the same element with little or no variation

Random- an element that is repeated in no apparent order
Flowing- having an element repeated in a line or circle to give the
illusion of movement
Alternating- repeating 2 or more elements on an alternating basis such
as circle/square, circle/square
Progressive- a motif where an element gradually changes shape, size, or
color

Movement
Used by artists to direct viewers attention through their work to be able to focus on an area

Implied- image or sculpture captures a movement in time, stopping the

action

 Sequential- a series of images in a logical, storytelling order

Actual- aka kinetic art; has real moving parts like a mobile
Optical- concentrates on the illusion of movement using lines and
shapes that are closer together and farther apart to trick the eye

Proportion
The size relationship of one object or element to another

Real- creates the illusion of reality

Hierarchical- shows the most important figure larger than the less
important figures
Foreshadowing- shortening the proportion of an object to make it look
as if it extends backwards into space
Distortion- any deviation or exaggeration of the normal proportion
Scale- refers to the size of an object in relation to the size of other
objects in its environment

Emphasis
The significance or importance you give to something

Isolation- setting one element apart from others

Converging Lines- lines used to direct attention to focal point
Dominance- the major element of a composition
Focal Point- the first thing the eyes see when viewing an artwork

Contrast
The extreme difference between elements

Color
Texture
Value
form

Size

Unity
The size relationship of one object or element to another

 Real- creates the illusion of reality

Hierarchical- shows the most important figure larger than the less
important figures
Foreshadowing- shortening the proportion of an object to make it look
as if it extends backwards into space
Distortion- any deviation or exaggeration of the normal proportion
Scale- refers to the size of an object in relation to the size of other
objects in its environment

Artists and Art Movements to know

Michelangelo- Italian Renaissance artist, architect, poet, &engineer;
produced anatomical studies, made the Pieta, painted the ceiling of the
Sistine Chapel, understood human proportion
Leonardo Da Vinci- Italian Renaissance artist focused on balance ex.
The Last Supper &Mona Lisa
M.C. Escher- Dutch graphic artist- printmaker (rolling ink technique),
created Circle Limit IV in 1960; radial balance
Henri Matisse- Fauvist painter which was French for wild beast- usage
of bright and complementary colors, painted Woman with a Hat, The
Dance, Blue Nudes series- had sense of flowing rhythm
Bridget Riley- Op art; British, took after Victor Vaserley
Grant Wood- American painter from Iowa Painted American Gothic
Johannes Vermeer- Painted Girl with a Pearl Earring
Victor Vaserley- Hungarian originator and one of the leaders of Op art.
Vincent Van Gogh- Created many self-portraits, one of which was with
his bandaged ear
Op Art- gives the illusion of movement- popular in the 60s through
Victor Vasarely
Islamic Art- usage of complex abstract patterns to create a sense of
unending repetition toward Islam- 3 types: organic, organic/plantlike,
and calligraphy