A Guide to Purposeful Balance and Emotional Impact

Composition in art is the silent orchestrator behind every great piece of wall art. While color, texture, and subject matter certainly play crucial roles, it’s the composition that arranges these elements into a cohesive, powerful narrative. Whether you’re an aspiring artist or an art lover, understanding the fundamentals of composition can deepen your appreciation for the art on your walls. In this post, we’ll explore how purposeful composition creates balance, guides the viewer’s eye, and evokes strong emotional responses.

The Importance of Composition

Creating Balance

A well-composed piece of wall art feels harmonious, even if the subject matter is complex or abstract. Composition helps to organize visual elements in a way that feels natural and balanced to the viewer. It’s about placing elements so that they interact with each other in a pleasing manner, preventing the artwork from feeling chaotic or disjointed. Balance doesn’t necessarily mean symmetry; it’s about achieving a sense of equilibrium where every part of the piece contributes to the whole.

Guiding the Viewer’s Eye

Composition is also a powerful tool for directing the viewer’s attention. Through thoughtful arrangement, the artist can control the narrative flow and the emotional impact of the piece. For example, a well-placed focal point can draw the viewer in, while leading lines can guide them through the piece in a specific way, ensuring that the message or emotion intended by the artist is fully conveyed.

This picture is called “Adrift”. The head of the horse is centered in the picture to command attention. This is also accomplished with contrast. The rope and the boat help to move the eye around the canvas in a clockwise direction around the focal point…the horse’s head. The horse is an Egyptian Arabian named Osiris. For a visual play, an ancient Egyptian horoscope is featured in the background. This image also encourages the same eye to move as the other elements in the artwork.

Eliciting Emotional Responses

Beyond balance and focus, the choice of composition directly influences the emotional tone of the artwork. A centered format might convey stability and calmness, while a diagonal arrangement can introduce dynamism and tension. The way elements are placed within the frame can evoke emotions ranging from tranquility to excitement, making it a critical aspect of the artwork’s overall impact.

With this being a centered composition, you’d think it would feel peaceful, yet it is just the opposite. That is because there are many angles in the action and arrangement of the mares and foals. There is a bit of chaos as they appear to be changing direction. Your subject matter can have a great deal of impact to the emotion of the piece.

Key Composition Techniques

Rule of Thirds

One of the most fundamental techniques is the Rule of Thirds. By dividing the canvas into nine equal parts, with two equally spaced horizontal and vertical lines, the artist can place key elements along these lines or at their intersections. This creates a dynamic yet balanced composition that feels more engaging and natural to the viewer than a centered composition might.

The key focus point is the light-colored horse’s head. The head lines up in the intersection of the lines at the upper right of the artwork. All the action is found along the lower horizontal line.

Fill Your Frame

The concept of filling the frame involves allowing the subject to occupy most or all of the canvas space. This technique is particularly effective for creating a sense of intimacy or emphasizing the importance of the subject. By eliminating distractions and focusing closely on the subject, the viewer is drawn into the scene, experiencing a closer connection to the artwork.

Leading Lines

Leading lines are used to draw the viewer’s eye toward the focal point of the artwork. These lines can be actual physical lines, like roads or rivers, or they can be implied lines formed by the arrangement of elements in the composition. Leading lines guide the viewer’s gaze through the artwork, creating a path that enhances the storytelling aspect of the piece.

The leading lines in this artwork, “Tunnel Vision”, all drive your attention to the main subject…the horse. The tree trunks in the background and the walls of the tunnel both point straight to the horse, while the curve of the tunnel helps frame his head.

Symmetry and Asymmetry

Symmetry involves creating a balanced, mirror-like composition, which often evokes feelings of harmony and order. Asymmetry, on the other hand, introduces excitement and interest by creating balance in a less obvious, more dynamic way. While symmetry can create a sense of calm and stability, asymmetry can suggest movement, energy, and unpredictability, making it a versatile tool in composition.

Symmetry is on the left. Asymmetry is on the right. Both are balanced compositions, but symmetry is considered more formal and tends to stop any perceived action. The calm, balanced symmetry is appropriate in this artwork “Seed of Life” since it is a mandala. The asymmetry in the artwork of the Gewurztraminer grapes lends itself to the nature of growth.

Composition and Emotional Impact

Symmetry vs. Asymmetry (Emotional Context)

Building on the discussion of symmetry and asymmetry, consider how each approach changes the emotional impact of the artwork. Symmetrical compositions tend to bring about feelings of peace, order, and stability. In contrast, asymmetrical compositions can introduce a sense of tension, energy, or even chaos, depending on how the elements are arranged. The choice between symmetry and asymmetry should align with the emotional response you wish to evoke in your viewers.

The peaceful, harmonious setting in “Woven” is symmetrical. Even the woven branches above the deer’s head have symmetry. However, that peace is disturbed with the addition of a pair of branches that are straight and sharp. They are pointing directly at the buck, giving the artwork an uneasiness and mystery, and appearing to make the buck a target.

Open vs. Closed Compositions

Open compositions, where elements extend beyond the canvas, suggest expansiveness and movement. This technique can create a feeling of freedom or endless possibilities, inviting the viewer to imagine what lies beyond the frame. In contrast, closed compositions keep all elements within the frame, offering a sense of completeness and stability. Each approach can convey different emotions and messages, depending on the artist’s intent.

“Labyrinth” on the left is an open composition. You have no idea where it stops or if it goes on forever. “Idle Gossip” is a closed composition. Just like the gossip the hens are telling, it gives the feeling that this is a private space, contained in one area.

Use of Negative Space

Negative space, or the empty space around and between the subjects of an image, plays a crucial role in composition. Deliberate use of negative space can evoke a variety of emotions—loneliness, isolation, or tranquility—depending on the context and the relationship between the space and the subjects. Understanding how to use negative space effectively can add depth and meaning to your artwork.

“Yak” has a single subject directly in the center, commanding attention. Everything else is negative space. The abstract space intentionally focuses your attention to the lone beast and makes you question where he is and why he is alone.

Applying Composition Techniques to Wall Art

Finding the Right Technique

Not every composition technique will work for every piece of wall art. The mood, message, and subject matter should guide your choice of composition. Experimenting with different techniques allows you to discover what best enhances the story or emotion you want to convey.

Combining Techniques

Many artists find that combining multiple composition techniques in a single piece creates a more complex and engaging work. For example, the Rule of Thirds can be paired with Leading Lines to create a dynamic yet balanced composition. Don’t be afraid to mix and match these techniques to find the right balance for your artwork.

Practical Tips

Applying these composition techniques to 2D artwork requires practice and experimentation. Sketching out your composition before beginning to paint can help you visualize the final piece and make adjustments as needed. As your work progresses, stay open to adjusting the composition to enhance the piece’s emotional and visual impact.

Conclusion

Composition is more than just arranging elements on a canvas; it’s about creating balance, guiding the viewer’s eye, and evoking emotion. The way you choose to compose your artwork can profoundly influence its power and impact. By understanding and experimenting with various composition techniques, you can create wall art that resonates deeply with viewers, drawing them into your world and making a lasting impression.