Elements & Principles of Art- Intro to Renaissance & Baroque

      You can find a sense of unity in all art from any time period, whether it be a symmetrical balance (where the art is almost perfectly symmetrical in color or shapes) or asymmetrical balance, (where two sides of the art are not the same, but balance can be found using color or shapes) artist can use color and figures to join together a message in any piece you see. One way an artist unifies their work can be with Directional force. This is when an artist uses implied or psychic lines to draw the viewer’s eyes around an artwork.

 

     In this painting titled Venus and Cupid by Lorenzo Lotto the artist uses psychic line to draw your eye by using Venus’ hand gesture toward Cupid, and back with Cupids gaze toward his mother Venus. The colors red (on top) and blue (on bottom) are drastically different but balance out the painting by drawing your eyes to the center, where cupid and his mother are occupied. The objects also draw the eye all around the painting using implied line. Implied line refers to the trail that the viewer's eye takes as it follows shapes, colors, and forms along any given path.

     In art asymmetrical balance can be achieved in a painting with opposite colors from the color wheel or by arranging objects so that there is a sense of balance. In The Love Song by Sir Edward Burne-Jones this artist not only uses lights and darks but also emotion to balance the piece together. The figure on the left side of the painting conveys a sense of sadness or longing by his expression and the color used in his clothing, while the figure on the right conveys a sense of calm and tranquility by the facial and body expressions. The main focal point of this painting is the instrument player, which ties both sides of the artwork together.

     Scale can be used in an artwork to prioritize a figure over others regardless of realistic proportions. By using scale an artist can change the focal point in a painting to an object that is usually small and meaningless. In Dorothea Tanning 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik' the sunflower is exaggerated to create emotion and inspire imagination. If this painting was realistic, it would lose its dramatic and magical feel.