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| "Reggae Night" acrylic on canvas |
In art circles, creating a center of interest, relies on “the big three:”
dominance, contrast and repetition. Not surprisingly, viewers will look at a
painting in the same way they read a book from left to right. It’s ingrained in
our schooling and in the way we were taught. The walls of caves were painted
from the left, and printed pages throughout history were printed using this
innate formula.
It’s only
natural then that people will start their perusal of a painting from the left.
The best designs not only have a lead in on the left but from several different
vantage points. The secret to a successful composition is moving from one point
of entry into the painting and around the entire scene. An interesting painting
keeps the eye continually moving. If the eye stops at all, it should be on the
“center of interest” or the focus of the entire piece. Movement creates energy
and excitement.
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| "Hey, Coconut Mon" mixed media on canvas (the boy is off-center and many of the background parts are blurred) |
Contrast and a
few well-chosen highlights will emphasize this focal point and continually draw
the viewer’s eye back for the impact it makes and the enjoyment it creates. A
strong focal point leaves a lasting impression that may influence the
reputation and popularity of the artist perhaps even impacting sales.
In an
artist’s attempt to create a dramatic center, there are also dangers. If the composition
or design components lead the eye automatically to the center we end up with a
“bull’s eye” composition. Essentially the eye does not wander through the
painting but is trapped in the middle. A Center-focused painting is boring. The
eye is locked in and the painting becomes static and uninteresting.
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| (This painting could have been much better by removing the chest of drawers. The uneven height and the interesting outline of the figure, buggy, and cat would have been more interesting. As it is, the eye is locked into a clump in the middle) |
You can avoid
this death trap by placing your center of interest off-center. Make sure there
are enough uneven edges and lines to create interest. Check out the negative
space around your focal point. Are the shapes interesting? Are the lines and
values leading the eye on an interesting journey to your central focus? By
analyzing your composition early on, you can avoid some of the pitfalls.
Another
simple device for creating memorable paintings is the principle of “balance.”
Do all elements in your painting look the same? Do they all scream out for
attention or do some of the parts fade into the background. Having parts of
your painting downplayed is called “subordination,” another device for making
the center of interest dominant. These contrasts in value and subordination add
depth to an otherwise flat painting.
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| "With These Hands -- Hope" acrylic on canvas (Notice how the background figures are fuzzy and faded? The focus is on the girl trying to make a basket and her challenger) |
Creating out
of focus elements may also increase the contrast between the center of interest
and the less important parts of a composition. Photographers use this design
concept by blurring an otherwise overpowering background so that the focus is clearly on
the focal point.
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| "With these hands -- Love" (This painting could be improved by adding more shadows, thus giving it depth) |
I have made
many mistakes over the years, learning the hard way the importance of these
timeless truths. Once understood, setting up the perfect composition using
these design elements becomes easier.
