Chapter 5: Balance

Balance is part of the structural design.  The weight of the piece, if you will.  The designer can use this to connect wit reality, because we are all born with the ability to feel balance.  The designer can also use this against us and create a sense of imbalance and completely through us out of whack.

We will break down balance into five different types: Symmetrical, A-Symmetrical, Color or Value, Texture & Pattern and Radial.  Get ready for the scale tipping blog entry of the year...

1  O'Keeffe, Georgia.  "Cow Skull:
Red, White, and Blue".  Oil on Canvas.
39 7/8 x 35 7/8 in.  1931.  Web.
<http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/52.203>

Symmetrical Balance (1) is the easiest to recognize.  If you split a picture in half down the middle, the left and right size are going to mock each other.  Both sides although not exact, are balanced by the mirror like image of the left and right.


A-Symmetrical Balance (2) is a bit harder to achieve.  One needs to create balance while using dissimilar objects.  The man smoking, who is also made up of words, is balanced by the glass.

2  Cooper, Rhys.  "Mark Lanegan Poster"
Screen Print.   2004.  Web.
<http://omgposters.com/2010/07/07/mark-lanegan-art-
print-and-concert-poster-by-rhys-cooper/>

Balance by Color or Value is using light vurses dark or the introduction of color to achice the balance.  We see in example 3 the artist is using light and dark values to balance the right and left of the poster, while adding in a pinch of color on the top and bottom halves too.

3   Gushue, John.  "Rock Poster"  Arcade Fire.
Print on Poster.  7 March, 2010. Web.
<http://johngushue.typepad.com/blog/2010/03/
who-says-rock-poster-art-is-dead-.html>

Balance by Texture or Pattern is a way to use the less is more theory.  A small amount of texture or a complex pattern can balance a large area of smooth surface.  In picture 4 we see a piece completed from a large flat surface that has had a texture added to create a work of art.  By the way, this guy is rad and I am in love with his work!

4            Farto, Alexandre aka Vhils.  "Scratching the Surface Works".  Moscow Building.  Web.
<http://www.alexandrefarto.com/> 

Radial Balance is where all elements extend from a common center point.  There are lots of examples of this balance seen in nature.  So naturally image 5 is all natural.

5                       Warner, PL.  "Blood Orange"  Photo Poster.  Web.
<http://www.zazzle.com/blood_orange_poster-228928013849367657>

It is very rare, but not impossible to create imbalance in a work of art, but in the majority of art balance is strived for or will just come naturally.  Either way balance keeps the weight distributed and the art works out of danger.

Go Balance!