Module 3.

Organization in the Visual Arts

Learning outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

1. appreciate the different principles of design;
2. establish a pleasing relationship between the various elements of visual arts;
3. arrange the elements of visual arts to achieve a balance and equilibrium between them;
4. compare the different parts of an object for its arrangement;
5. create a center of interest in a room.

Introduction:

Visual arts refer to still, unmoving pictures, paintings, sculpture, photography, digital images, installation or architecture
that are created by artist. They are the representation or embodiment of an idea, an experience, a concept, a surge of vitality,
emotions, feelings, or a result of interaction with the environment, and a product of human thinking. Painting are usually on
display inside a museum or gallery. As such, it interacts with other artworks and forms part of a strategy of display to convey
message to the viewer. Sculpture may be put inside or outside a building. If it is three- dimensional, the viewer has to look at the
work in its all angles and sides of the sculpture: front, back, left and right. Digital art, which is composed and stored in the
computer, is viewed electrically. This can also be printed on regular-sized-paper or enlarged to billboard size. Illustration art
sometimes requires the viewer to look at the work in all its angles and sides or interact with it. In architecture it is experience its
scale and space and have a sense of the effect to its material on the architecture itself.

The visual arts are art forms that create works that are primarily visual in nature, such as  ceramics, drawing, painting,
sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, photography, video, filmmaking and architecture.

Principles of Design
The organization of the various elements of the visual arts is governed by different principles of Design Through these
principles, the artist can form more beautiful and interesting color harmonies and more beautiful combinations of shapes, texture
and lines.
Design makes it easier for an artist to express his ideas in such a way that the observer becomes interested in his work. It
also makes objects in our environment more comprehensible. Sculpture organizes the human or animal form; architecture
organizes space through the arrangement of the parts of a building, both interior and exterior, in order to produce a pleasing and
interesting pattern.
The design of an art object makes it possible for an observer to tell its function. An industrial establishment is designed to
express a businesslike atmosphere of efficiency, and a church is designed to create in the worshipper a religious feeling and
attitude.
Through the combination of lines, colors and forms, an artist can give the observer the, varied, and satisfying experiences.
There is no end to the ways by which artists can give people experiences that will uplift their spirits so that they forget the tedium
of their everyday existence.

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 Bicycle Art Design
Harmony
Harmony is essential to beauty. In the visual arts, it is achieved by establishing a pleasing relationship between the various
elements. There is harmony if the various parts of a design will give an appearance of belonging together. In other words, there
must be unity. Repetition of angles and curves, shapes, lines and colors will give a harmonious effect. If overdone, though,
repetition may become monotonous and it may fail to hold the attention and interest of observers. To relieve monotony, there
must be variety. Variety is said to be the spice of life and art. Variety may be achieved by the diversity of materials used and slight
contrasts in color, texture, shape, and space arrangements. Media with different textures and colors may be used.
In painting and in interior decoration, the complementary hues when used will give contrast. The intensity of a hue may
also be varied. A sculptor may obtain variety through the use of contrast in texture, such as smooth and rough, in his work. An
architect, instead of using a long line of windows, may relieve the monotony by grouping the windows and introducing spaces
between groups. The monotony produced by vertical lines or columns in buildings may be relieved by transition lines. If the
wallpaper in a room is figured, the use of plain curtains will make it more beautiful and restful. The artist must be careful that the
variety he introduces does not destroy the harmonious effect.

Creating Color Harmony in a Painting Harmony in art

Balance
A pleasing relationship between the various elements of a work of art is not the only requirement for beauty. These
elements must also be so arranged that a feeling of balance and equilibrium exists between them. We are all familiar with the
word balance. If all parts are equally distributed around a central point, we achieve balance. If weights are equally distributed on
each side of a center of a fulcrum, as in a see-saw, we have balance. Balance gives us a feeling of stability and rest.
We see many examples of balance in nature. The human body is well-balanced, that is why it is possible for a person to
stand erect. The arrangement of branches and leaves on trees shows balance. Balance is also presented in a well-arranged room,
in flower arrangement and in costumes of people. Balance makes an object or room not only interesting but also pleasant to look
at.
Balance may either be formal or informal.
Formal balance. It is also called symmetrical balance. This is achieved by making both sides exactly alike. Objects of the
same size and shape when arranged on two sides of a center will produce formal balance. We see formal balance in double-
breasted suits and coats where we have a row of buttons on both the left and the right sides, an in a mantle where two flower
vases are placed at equal distance from the center. This kind of balance gives an atmosphere of dignity and formality.
Sometimes formal arrangement of windows and doors in a building, though pleasing in its formality, may interfere with
both efficiency and function. This is the reason why contemporary architecture tends to have the informal or asymmetrical
balance.
Informal or asymmetrical balance. It is also called occult balance. It is more difficult to achieve than formal balance,
however, the results are more interesting. It is achieved when objects of unequal weights or unequal attractions are placed at the
correct distances from the center while the smaller object or one with less striking attraction is moved further out from the center.
Informal balance is generally used when we want to attract the attention of observers and set them thinking about the
object under observation. This form of balance is an active balance. It suggests spontaneity and movement. It also gives an
impression of casualness.

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 Good balance produces an effect of stability and repose. To produce this feeling, horizontal balance is not enough.
Vertical balance is also important. The top of an arrangement should not be too heavy for its bottom. A top, heavy arrangement
always looks unstable.
The bottom of a base should always be wider than its top. The bottom margin should be wider than the side and top
margins. It should not be too wide though that it creates the impression of being out of proportion with the thing that is supposed
to support.

Any design or picture to be truly artistic must therefore give a feeling of rest and stability, Shapes, colors and lines must
be arranged on each side of the center to produce good balance. For formal balance to be achieved, shapes of equal size and
weights are placed at equal distances from the center. When informal balance is used, the smaller objects are moved farther out
from the center while the larger objects are placed near the center. Balance above and below the center are also important in
good balance.

Balance: The Basic Principles of Design Balance in Art

Proportion
Proportion is determined by a comparison of the size of different parts of an object or of an arrangement. A figurine is not
in itself big, but it may be too big for the pedestal it is standing on. The chairs in a room may be too big for that room or for the
other pieces of furniture in the room. Harmonious proportion is achieved when one part of an object does not seem too big or too
small for the other parts. Objects which are “out of proportion” are not pleasing to look at.
We find many designs in nature that have interesting proportions. The normal human body is an illustration of fine
spacing. The waistline is not found halfway between the head and the soles of the feet. It is found well above the halfway mark.
Interesting proportions are also found in other parts of the body like in the upper arm, lower arm and hand which are not of equal
length. The head is not too big nor too small for the rest of the body.
In painting, the principle of good proportion is useful in combining colors successfully and in determining the margins for
mounting. Exactly equal margins at the top, sides and bottom will produce monotonous effect. Using exactly the same amount of
color in a combination will also produce a monotonous and uninteresting effect. To produce a more pleasing harmony, there
should be more of one color than the others. Avoid using equal amounts of two or more colors. Avoid also a great deal of one color
and only a tiny bit of another.
In sculpture, the comparative size of the different parts of the object should be considered. The relation of the size of the
statue and the background or surroundings is also important. A statue may be too big for its background d or too small for its
surroundings that it may look out of place. In interior decoration, proportion is obtained by considering the size of the furniture,
the design of the wallpaper, the length of the curtain, the size of the rug, and the size of the room.

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 The importance of Proportion in Art Scale and Proportion in Interior Design
Rhythm
In the visual arts, rhythm is achieved by the regular or harmonious recurrence of lines, forms and colors. Rhythm is
organized movement, a beat, a repetition. Through the repetition of lines or forms, a pattern is produced which the eye follows as
it moves from right to the left. A series of units repeated one after another also produced rhythmic movement.
Through the use of color, charming patterns will be formed that will carry the eye from one part of a room to another.
Repetition of color in different parts of the room like red roses in a vase on top of a table, spots of red in the curtains, and throw
pillows with red designs, produce a rhythmical effect which is not only charming but pleasing. The eye will be drawn about the
room from one red spot to another. Care must be taken though not to use equal amounts of red as this will contradict the principle
of proportion.
Rhythmical patterns help the eye to move easily from one part of the room to another or from one part of a design to
another. Therefore, rhythm helps to create harmony in a design or room. It is used as the most effective way of creating aesthetic
unity in prose, music, dance, painting, architecture and sculpture. In space arts, rhythm is used in repetition, alteration and
gradation of the elements of art, line, form, color and texture.

Rhythm in Art Endless Rhythm

Emphasis
Whenever we look at a room, some parts easily catch our attention and interest while other parts are not noticed at all.
This quality of design is called emphasis or subordination. Emphasis is produced by the design or form that catches our attention
while the rest are subordinated. The pattern emphasized usually forms the center of interest. Emphasis may be defined as giving
the proper importance to the parts or to the whole.

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 A clever interior decorator always creates a center of interest in a room. One part or design in a room is emphasized and
the rest are subordinated. You can just imagine the confusion you will experience if all objects in a room are of the same size and
have the same pattern and color. Every detail will be as important as the other. Monotony is also likely to be experienced.
Emphasis is important in all art forms. This is most noticeable in the art of advertising. The aim of advertising is to call
attention to a particular product or object. It is therefore necessary to emphasize one feature in an advertisement so that it will
stand out from the rest.
Emphasis in the visual arts may be secured in several ways. It may be secured through size and position. The largest figure
easily catches the interest of the viewer. It attracts attention; therefore, it creates emphasis. A plain background emphasizes a
decorative arrangement placed against it. Objects which are planned to be the center of interest should be made to appear closer
to the viewer than the rest which are to be subordinated.
Color is used to create emphasis. Contrast of colors can be used to produce a center of interest. A black object placed
against a white background will easily catch attention. A brightly colored accessory like a belt or a brooch used with a dress of
neutral color catches more attention than when used with a dress of intense colors. Intense colors are likely to catch more
attention than neutral ones. We should therefore take great care in using intense colors sparingly as a background for objects we
want to emphasize.
Emphasis is important because it relieves monotony. It can also be used to call attention to pleasing centers of interest.

Emphasis – a Principle of Art

Other Art Principles

1. Novelty or newness. A new style of dress appears more attractive and interesting than ordinary dress design. Novelty
provides the best opportunity for developing one’s creative ability.
2. Variety or variation. A set of furniture which is arranged in a certain way and remains as it is for long periods of time
appears to be monotonous. Variations in the arrangement or style of furniture makes the space the furniture occupies
more interesting and attractive.
3. Utility, Adaptability or Function. A work of art must not only possess beauty but also utility. The object must be
adaptable to the purpose for which it is made. This is especially true to all practical arts. In designing modern structures,
function is now the first consideration.

4. Contrast. This art principle is synonymous to opposition or contradiction. It has some relationships with balance and
emphasis. Tow contrasting lines or colors may balance each other. The center of interest in a composition is in contrast
with the subordinating parts in the same composition. Nature provides many examples of contrasting objects. For
instance, the colors of flowers contrast the color of leaves.

References

Ariola, M. M. 2014. Introduction to Art Appreciation, 2 nd ed. Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Inc. pp. 76-84.
Sanchez, C. A., P. F. Abad, L. V. Jao and R. A. Sanchez. 2012. Introduction to the Humanities, 6 th ed. Manila: Rex Bookstore. pp. 69-
76.

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https://www.academia.edu/37346573/THE_VISUAL_ARTS

https://www.scribd.com/presentation/128766444/Organization-in-the-Visual-Arts

https://www.slideshare.net/adeljonicamesiano/organization-in-the-visual-arts-1

http://www.homeofbob.com/literature/genre/art/elements.html

https://prezi.com/ylbi82d2clmy/organization-in-the-visual-arts/

https://quizlet.com/88031429/humanities-5-organization-in-the-visual-arts-flash-cards/

Evaluation

Instruction: In your own words and understanding, answer the following questions:

1. Why is design important for an artist? For an observer?

2. What is harmony in art and how is do you make it happen?

3. What is balance in art and why does it matter?
4. How is the principle of good proportion achieved in painting? In sculpture?
5. Why is rhythm in art of crucial importance?
6. How do you show emphasis in art? The principle of art shows the sense of an artist uses to design artwork, these
principles are line, shapes, colors, values, form, texture, mass, volume and, time and motion values.   Colors in art
describe the level of cognition and

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