Basic Material and Processes II

Assignment # 4

WEEK # 9 & 10
Lecture: BALANCE , STABILITY AND MOVEMENT
Week: 9

• Movement : To produce a look of action or the way your eye sweeps

over the elements in the artwork.
• Implied action in Movement : A work of art represent an action like a
drawing of a dog running, a dog in motion like if it is running.
• Directional movement : They way your eye travels through a work of
art. It can move Vertical, Horizontal, Diagonal or circular.
• Actual action : Artwork actually moves like a mobile.
• kinetic art : Any three-dimensional sculpture that contains moving
parts. Motion can be started either by air currents or some type of motor.
• Mobile: A type of kinetic sculpture constructed to take advantage of
balance and wind current, the elements are arranged to create
equilibrium.
Lecture: BALANCE , STABILITY AND MOVEMENT
Week: 9

Balance & Stability :

the sculpture must have actual physical stability. This can be achieved
by natural balance—that is, by making the sculpture stable enough in
itself to stand firmly—The second aspect of balance is compositional.
The interaction of forces and the distribution of weight within a
composition may produce a state of either dynamic or static
equilibrium. The third aspect of balance applies only to sculpture that
represents a living figure.
A live human figure balances on two feet by making constant
movements and muscular adjustments. Such an effect can be conveyed
in sculpture by subtle displacements of form and suggestions of tension
and relaxation.
Lecture: BALANCE , STABILITY AND MOVEMENT
Week: 9

Balance:

A balanced composition feels right. It feels stable and

aesthetically pleasing. While some of its elements might
be focal points and attract your eye, no one area of the
composition draws your eye so much that you can’t see
the other areas.
Lecture: BALANCE , STABILITY AND MOVEMENT
Week: 9

Four Types of Balance :

There’s more than one way to balance a composition. The images

in the next slides are showing two of them. The first image is an
example of symmetrical balance, and the second is an example of
asymmetrical balance. Two other types of balance are radial and
mosaic.
Lecture: BALANCE , STABILITY AND MOVEMENT
Week: 9

Symmetrical balance
Lecture: BALANCE , STABILITY AND MOVEMENT
Week: 9

Symmetrical balance 
occurs when equal weights are on equal sides of a composition,
balanced around a fulcrum or axis in the center. Symmetrical
balance evokes feelings of formality (it’s sometimes called
formal balance) and elegance. A wedding invitation is a good
example of a composition that you’d likely want to be
symmetrically balanced.
The downside of symmetrical balance is that it’s static and
sometimes regarded as boring. Because half of the composition
mirrors the other half, at least half of the composition will be
rather predictable.
Lecture: BALANCE , STABILITY AND MOVEMENT
Week: 9

Asymmetrical balance
Lecture: BALANCE , STABILITY AND MOVEMENT
Week: 9

Asymmetrical balance 
Results from unequal visual weight on each side of the composition.
One side of the composition might contain a dominant element,
which could be balanced by a couple or more lesser focal points on
the other side. One visually heavy element on one side might be
balanced by a handful of lighter elements on the other.

Asymmetrical balance is more dynamic and interesting. It evokes

feelings of modernism, movement, energy and vitality. Asymmetrical
balance offers more visual variety, although it can be more difficult
to achieve because the relationships between elements are more
complex.
Lecture: BALANCE , STABILITY AND MOVEMENT
Week: 9

Radial balance
Lecture: BALANCE , STABILITY AND MOVEMENT
Week: 9

Radial balance
occurs when elements radiate from a common center.
Rays of sunlight and ripples in a pond after a stone is
tossed in are examples of radial balance. Maintaining a
focal point (fulcrum) is easy because it’s always the
center.
Because everything radiates from a common center,
everything also leads to that center, making it a strong
point of attraction.
Lecture: BALANCE , STABILITY AND MOVEMENT
Week: 9

Mosaic balance.
Lecture: BALANCE , STABILITY AND MOVEMENT
Week: 9

Mosaic balance

(or crystallographic balance) results from balanced chaos. Think

Jackson Pollack paintings.

The composition lacks distinct focal points, and the elements

share a uniform emphasis. The lack of hierarchy leads to visual
noise at first glance. Somehow, though, it all works together.
Lecture: BALANCE , STABILITY AND MOVEMENT
Week: 9

Symmetry and Asymmetry

Both symmetry and asymmetry can be used throughout a
composition, independent of, yet while contributing to,
the final balance. You can have symmetrical forms in an
asymmetrically balanced composition and vice versa.

Symmetry is usually seen as beautiful and harmonized;

however, it can also be seen as static and dull.
Asymmetry tends to be more interesting and dynamic,
despite not being regarded as intrinsically beautiful.
Week # 9
Assignment Handout
Part One : Construction and Assemblage

• In this assignment Student will show the “ movement and balance by

using the basic form(volumes)
• Students are allowed to use only one form (cube, pyramid, cylinder)
• Students will do the sketches showing movement & balance.
• Students will make their forms with boxboard sheet .
• Students are to use only one boxboard sheet each student for the
assignment.
• Student are allowed make Forms with the sizes listed are: 1”inche ,
2”inch, 3inches & 5 inches.
• Students will construct a free standing sculpture by using the form the
have made.
• Students will show the movement and balance while constructing the
free standing sculpture.
Week # 9
Material List
Part One : Movement and Balance with the basic forms (Volume).

Students are advised to bring the fowling material for the

upcoming class.

• Drawing board.
• T square & Set square.
• Box board Sheet.
• UHU Glue tube , Samad Bond.
• Scissors , paper cutter.
• Sketch book .
Week # 10
Assignment Handout
Part Two : Stability, Movement and Balance with the basic Shapes.

• In this assignment Student will show the “ Stability , movement and balance by
using the basic Shapes
• Students are allowed to use only one shape (circle , Triangle , Square , rectangle ).
• Students will do the sketches showing movement & balance.
• Students will cut the selected shape from boxboard sheet as many as they can.
Challenges in this assignment are:
• Minimum height of this sculpture is 18” inches.
• Each student allowed to use only one boxboard sheet for this assignment.
• Student are allowed to cut the shape within the following size 1” inch.
• Joining method for this assignment is “penetration technique”(not allowed to use
any glue).
• Students will gave only one cut in a shape to join the shapes by penetration to
construct a free standing sculpture .
• Students will show the Stability, movement and balance while constructing the
free standing sculpture.
Week # 10
Material List
Part Two : Stability, Movement and Balance with the basic Shapes

Students are advised to bring the fowling material for the

upcoming class.

• Drawing board.
• Box board Sheet.
• Scissors , paper cutter.
• Sketch book .