- When you think about balance,…you might think about two people on either end of a seesaw.…Visual balance is the arrangement of objects in a design…as it relates to their weight within a composition.…Weight in a visual, like varying weights on a seesaw,…can cause a composition to feel unbalanced…if there's too much weight on one side…and not enough on the other.…The tension of an imbalanced illustration will usually…project the viewer right out of the picture.…As we want to keep the viewer in the illustration,…let's take a look at the properties…that keep visual weight in an image.…
Visual weight is determined by size,…value,…color,…density,…and negative or white space, the space between elements.…Our interest in an image tends to be drawn,…by default, to the visual center of the image.…The visual center of any page is just…slightly above and to the right of the actual center.…This tends to be the natural placement of our focus,…unless we are attracted to elements…that are larger,…darker,…more vibrant,…or densely packed with elements…
Author
Mary Jane Begin
Released
3/13/2015This course will help to clarify best practices for developing any artistic or illustrated composition. Shaping the elements; marrying concept to composition; engaging the editing eye; achieving balance, unity, directional movement, and perspective; and exploring point of view and focal points are all topics covered in these lessons. Author (and professional artist) Mary Jane Begin also explores the major and minor pitfalls of a weak composition and explains the six compositional rules that lead to the best end results! See the steps in action in the final chapter, where Mary Jane designs a concept for lynda.com.
Then share what you've learned with the lynda.com community. Take the three challenges Mary Jane issues in the course and post your results to Facebook and Twitter, using the hashtag #learnatlynda. We can't wait to see your illustrations!
- Directing with lines
- Designing the negative space
- Creating a consistency of style
- Adding movement with dynamic diagonals, edges, and contrast
- Creating depth of field with perspective
- Using—and breaking—the rules
- Choosing a size and medium for artwork
Skill Level Beginner
Duration
Views
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Introduction
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Welcome1m 22s
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1. Basics of Composition
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Framing your field of view3m 15s
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2. Shaping the Composition
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Seeing in shape2m 27s
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Directing with lines3m 19s
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Composing with text3m 14s
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Solution: Text illustration5m 36s
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3. Creating Compositional Unity
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Bringing it all together2m 20s
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Consistency of style3m 3s
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Unifying light2m 44s
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Combining message and medium3m 25s
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4. Exploring Movement
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Dynamic diagonals2m 1s
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Illustrating storyboards2m 58s
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5. Directing the Eye
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Tracking the viewer's gaze2m 40s
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Contrast and edges3m 20s
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What is your focal point?2m 57s
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Understanding point of view2m 26s
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Avoiding common pitfalls2m 1s
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Solution: Point of view2m 56s
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6. Finalizing the Format
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Does size matter?2m 53s
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Style and substance3m 1s
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The six rules of composition3m 57s
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7. From Concept to Finished Art
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Video: Creating visual balance in an image