Balance and Rhythm

Imbalance

-Occurs when opposing or interacting forms are out of equilibrium in a pictorial composition

Symmetrical balance

-having equal "weight" on equal sides of a centrally placed fulcrum

Asymmetrical balance

-balance is achieved with dissimilar objects that have equal visual weight or equal eye attraction

Balance by value and color

-One element that attracts our attention is value difference, a contrast of light and dark. 

Black against white gives a stronger contrast than gray against white; therefore, a smaller amount of black is needed to visually balance a larger amount of gray.

-All colors have different visual weights. All colors are more dominant that achromatic tones. 

Balance by pattern or texture

-Any visual texture with a varied dark and light pattern holds more interest for the eye than a smooth surface.

-Basically, the more visual variation something has, the more weight it is going to have

Balance by eye direction

-Eye direction is carefully plotted, not only for balance but also for general compositional unity.

Radial balance

-a composition in which all visual elements are balanced around and radiate from a central point

Crystallographic balance

-an equal emphasis over the whole format—the same weight or eye attraction everywhere.

Visual rhythm

-The quality of rhythm can be applied to the visual arts, in which it is again basically related to movement. 

Rhythm

-an element of design based on the repetition of recurrent motifs

Motion

-a movement across recurrent motifs providing the repetition inherent in the idea of rhythm.

Alternating rhythm

- a rhythm that consists of successive patterns in which the same elements reappear in a regular order. The motifs alternate consistently with one another to produce a regular (and anticipated) sequence.

Progressive rhythm

-repetition of a shape that changes in a regular pattern

Polyrhythmic structures and contrast

-A complex pattern employing more than one rhythm or beat