It is impossible to be a professional artist without adhering to some basic rules in your work to create successful art. There are so many different approaches to creating art, so it is important to be aware of the fundamental principles that form art. In this article, we will discuss the golden rules of making art.
Creating a Focal Point
The key to demonstrating a good design is to focus on one main focal point. No matter the size of a painting, this rule applies.
This focal point is made to draw the viewer’s attention. It is encouraged to be something in the painting that stands out, leading to a point of focus. The idea of a focal point is for the audience to be able to recognize the subject of the art the moment their eyes fall on the painting.
It should be aesthetically pleasing, which is determined by making sure the focal point has its own story. To help create the focal point, it can be beneficial to create a frame within the entire design.
This lets the viewer’s eye know where to look, as well as when they are at the end of the piece. It also helps in creating a full design and makes sure that the painting brings everything together. The piece should have a balance in the composition leading to the focal point so that the viewers feel drawn to it.
A common technique used to create a focal point is called ‘rule of thirds’. This is a concept that divides the artwork into nine equal sections by horizontally and vertically dividing it.
The four points that occur when they intersect are places to pay extra attention to when designing the artwork. The artist can also divide the artwork using different shapes, whether it is circles, triangles, rhombuses, and more. It is essential to remember to keep the artwork balanced, aiming for many points of interest within the painting.
Choosing the Right Colors
Choosing colors is an essential part of painting, as colors use light to express their individual characteristics. When viewing an artwork, colors and the intensity of colors used will draw the viewer’s attention and can be used to show the artists’ mood, message, and story.
Therefore, to make a successful painting and engage the viewer, colors must be used side by side to create depth. Different colors will demand different emotions, so the artist must consider where they place colors in their painting as they create a certain atmosphere. There are a few techniques a painter can use to choose colors, such as: triad colors, which use three colors equally placed, split colors, which creates a separation between colors, and monochromatic colors, which use one color throughout the entire painting.
Color should be used with certain right principles like the principle of harmony, contrast and the rule of proximity. A harmonious color combination is considered when two colors are placed side by side to create a pleasing effect. This is usually followed by the principle of contrast.
Colors that complement each other are placed side by side, as well as colors that oppose each other and create a striking effect. The colors need to be balanced and play off each other in the painting.
The final color principle is the rule of proximity. This means that colors should be placed next to each other to draw the viewer’s eye, for example red and green.
Shape and Space
Shapes are used to create interest and draw an audience into the painting. They can also be used to lead the eye of the viewer and to create depth within the painting.
When an artist is creating shapes, they should also pay attention to the use of negative and positive space. Positive and negative or empty/full space must be used to create a balance and complete the painting. When designing shapes, an artist must consider linear and non-linear elements.
Linear elements are straight vertical and horizontal lines and can be used to create a central point of focus within the painting. Non-linear elements are the curved lines, which lead the viewer’s eye across the painting.
A commonly used principle when creating shapes is called the ‘law of closure’. This law states that if a shape is unbalanced, the viewer’s eye will connect the missing vertex to fill in the other half of the shape. This make the design more impactful and complete for the audience.
Spaces between the shapes and objects need to be balanced and natural. Even in abstract pieces, the use of negative and positive space needs to be harmonious. To help create this balance in the painting, the artist should pay attention to the size, location, and amounts of space between the shapes and objects.
Another way to create balance is to use a careful division of objects or shapes throughout the entire canvas.
Conclusion
Creating successful artwork is dependent on applying certain rules. When creating paintings it is crucial that the artist uses a focal point, the right selection of colors, and the right balance of shape and space. As long as the artist ensures that the artwork is created by adhering to the golden rules of art, they will be able to create a piece of artwork that can captivate a viewer.