Artist's Magazine - USA (2020-05)

30 Artists Magazine May 2020

Build LESSON

PRINCIPLE 4: EMPHASIS, OR HIERARCHY

An emphasis, or hierarchy, should be

considered when designing a composi-

tion so that the viewer knows where to

look. Emphasis can be built in a couple

of ways: through a dominant shape or

with a high-contrast focal point.

Dominant shape: One way to have

a clear hierarchy in your painting is to

have one “star”—a large, dominant

shape that will grab the attention of

the viewer first. The examples here

show the use of a triangle, rectangle

and circle as the dominant shape.

High-contrast focal point: The

focal point is the area of a painting

that you want the viewer to look at

first—the entry into the total design.

Often, this area has the highest con-

trast—the lightest value alongside the

darkest value—in the painting.

The triangular sail dominates the picture in Against the Wind (2016; oil on linen, 36x28). I wanted

to add shapes to the design that aren’t on a diagonal, so I went with some geometric squares and

rectangles along the bottom to contrast with the triangle.

COURTESY OF REHS CONTEMPORARY GALLERIES, NEW YORK.

In my painting Cape Codder (2017; oil on panel,

9x12) the rectangular postcard provides the

dominant shape.

PRIVATE COLLECTION.

A circular silver plate dominates the composition

in Still Life with Brazier, Silver Tea and

Quinces (1918; oil on canvas, 24x20)

by Emil Carlsen.

COURTESY OF EMIL CARLSEN ARCHIVES (EMILCARLSEN.ORG).

OPPOSITE

In Still Life with Roses

and Fruit (1863; oil on

canvas, 13⅝ x16⅜ ), Henri

Fantin-Latour used white

roses contrasting against

the dark background to

bring the eye right to this

area of the painting.

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF

ART, NEW YORK. BEQUEST OF

ALICE A. HAY, 1987