ArtistsNetwork.com 27Although we tend to idealize many
objects, thinking of them as sym-
metrical, nearly everything organic
is actually asymmetrical. Asymmetry
means that if you were to draw a line
down the center of an object, the left
and right sides would not be perfectly
equal. Asymmetry is very important
in composition because it adds move-
ment to a piece. Adding just a touch
of asymmetry gives more weight to
one side of a composition, drawing
the viewer’s eye to the element that
creates that difference.
In radial symmetry, visual informa-
tion is organized in such a way that it’s
symmetrical in every direction—from
the center out to the edges of a design,
as in a snowflake. Radial symmetry is
rare in Western composition—with
the exception of the work of Dutch
artist M.C. Escher—but it’s common
in some Eastern art, as in the Tibetan
mandala (left).
Balancing a composition is similar
to moving a seesaw: The only way to
get the seesaw to move is to shift the
weight to one side or the other. I like
to make all my compositions asym-
metrical, even if that means making
one side of the image a hair more
dominant than the other.Symmetry Asymmetry
Radial symmetry: Hevajara Mandala
Tibet, 15th century; distemper on cloth, 21½ x17⅓
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NEW YORK; GIFT OF
STEPHEN AND SHARON DAVIES COLLECTION, 2015TIP
You need to love your composition.
Find the right objects, and work
out a compelling setup that you’ll
be excited to paint. Get it right,
since you’re going to spend a lot
of time working on the painting
and need to see it through to the
end. Always look for new ways
to compose so you don’t get too
repetitive. Some of my paintings
are composed very easily, but
some take a lot of time. Find what
works for you and don’t rush the
process of loving your setup.