Artist's Magazine - USA (2020-05)

ArtistsNetwork.com 33

PRINCIPLE 6: RHYTHM

We usually think of rhythm as a char-
acteristic of music—a strong, regular,
repeated pattern of sound—but
rhythm can be visual, too. Rhythm
occurs in a composition when ele-
ments are repeated in a nonuniform
way that feels organized and creates
movement. For instance, you might
repeat shapes that aren’t identical but
belong to the same “family” of shapes,
as in Eternal Compassion (right).

PRINCIPLE 7:

UNITY, OR HARMONY

All compositions should strive for
some sort of cohesion. Without
unity, a picture may feel disjointed,
as the elements will not feel tied to
one another. Unity can be achieved
in several different ways: through
color (by means of analogous colors,
for example), through complemen-
tary shapes, or through pattern and
repetition. However you set up your
composition, unity is one of the most
important things to consider.
Tying together the different parts of
a painting with hues of the same family
willcreatea cohesivefeel.Youcanhave
onecolordominatea painting,which
isreferredtoascolordominance.

Todd M. Casey is an
award-winning
artist as well as a
workshop instructor
and author. Th is
article is an excerpt
from his latest book,
Th e Art of Still Life:
A Contemporary Guide to Classical
Techniques, Composition, and Painting
in Oil (2020, Monacelli Studio).

In Eternal Compassion

(1968; color lithograph on

paper, 27¾ x18½) by

Hovsep Pushman

(American, 1877–1966),

the similar shapes of the

fi gurine and the two

fi gures in the background

create a unifying rhythm.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HERITAGE

AUCTIONS, HA.COM

Justin Wood achieved unity in Basket of Lemons (2018; oil on canvas, 12x16) through the repetition

of color and also through the use of analogous colors in the lemons, brown basket and green leaves.

The painting also features a nice contrast of warm and cool.

COURTESYOFTHEARTIST

VISIT CASEY’S WEBSITE AT

TODDMCASEY.COM