Composition Principles: Rhythm

Composition Principles

Composition refers to the arrangement of elements within an artwork. Although art is largely an intuitive practice, by breaking down and putting a spotlight onto individual elements we can evaluate and elevate our art. This series focuses on the principles within composition, so you can cherry-pick your favourite ideas and level up your art practice.

 

Let’s dive into today’s topic: RHYTHM!

Rhythm Defined

Rhythm is one of the principles of art and refers to the visual tempo/beat of an artwork.  Rhythm is how well you execute repetition (created through repeating elements) and helps create visual flow, mood and lead the eye. Often created solely off an artist’s intuition, rhythm can become a main component of an artist’s voice.

A quick refresher: there are 7 elements of art: colour, line, shape, form, texture, value, and space.
I’ll refer to the elements throughout this entry so if you need to explore each element further, please click on the links above.

 

Pattern vs Repetition (definitions)

A PATTERN is a recurring element in a particular arrangement.  It’s natural for human beings to seek out patterns with predictable patterns being soothing.

REPETITION refers to an element that repeats. It may form a pattern and it may not.  Repetition will naturally highlight the elements being repeated.

(source 1/2)

Rhythm Pacing

Like in music, rhythm in visual art can vary in pace – some works are calm and relaxed while others are energetic and active. Rhythm in visual art is controlled by playing with the elements of art and paying attention to the intervals between them – changes to either alter the pattern. You can add interest and surprise to rhythmic patterns by adding emphasis or contrast that interrupts the pattern, pausing the flow momentarily, and letting the eye rest.  Too much contrast and variations can lead to discordance, chaos, and an artwork feeling unbalanced.

(sources 1/2/3)

Five Types of Rhythm

Below are the five types of rhythm with examples to help illustrate the concept.
note: an artwork doesn’t need to conform to one type of rhythm the examples are there to simply highlight each example clearly.

Regular Rhythm

A regular rhythm will contain repeating elements in a specific order or arrangement.
Since the rhythm is predictable and consistent the artwork is often calm in nature, although it can lack interest. (source)

GENE DAVIS – Sonata

Gene Davis was a color field painter known for his striped artworks.  In ‘Sonata’ Gene uses the line element in repetition to create a repeated rhythm.

ALTERNATING RHYTHM

Alternation is used to create rhythm by alternating two or more elements in a regular interval.
The alternating can reduce monotony and provide interest through variety.  (source)

M.C. ESCHER – Bird Fish

Escher alternates between the fish and the bird and the blue and the olive.

Flowing RHYTHM

Describes an artwork that contains curved or circular elements used to create the feeling of movement.
An artwork using a flowing rhythm will have a more organic feel as typically each element is unique (yet similiar). (source 1/2)

Van Gogh’s starry night is a great example that everyone knows!

EMILY KAME KNGWARREYE – Untitled

Emily uses repeated lines in a flowing method. She repeats a similar line but each line is unique and thus creates an organic feeling.

PROGRESSIVE RHYTHM

Describes an artwork that contains repeating elements in a pattern that change either in size or colour as they repeat. The elements should gradually increase or decrease creating a sense of direction over the sequence. The variation creates visual interest and directs the eye.  (source 1/2)

VINCENT VAN GOGH – Undergrowth with Two Figures

In Undergrowth with Two Figures, vincent repeats the trees.  He uses the technique of perspective to create realism.

RANDOM RHYTHM

A random rhythm contains repeating elements without a specific order or arrangement, avoiding any formal structure. Without order, the artist is given freedom of expression and an artwork with unpredictable movement.  (sources 1/2/3)

JACKSON POLLOCK – Splatter Painting

Jackson has great rhythm in his art, it’s completely random but he uses repetition of marks and colours. This rhythm became uniquely his own.

HOMEWORK

Your homework this week is easy!

Below are three paintings can you identify which rhythms they use? (hint may be more than one!)

Answers at bottom of the page.

YAYOI KUSAMA – A Pumpkin (T)

JOSEF ALBERS – OG

ANDY WARHOL – Three Marilyns

Answers

1) Yayoi uses a random rhythm, with organic linework and dots but she also uses a progressive rhythm, through the increase in dot sizes and the pumpkin layers.

2) Josef uses progressive rhythm, through a colour gradient.

3) Andy uses a regular rhythm, by repeating the image of Marilyn.  This repetition does the obvious job of drawing attention to her, linking back to his art message.

* homework bonus point: see if you can start noticing rhythm, in all art! Remember rhythm does not necessarily mean an artist has to use a pattern just repetition of one or more of the elements of art.  More than one rhythm can be found in an artwork as well!

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