12MoVeMENT
& R h Y t h M
I. Movement
a. Creates a path for the viewer’s eye
b. Visual Rhythm – similar to rhythm in music, closely related to movement
c. Can be produced by repeating shapes, patterns, and colors
II. Actual Movement
a. Some works of art actually move, such as motorized sculptures
b. Gravity or wind currents may produce the movement
c. Kinetic Art – includes actively moving parts
III. Recorded Action
a. Video tapes, film, freeze frame action photos
b. Repeatedly freezing frames of action as in a photo series
IV. Compositional Movement
a. Neither action nor a record of action
b. Example: picket fence = though it cannot move, it conveys movement as your eye follows it from one end to the other
c. Compositional movement can be created through contrast, emphasis, directional lines, shapes, colors and can be 2 or 3 dimensional.
V. Compositional Movement in 3D art
a. Usually cannot be “read” from a single point of view
b. Composition will change as the viewer moves around the work
c. Architects create movement with physical paths or creation of entrance to a building with arches, pillars, and even hedges
VI. Compositional Movement in 2D art
a. Manipulate elements of design such as line, color, texture…
b. Artists control eye movement through the piece with elements and principles of design.
VII. Types of Rhythm
a. Visual rhythm – similar to pattern and can be produced by repating patterns and motifs
b. Can use size changes of patterns or shapes to create movement and rhythm
c. Regular rhythm – the space between the forms remains constant, predictable and continuous
d. Flowing Rhythm – usually, large movements that sweep across an entire composition = can be curved, circular, or wavy
e. Alternating Rhythm – Used to sustain interest, vary the types of rhythm… for example use regular rhythm with flowing rhythm.
f. Progressive Rhythm – its repeated motifs change in a predictable or regular way.
g. Unexpected Rhythm – unpredictable and surprising…created by random changes and irregular spacing, changes of size, color, or shape of repeated motifs and patterns
