The Principle of Emphasis

The Road

by Basti Sayid

Lightning Strikes

by Sophie Lackner

Art I classes are finishing up colored pencil drawings. Students completed graphic organizers demonstrating their understanding of colored pencil techniques. These exercises are from The Colored Pencil: Key Concepts for Handling the Medium (Borgeson, 1983). We are learning that artists can change three things about a color: hue (a color's name), value (the lightness or darkness of a color) and intensity (purity or brightness of a color).

Wolverine

by Meghan Kelley

For these projects, by the Art I class, we are learning about colored pencil techniques and the Principle of Emphasis. Most works of art have a focal point (a main object or center of interest). We looked at several examples of works of art and how artists can emphasize the main object.

Seven Methods of Leading the Eye to the Center of Interest.

1. Isolation.

One way is to draw attention to the main object is simple: don't draw anything else. This is called Isolation and is the approach used in the portrait of Wolverine above.

Stepping Out
by Danielle Cole

2. Subordination of Accessories. Accessories are what we call the other objects in the composition, other than the main object. We have to depict these in a way that lets the viewer know they are less important. We can do this by making them smaller, or vague, indefinite or sketchy. They should add their contriubtion to the scene but not distract from the main object.

Rainbow Bouquet
by Basti Sayid

3. Organization of Accessories.

4. Arrangement of Line. This is using the prominent lines to lead the eye to the real subject.

5. Adjustment of Values. If the background is dark, the main object may be light in order to emphasize the focal point.

6. Placement. Where we put the main object can make it more noticeable. Often artists place it in the center or slightly off-center.

7. Color Scheme. If the main object is composed of bright warm colors, then the background may be primarily cool colors or neutral colors.

Touchdown

by Teddy Green

Possibilities

by Arianha Crawford

Snacktime

by Samantha Kitchin

For more about the Principle of Emphasis, see Pleasure from Pictures by Henry Turner Bailey (1926).