Rhythm/Movement

AP Art

Today is your day to paint life in bold colors,

set today’s rhythm with your heart drum;

walk today’s march with courage; create today as your

celebration of life.--Jonathan Lockwood Huie

How does movement lead your eye through an

artwork?

1st type of rhythm

• Linear rhythm refers to the characteristic flow of the individual line. Accomplished artists have a recognizable manner of putting down the lines of their drawings that is a direct result of the characteristic gesture used to make those lines, which, if observed, can be seen to have a rhythm of its own. Linear rhythm is not as dependent on pattern, but is more dependent on timed movement of the viewer's eye.

• Jackson Pollock used rhythmic motion in creating his paintings.

Repetition

• In this painting, the artist, Colin Page, used rhythmic marks.

2nd type of rhythm

• Repetition involves the use of patterning to achieve timed movement and a visual "beat". This repetition may be a clear repetition of elements in a composition, or it may be a more subtle kind of repetition that can be observed in the underlying structure of the image.

Repeating Parts

• Marc Hansen repeatedly used a gradation of color to show light and shadow, creating a rhythm.

Combine both repetition of marks and parts

3rd type of rhythm

• Alternation is a specific instance of patterning in which a sequence of repeating motifs are presented in turn; (short/long; fat/thin; round/square; dark/light).

4th type of rhythm

• Gradation employs a series of motifs patterned to relate to one another through a regular progression of steps. This may be a gradation of shape or color. Some shape gradations may in fact create a sequence of events, not unlike a series of images in a comic strip

Compositional Movement is characterized by movement of the eye that flows smoothly from one area of the composition to another, guided by line or form, and by gradations of color or form.

How can rhythm provide a better understanding of an idea?

AssignmentChoose a favorite photograph. Copy it 50 times (5 x 7in or smaller). You can choose that it be in color or black/white. Create one image that has rhythm and pattern. Color with colored pencils.