Final answer:
Balance in design is achieved by understanding the proportions and reference points. Proportions influence the visual balance and unity within a work of art, going beyond other elements like shape and color. This principle is essential for creating a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing design.
Step-by-step explanation:
Achieving balance within a design can be accomplished by understanding the proportions and reference points. Proportion in art is the relationship between the sizes of different elements and gives a sense of unity and cohesiveness, contributing to the overall balance of the design. Reference points are used to help visually measure these proportions and establish symmetry or asymmetry to create the desired balance.
In the context of the principles of art, balance is crucial because it refers to the distribution of visual weight in a piece. This can be an actual weight in physical sculptures or an illusion of weight in two-dimensional artworks. For example, arches not only serve a structural function in architecture but also provide visual balance, allowing passage beneath and offering stability and symmetry. Similarly, unity and variety are principles that can influence balance through the repetition of elements like shape, texture, and especially color. An artwork may use consistent color schemes to convey unity, while a contrasting color provides focus and variety, shifting the balance.
Other elements such as shape, texture, and color, while important to the overall composition, are subordinate to proportions when creating balance. A designer must consider the spatial distribution and the scale of objects within the art to achieve a harmonious balance. It's this careful calibration of proportions that guides the viewer's eye and ensures a stable and aesthetically pleasing composition.