VA COMP | Symmetrical Balance

Symmetrical Balance: Complete the Image

Karrie Brewer

Tiger and Her Cub, 2018

Colored pencil on paper

6.5 x 10 inches

NCHS (Teacher Example)

BALANCE is the perception or sense of distribution of visual weight in a composition. 

SYMMETRICAL BALANCE refers to balance that is achieved by arranging elements on either side of the center of a composition in an equally weighted manner.  

SYMMETRICAL BALANCE can be thought of as 50/50 balance or like a mirror image.

Magazine Clipping & Symmetrical Balance (directions and criteria)

___ 1. BROWSE THROUGH PICTURES IN MAGAZINES. CHOOSE A PHOTO FROM 

A MAGAZINE WITH AN INTERESTING COMPOSITION OR SUBJECT. 

___ 2. USE SCISSORS TO CUT THE MAGAZINE CLIPPING IN HALF. 

___ 3. PASTE DOWN ONE SIDE OF THE MAGAZINE CLIPPING TO YOUR  

SKETCHBOOK. 

___ 4. USE THE LOOSE HALF AS REFERENCE TO DRAW FROM.  

KEEP THE LOOSE HALF TO BE ATTACHED LATER! 

___ 5. MATERIALS: USE PENCIL, COLORED PENCIL, OR BLACK INK TO 

DRAW THE OTHER HALF OF THE MAGAZINE CLIPPING. 

___ 6. SHOW ART ELEMMENTS: LINE, SHAPE, FORM, VALUE. 

___ 7. VALUE SHOULD DISPLAY LIGHT TO DARK RATIO USING ANY OF THE 

VALUE TECHINQUES. 

___ 8. SHOW PRINCIPLE OF DESIGN: BALANCE (SPECIFICALLY, SYMMETRICAL) 

___ 9. ATTACH THE OTHER SIDE OF YOUR MAGAZINE CLIPPING WITH A  

PAPER CLIP. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FLIP THE MAGAZINE CLIPPING  

OVER TO REVEAL YOUR SYMMETRICAL BALANCE in your drawing. 

___ 10. SHOW ARTISTRY, CRAFTSMANSHIP, NEATNESS.