Balance in Art: Definition, Types & Examples

Balance in Art - Definition, Examples and Why It Is Important

Key Highlights

Balance is one of the main principles of design. It shows how the visual weight be spread in artwork.
The types of balance be symmetrical balance, asymmetrical balance, and radial. Each one gives the art its own feel and look.
Symmetrical balance gives a sense of order and calm. It puts equal things on both sides. This makes the art feel neat and steady.
Asymmetrical balance uses different elements. It balances with equal visual weight. This brings visual harmony and makes the work feel lively.
When you know the types of balance in a piece, you can set a strong focal point. This helps guide the viewer’s eye over the artwork.

Introduction

Balance in art is about how the lines, colors, and shapes go together in a work of art. The visual elements in the art should feel right. When things look balanced, you feel a sense of stability. If you see a work of art where everything fits well together, you feel that it is complete and calm.

When an artist uses the principles of art and thinks about visual weight, the work of art looks better. You do not feel that the work is messy or out of line. It is good to look at and feel nice. A good balance helps people feel calm and lets them see what the artist wants to show in the work of art. Balance lets the artist get their idea across and helps tell the story in the art. This is why balance is so important in every work of art.

Understanding Balance in Art

Each part in your piece of art adds visual weight. This means people look at these spots in different ways. A sense of balance comes when you put each part in the right place. With good balance, your piece of art will feel good. It will not look uneven or off.

When you put furniture in a room, you want it to feel calm and nice. This is how balance works in that place. The same idea is used when people make art. Balance is an important thing in art. Next, you will read what balance means and why every artist should know about it.

What Does Balance Mean in Artistic Composition?

In art, balance is about how you place things to get visual harmony in your work. It is not about how much a thing weighs. What really matters is the visual weight each part of the picture has. A small and bright shape can give the same visual weight as a big shape that has a plain color.

When you use balance in art, you put things so there is an even feel on both sides of a line in the middle. This line can be straight up and down, or go across from side to side. A part from Cornell University's Department of Human Centered Design says that balance helps all the pieces work together. This makes the artwork feel like one full picture. With balance, no part is stronger or stands out more than the rest. It helps people look at the whole artwork and move their eyes over each part. People get to see every spot, not just one area, so they can see everything in the picture.

In the end, this way of placing things gives a strong sense of order to your work. It helps everything look finished and neat. People will feel that the work is steady and that someone put thought into it. This makes people feel good when they see it. They will feel happy with what they see.

Why Is Balance Important for Artists and Viewers?

For artists, balance is just as important as grammar. The principles of design are key to making good art. Balance is one of the basic principles of design. It helps artists show what they feel and think in a clear way. Balance guides people’s eyes to the right spot in your artwork. When you use balance, you show the real focal point. You also set the feeling you want in your work. The principles of design help your art feel better. These make people feel good each time they look at it.

When people look at a design that is even, they feel calm. A good sense of stability makes us feel good, and this is because our brains like when things look balanced. It just feels right and nice for the eyes. When something is put together in a good way, you feel happy looking at it. But if a design is not even, it can seem odd or feel off. Some people feel tense or unsure when they see it. Sometimes, artists want to use this feeling and give strong feelings to people who see their art.

Mastering balance helps you:

You can bring visual interest to your art, but try not to make it feel too busy. Keep the art clear and simple, so people can look at it and get what you want to show.
You should help people notice your art. Show them the parts that matter the most, so they can see what is special about it.
Your art can make people feel different things. It can feel calm and neat, or it can feel full of life and energy.

Types of Balance in Art

There are some types of balance you can use in art. These types of balance include symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial balance. You can use one type of balance or try using more than one in your work. When you pick from different types of balance, you set up visual elements in a way that can make your art feel new and look nice. The type of balance you use affects what people see in your art and how it feels for them.

Knowing the type of balance can help you build your skills. You can pick the type of balance that works best for you. Let’s look at how each type of balance works. Find out what each type of balance can do for your art.

Symmetrical Balance Explained

Symmetrical balance is a type of balance you see when both sides of something look the same, almost like a mirror image. If you draw an imaginary line down the middle, you will see that the two sides have equal visual weight. The things on the left and right are put there, so both sides feel equal. This is also called formal balance. Whenever the sides match each other, it is easy to notice symmetrical balance and see that there is equal visual weight on both sides.

This form of balance is called bilateral symmetry. It gives people a strong sense of order. It makes things feel steady and sure. You can see bilateral symmetry at the front of many big government buildings. You find it with famous religious icons, too. Their balanced look shows strength and makes us feel they be here for a long time.

When you see that both sides of something look the same, it can feel very still. With approximate symmetry, each side is almost the same, but there are slight variations. These small changes help give good balance to the picture. They also make visual interest stronger. This way, the art does not feel stiff or hard. It feels natural and lively.

Asymmetrical Balance and Visual Impact

Asymmetrical balance, also known as informal balance, is a way to make a design feel even. You do not have to make both sides look the same. Instead, each side can use different elements. The visual weight spreads out across the design, and both sides seem balanced. Think about a seesaw. A bigger person can sit close to the middle. A smaller person sits out at the end. They are not the same, but they balance each other. That is how asymmetrical balance works. It uses visual weight to make a design feel stable. You get visual harmony, even when the sides have different elements.

In art, you can see balance when there is a big, simple shape beside several small shapes that show a lot of detail. A strong, warm color in one area works well with a calm, light color somewhere else. A piece in Smashing Magazine says doing it this way helps make the artwork feel alive. It can also make people want to look at the picture more.

This type of balance is nice to look at and feels good. It is not too stiff, because things do not have to be an exact match. You can use this in your work to make it feel more creative. The movement and energy it brings will help your work stand out. With this, you will not see a big lack of balance.

Radial Balance in Artworks

Radial balance be a way people use in a piece of art to make it feel even. In this type of balance, the design goes out from a central point. Items spread from this spot like spokes on a wheel or petals on a flower. Radial balance pulls people’s eyes right to the focal point in the middle. The center gets more attention and is easy to see. When you use radial balance in a piece of art, the central point stands out most.

Radial symmetry is a way that things start in the middle and go out to every side. It makes a design feel like it moves and has energy. You can spot radial symmetry in many things around us. For example, there are seashells and snowflakes. People use radial symmetry when they make art or objects. You see it in mandalas, clock faces, and tops of domes on buildings.

When you have all the parts of your work around a central point, the whole thing comes together. This helps your art feel full and active. People can see the central point first and focus on it. The art looks strong because the energy goes out from the middle. It feels like all the power is coming from the central point.

Principles That Influence Artistic Balance

Getting a good sense of balance in design does not just come on its own. You need to know about the other principles of design to make sure all the parts work well together. The elements of art, like color, shape, and texture, are what you build with. The principles of design help you put the elements of art in order. This way, your work can look good and feel right.

Learning about balance, contrast, emphasis, and proportion helps you understand how ideas connect in art. When you know how these four ideas work with each other, you can make better choices. This will help your art stand out. Let’s look at how each of these ideas can change the others.

Relationship Between Balance and Other Design Principles

The principles of design are used to help your design look good. A big part of this is balance. When you use emphasis, the focal point will show up the most. This part will have more visual weight than the other things in the design. So, you need to add balance by using other things. This helps keep everything in the design looking good and right. That is how you keep visual harmony in your work.

In the same way, changes in contrast can change visual weight. A place with high contrast will stand out more. It looks heavier in the art. A place with less contrast does not feel as bold. You can use contrast to help balance the different parts of your art. This will make the visual balance feel right. The size of each part, and how they fit with each other, also adds to this visual balance.

Think of these ideas like a group working together. Balance is the base of a piece of art. It helps keep the art steady and in place. Contrast, emphasis, and movement make the piece feel lively. These things help guide your eyes as you look at the piece of art. When you put all of them together, the piece of art feels complete. They help the parts of the art fit together well.

Contrast, Emphasis, and Proportion in Achieving Balance

You can use some more rules in your design. These rules help add a sense of order and balance. When you put in things like contrast, emphasis, and proportion, you change how the design looks to people. This will give visual weight to your work. When you know about these ideas, you can make your design feel balanced. It will feel balanced even when you use many different elements.

Here’s how they contribute:

Contrast: A small mark with strong contrast, like a black spot on white, can feel as heavy as a bigger spot with soft contrast, such as with gray tones. The feel of bright colors is bold and makes them stand out more than dull or light ones.
Emphasis: When you make something the focal point, it gets more visual weight. You might want to add other things, or use empty space, to help your work feel balanced and look nice.
Proportion: Shapes change how visual weight feels. A big shape can feel as strong as several smaller ones together. A small shape far from the center of the composition can feel just as strong as larger shapes.

Symmetrical Balance Techniques

Creating symmetrical balance in art is a great way to make your work feel ordered. Many people also know this as formal balance. To create this, you have to make a mirror image on both sides of the center line. You want each side of your piece to look the same or almost the same. This way, your art will look balanced and feel even.

The center of the composition has a line that cuts everything down the middle. That line helps keep the visual weight the same on both sides. These are some easy ways you can use to make your design feel calm and balanced.

Classic Methods for Symmetrical Compositions

The best way to make a symmetrical design is to see the center as the main spot with a hidden line that goes straight up and down. The two halves of an artwork mirror each other on each side of this line. Put things on the left side that match what is on the right side. Each thing should be the same distance from the central point. This way, everything will look even. When you do this, your work will feel balanced and be good to look at.

You can set up symmetry along the horizontal axis. When you do this, the top and bottom parts of your artwork look the same. People do not use this setup a lot in art with human figures. But it works well for abstract art and in pieces used for decoration. If an artwork is the same on both the vertical and horizontal axis, it has what is called biaxial symmetry.

To practice this, start by drawing a gentle line through the middle of your canvas or paper. When you put any shapes, lines, or colors on one side, be sure to add the same things to the other side. This will help your design look neat and feel balanced for people who see it.

Artists Who Mastered Symmetry in Their Work

Many famous artists use symmetry in their art to show order and balance. A good example of this is "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci. In this painting, Leonardo da Vinci uses something called approximate symmetry. This way, the Last Supper has a peaceful feel. Using this technique gives a sense of balance. You can see that the painting creates a steady and calm mood.

The way things are arranged here is not a perfect mirror image. But you can see that the layout is still balanced.

Jesus is at the center. Everything else is around him.
The disciples are together in groups of three. You can see them at both sides of him.
A building is behind them. It helps the scene feel steady. It also makes it look balanced.

This careful balance helps people see the main spot in the painting. It makes the art feel calm and special. There be types of balance that Vincent van Gogh uses in his work. But in Leonardo’s art, being even gives a strong feel to the focal point.

Asymmetrical Balance Strategies

Asymmetrical balance gives your space a fresh and relaxed feel. You do not have to make both sides look the same. Instead, you use things with different visual weight. This makes the space feel good for you. Asymmetrical balance is a variation of symmetrical balance. It helps to create visual harmony. There are no strict rules for using it. The main point is that the way things look is good and feel nice to you when you see them.

This way to make art makes it feel fresh and full of life. It feels real, too. Down below, you will see how artists use different elements to bring harmony to what they make. Even if both sides are not the same, they still get a good balance in the art.

How Artists Use Unequal Elements for Harmony

Getting asymmetrical balance means you use different elements to make your work feel right. The main goal is to bring visual harmony in what you do. You get a new feel by working with different visual weights. For example, you may put a big, dark, simple shape on one side. On the other side, you can place a smaller shape that is colorful and has more detail. This way, asymmetrical balance makes things look good with each other.

An artist can decide to put a lot of details and different subject matter in one part of a picture. At the same time, they may have empty space in another part. This empty space has its own visual weight in the artwork. It helps the picture to not have a lack of balance. Where things are placed on the canvas is also important. If you put something near the edge, it will have more visual weight than if you put it in the center.

It can be hard to make artwork like this. But after you do it, you feel good. If you learn how to do this, you will get a strong and interesting skill. The art has two sides that look the same. But it does not feel simple or like anything you see every day.

Famous Artworks Depicting Asymmetrical Balance

Many famous artworks show the feel of asymmetrical balance. These works do not be the same as The Last Supper, which uses symmetry. Instead, they have balance that feels alive and not even. A good example of this is The Starry Night by vincent van gogh. In this painting, you see the tall cypress tree on the left. The moon and stars show up on the right. Both sides work together to make the painting feel whole.

Other great examples include:

"The Boating Party" by Mary Cassatt: This painting can be seen at the National Gallery of Art. You will notice a large man in dark clothes in front who gets all your attention at first. There are people wearing lighter colors and the boat's sail is in the back. The mix of these things gives the painting balance.
Compositions by Piet Mondrian: Piet Mondrian started something new in contemporary art. He uses grids made with black lines. You also see blocks filled with bright colors in his art. Every piece feels balanced, but each side is not exactly the same.

Using Radial Balance for Dynamic Effects

If you want your work to be noticed and feel full of life, use radial balance. In this style, the visual elements move around a central point. This helps all eyes go to the middle, making the focal point shine. It makes the whole thing feel more active and helps people keep their focus on what is at the center.

It be a way for people to set things so they feel even and bright. Everything starts to go out from the center of the artwork. There be some easy ways to make these round designs. Here be some well-known examples from art history.

Practical Tips for Creating Radial Arrangements

Making radial balance is a good way to make sure your art looks even. The first thing to do is pick a center point. Everything in your design will come from this spot. Put the other things so that they move out from the center point. Using radial balance helps your art feel balanced. It also gets people to look at the middle of what you do.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

Identify the center of the work: Find where the middle is in what you do. This is the main spot people will look at first. It is known as the focal point.
Repeat elements: To make radial symmetry, use lines, shapes, or colors that begin at the center of the work. Let these parts go out from the middle and reach every side.
Think in circles: You do not need to use circles everywhere. Place each part so it looks like they move around the center of the work. This helps you get radial symmetry in your work.

This way to make art shows up in things like mandalas and rose windows. You can find it in abstract art, too. It helps to make designs feel even and bring that mosaic balance into play. The main thing is that all shapes or pieces go back to the central point.

Iconic Examples of Radial Balance in Art History

Radial balance shows up in many well-known works of art. A great example is the rose windows you see in old Gothic cathedrals. In these windows, all the shapes and colors start at a central point and go outward. You can look at the window and see how the design goes from the middle. Radial balance is easy to see in Tibetan sand mandalas too. These art pieces use radial symmetry to show how the world looks. People use them to focus and feel calm when they meditate.

In the last few years, artists in the op art movement like Victor Vasarely have started to use radial designs in their work. They often use shapes that move out from a central point or pull in toward it. This makes the art feel like it is moving. People notice the way it catches your eye. It can really pull people in and make them want to look at it longer. These designs help the artwork stand out.

Another famous piece is Jasper Johns’ "Target with Four Faces." In this work, the central point is a target made up of more than one circle, all centered at the middle. These circles help make the center stand out right away. Your eyes go straight to it at first look. These artworks show how a strong central point can change the feel of the art and help people focus on it.

Applying Balance in Monoprinting with Gel Press

Now that you know about the principles of art, you can use them when you make your own piece of art. Monoprinting with a Gel Press is a simple way to practice balance. This helps you layer color, shape, and texture to try new things with your work. When you do this, you start to feel how visual weight works in art. You can also make a piece of art that is only yours.

Whether you want things to be even or a bit uneven, the Gel Press gives you a surface that lets you do both. You can try both styles and see which one works for you.

Choosing the Right Gel Press Plate Size for Balanced Prints

The size of the Gel Press plate you use can change the sense of balance in your art. A small plate helps you make your art look clear and not messy. A big plate gives you more room to try out new ideas. With it, your art can feel open and not match on both sides. First, pick the right plate for what you want your art to feel. This helps you show your sense of balance in the best way.

For example, you can take a small plate to make nice shapes with the food. The plate can help you put the main focal point in the middle. A big plate gives you more space to work on. You can show many things at once. You might add lots of detail to one side of the plate. Then you leave the other side plain.

You can look at how to use plates in different sizes for your work. The Gel Press is the right tool, so you can try every form of balance to make your art feel good. This way, when you make something new, you can see what works best for you.

Gel Press Plate Size	Best For Creating Balanced Prints
5" x 7" Plate	Ideal for practicing symmetrical or simple radial designs. Great for creating a single, clear focal point in your prints.
8" x 10" Plate	A versatile, all-purpose size perfect for exploring both symmetrical and asymmetrical compositions with ease.
12" x 12" Plate	Perfect for advanced compositions, offering ample space for complex asymmetrical arrangements or large-scale radial designs.

Educational Projects: Teaching Balance Using Gel Press

The Gel Press is easy to use in the classroom. You use your hands with it, and that makes it feel simple. Students enjoy working with it. The Gel Press lets everyone learn about the principles of design in a fun way. With this tool, big ideas like visual weight feel easy to get. Lessons feel more fun with the Gel Press. It helps all students take part and learn together in the classroom.

Here are a few project ideas:

Symmetry Prints: Students take a sheet of paper and fold it in half. They use a stencil and place it on one side of the Gel Press plate. After they pull a print, they flip the stencil to the other side. This way, they make a picture that is the same on both sides.
Asymmetry Challenge: Have students put a large, dark shape on one side of the plate. Then, ask them to place several small, bright shapes on the other side.
Radial Designs: Use bottle caps, leaves, or other small things. Start patterns in the middle of the plate and let them go out to the edges.

These activities show the students how different elements can work with one another. Students get to feel how these pieces come together and feel balanced.

Tips & Safety for Classroom Gel Press Use

Use Non-Toxic Materials: It is best to use water-based, non-toxic acrylic paints which come in the Gel Press Primary Paint Set. This way, it is safe for all people who want to try it.
Protect Surfaces & Clothing: Put craft paper or a mat on the table. Tell everyone to wear their apron or an old shirt. This helps keep their clothes clean.
Proper Cleaning & Storage: Wash the Gel Press plates with mild soap and water or clean them with a baby wipe. Keep all the plates flat inside the package they came with. This helps them stay clean and not get hurt.
Drying Space: Set up a drying rack. You can also use string and clothespins if you want to hang up wet prints. It helps stop smudges and makes less mess.

Conclusion

When you learn how to use balance in art, it helps you as an artist and the people who look at your work. It can make your art look good and feel strong for anyone who sees it. You can choose symmetrical balance, asymmetrical balance, or radial balance. Each one helps you show your own style and ideas. When you begin a new art project, try Gel Press products. The right tools from Gel Press make it easier to find balance in your prints. With good tools, your art looks better and people feel good seeing it. If you want to know more about what Gel Press can do for balance in art, you can ask for a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Difference Between Visual Balance and Physical Balance in Art?

Physical balance is the real weight and steadiness of a 3D thing, like a sculpture. This helps the sculpture be strong and stand up without falling. Visual balance is not the same as physical balance. It is about where the elements of art go in a flat picture. The way things are in the picture gives a sense of stability when you look at it. People feel visual balance because of how the picture looks, not how much it weighs.

How Can Beginners Create Balance in Their Art Projects?

Beginners can use symmetrical balance since it is simple and easy to do. Place the focal point in the center of your work. What you add on one side, be sure to add on the other side as well. Do not forget about using empty space. This step helps the busy parts feel more even. Using empty space and having a clear focal point will make your work have a good sense of balance.

What Techniques Help Achieve Balance in Classroom Art Activities?

For classroom activities, there are some simple ways to help students learn the principles of design. You can get them to fold paper in half. This helps them make designs that look the same on each side. Another good idea is to use a grid. A grid helps people know where to put the visual elements. If you tell your students to mark the center of the composition first, it will be much easier for them to make balanced art. This also helps their drawings look radial or symmetrical.

What does balance in art mean and why is it important?

Balance in art is when the visual elements work well together. This is important for the sense of order and visual harmony. It is one of the main principles of art. A good balance helps a piece of art feel steady and complete. The viewer can look around the art with ease. A sense of order and visual harmony can also change how people feel when they see a piece of art.

Can you explain the different types of balance found in art?

The types of balance you will see are symmetrical balance, asymmetrical balance, and radial symmetry. Symmetrical balance is also called formal balance. With this, both sides are the same or very close. It makes things feel stable and in order. Asymmetrical balance uses different elements. But you still feel a sense of balance when you see it. Radial symmetry happens when all things go around a central point. This type of balance makes a strong and lively focus.

How do artists create symmetrical and asymmetrical balance in their work?

Artists use symmetrical balance when they place the same things on each side of a center line. They may use slight variations to add visual interest to the artwork. With asymmetrical balance, artists often put a large object on the left side of the painting. Then, they might add several small things or a bright color on the other side. This helps make the painting feel even. The picture looks good and does not feel off.

What are some famous artworks that show great examples of balance?

Famous artworks that show balance are simple to spot. Leonardo da Vinci made "The Last Supper." This artwork uses symmetry, so there is a strong sense of balance. Mary Cassatt made "The Boating Party." You can see this painting at the National Gallery of Art. Her artwork uses asymmetry. That means balance can feel and look different in art. Andy Warhol is known for mosaic balance. He uses the same images again and again in his art. Because of the repeat shapes, his patterns feel balanced.

How does balance relate to other design principles in art?

Balance is one of the main principles of design. It works with things like contrast, focus, and size. These parts help make a piece feel finished. High contrast or strong focus brings more visual weight to that spot. People look at it before they see the other parts. If you want a good sense of balance, you have to place these things in the right area.

Why do artists use radial balance and what effect does it create?

Artists use radial balance to make art feel lively. They put visual elements around a central point. Your eye goes right to the center. This helps people notice the focal point. When things move out from the central point, the art seems full of energy. Radial balance helps the art feel connected. Everything looks active and linked together.

What are the main differences between visual balance and physical balance in art?

Physical balance means that 3D sculptures and installations stay up and don't fall over. Visual balance is something artists use in 2D art. The artist puts elements of art on both sides of an imaginary line. This makes the artwork feel steady and look good, even if it's not heavy.

How can beginners learn to apply balance in their own art projects?

Beginners can use the principles of art by adding symmetry to their work. You start by placing the focal point in the middle of the page. After you do this, copy what you have on one side to the other side. If there is too much in your picture, you can use empty space to make it look less crowded. This helps your work feel balanced and also helps you practice with visual weight. Drawing with these ideas can help you get a sense of stability in all your art.

Are there specific techniques or tools that help achieve balance in a composition?

Yes, there be tools like the Gel Press that you can use to test the balance in your work. You can use stencils so your work gets perfect symmetry. You can add layers with new textures and colors. This is a good way to practice asymmetrical balance. Some people put a light grid or mark the center of the work. These ways help you get the form of balance you want.

How is balance in art taught in educational settings or classrooms?

In many school projects, teachers often use hands-on tasks to teach the basic principles of design. Students can make paper butterflies. They fold the paper so both sides feel the same. This helps them feel a sense of order in their work. Students also place collage pieces in many spots. When the collage does not feel even, they notice the lack of balance. These activities help students learn what the principles of design are. They see that visual harmony comes when things feel balanced and ordered. In this way, the lessons about the basic principles of design are clear and easy to get.

November 26, 2025 — Ben Tiffany

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Balance in Art: Definition, Types & Why It Matters