Emphasis in Art: Techniques and Tips for Stunning Visuals
When you look at a piece of art, exactly what part grabs your attention? Whatever part of an artwork does that, is not a random phenomenon, for the human eyes can only focus on one specific element at a time. The artist has actually put effort into guiding your eyes to look at that specific part of the artwork. And the technique through which he does that is called “Emphasis”.
In this guide, we will learn everything regarding what emphasis is, its elements, its types, why it’s necessary, and how you can use it to make your artwork more stunning. So, stick around and read the article with patience from A to Z to master emphasis in art.
Understanding Emphasizing in Art
If you’ve ever watched a stage performance, you’ll notice that they use the spotlight wherever the main characters appear in the play. Think of emphasis exactly as that spotlight.
Keep it in mind that the purpose of the spotlight is not to hide everything besides the main characters. Everything on the stage is still visible. The purpose is to ‘highlight’ the elements that organizers want you to focus on. The Same is the case with emphasis.
Definition of Emphasis
The definition of emphasis in art is simple, ‘using artistic techniques to highlight the most important part of an artwork’. However, different artists have termed it differently and used different approaches to emphasize their favorite spots in their paintings.
Da Vinci was a master of composition and used it to make the art convey the deeper meanings and hidden ideas of the artists. He saw emphasis as an extension of ‘chiaroscuro’, an artistic technique that uses light, composition, and perspective to emphasize specific parts of the painting and to also give them a three-dimensional look sometimes.
Georgia O’Keefe used ‘close up’ painting as a way to emphasize on things she found interesting. Instead of showing beautiful flowers in a forest, she simply showed only the flowers in a beautiful way. Focus was her emphasis in art.
Similarly, different ways have been used by the artists to emphasize what they considered the crux of their paintings. In the same manner, you can use the way you find best. What those different ways are, are discussed in detail in this article.
Many Roads, Same Destination
Just like any other technique, emphasis, in different eras has been used to emphasize the elements according to the contemporary trends. The systematic study and naming might be a modern thing, but the emphasis has been there for centuries as evident in many historical paintings.
In this long time, it has undergone a number of changes where it was molded as per the contemporary trends to reach us as a refined and honed artistic technique.
This clears the fact that there are many paths to the destination of emphasis in art. Let’s have a look at examples from one of the earliest uses of emphasis to one in contemporary times.
In one of the most famous paintings from the Renaissance period, The Last Supper, Leonardo Da Vinci very skillfully uses the emphasis technique to guide the viewer’s eye to focus on the middle, where sits the central figure of the painting.
Today, though you may be seeing a lot of AI-created art on the internet, true art lovers still relish the art backed by human emotions and creativity. Speaking of that, today’s famous artists like Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst use scale, repetitions, and other unconventional techniques to emphasize the important parts of the painting.
Though the means to emphasize might have changed, but the intention remains the same, and that’s what matters, and that is what you’re going to learn.
Is Emphasis in Art Necessary?
Emphasis in art is like guiding the viewer to the most important element, the purpose, the theme of the painting. Only after seeing that focus will he be able to see the painting the way the artist wants them to see.
Seeing a painting without understanding the idea behind it is like seeing the clouds – though they are beautiful they stand for nothing.
Beauty is inherent in nature, almost everything natural is beautiful to the human eye. Then how can one stand out from such tough competition; competition with nature itself? By appealing not just to the eyes, but to the human mind as well.
Nature’s beauty is not backed by “human ideas”, artificial beauty is. By instilling human ideas in natural aesthetics, we create art that casts an everlasting impression. This is why emphasis is one of the most important elements in art.
Let’s do a little test. Which of the following two artworks is easier to write a story on; to grasp the elusive motive of their creations; to see the story that played in the minds of respective artists while they were drawing these. If your think the “right one” is easier to write on, then you must also know that the only reason of this answer is the right use of emphasis in art.
Elements for Emphasis in Art
As discussed earlier, different artists use different means to emphasize specific spots. Different eras had different trends of what to focus on in paintings, but the purpose was only one – to make the viewer see what the artist wanted them to see.
The interaction of the artist with the viewer through art, through the strokes of brushes is what emphasis is all about.
Learning the art of talking to your viewer is what every great artist was master of, and what you should aspire for.
Below are discussed different methods that you can use, individually or with each other, to emphasize on parts of your painting that you deem worth focusing on. To better explain each element, I will use examples of artworks and how different objects can be emphasized in them.
Color
Color is one of the easiest yet effective elements for emphasis in art. The concept is simple, to emphasize something using color, you color the painting in such a way that the focus point stands out from the rest of the objects. How do you do that? There are two ways
Bold and Contrasting Colors
If asked to recall one thing from the film Schindler’s List, what would it be? The majority will answer, that girl in red. While there are a lot of things worth not forgetting, that girl who appeared just in one scene became the evocative poster for the whole film in everyone’s mind. The reason is simple, the bright red color sticks out from the otherwise colorless world.
Another such attention-grabbing color combination would be contrasting colors. Contrasting colors are those that appear opposite to each other on the color wheel. For example, if asked to draw an apple in a room, how would you do it if the purpose is to highlight the apple? Such a small thing in a room can be highlighted by giving it a bright red color against the dull green color of the room.
Since red and green are contrasting colors, the natural instinct while seeing the background color would be to stick attention to the color opposing it.
Monochromatic Emphasis
Emphasis in art can be created on something even with the use of a single color – in monochromatic settings.
To achieve this, different shades and hues of the same color are distributed in such a way that the viewer’s attention is guided towards the subject of interest. Artists who do not like to thwart their viewpoint to the viewers prefer this subtler approach to guide the viewer. The lack of bright and contrasting colors makes this technique more soothing and natural too.
An apt example is James McNeill Whistler’s “Nocturne in Black and Gold,” in which he uses different shades of the same color, blue, to create a soothing, natural, and calming aura.
Line
By line, I do not mean that line you used to draw as a kid with line tool in MS Paint. Here, it means the natural corporation of lines in the artistic sense that allows the viewer’s perspective to be directed to the point of interest in the artwork.
To explain simply, think of a landscape painting of a road in the center gradually disappearing to the horizon where the sun is sinking. Here, the road, a line, is guiding your eyes to the sun, the point of focus.
Here’s how you can use different types of lines to add emphasis in your artworks.
Leading Lines
Leading lines, as the name indicates, serve one simple purpose; to lead the viewers to the emphasized element in the drawing. The road and sun painting talked about above is a great example for leading lines.
Another example is the river leading to a hut along the bank. The river here is the leading line. Another can be a contrails in the sky, the end of which is an airplane.
The phenomenon of lines leading the eyes is not superficial, and nor is it only exclusive to art or paper. Leading lines are very common in our real life as well, and occur naturally – not with the intention of leading our eyes somewhere.
Whenever we see a skyscraper, the most natural reaction is to follow it right to its top. Whenever we see contrails (firstly lured by plane noise), we follow them to their complete length. What is it that makes us do this? Maybe human instincts? Or maybe something else, that question remains to experts, but what we artists know is to use this information to make our artworks better for the viewers.
Curved vs. Straight Lines
Though both the curved and straight lines can be classified as the leading lines, the context under which either is used can be wholly different.
The straight lines, in general, signify solidity, motionlessness, and permanence. They denote order, and are direct in their work, without much other choice the viewer is to follow their path to reach wherever they take them. Think of straight lines as modern roads; robust and unchangeable.
The curved lines on the other hand show mobility, flow, and dynamism. They are not direct and are very subtle in their approach to guiding the viewers. They give a direction, yet allow the eye to wander the eye here and there. Think of curved lines as natural off-road pathways; guiding yet changeable.
You can use either or both in your artwork depending upon what you want to signify in it.
Shape
Imagine you see a yellow triangular sign board, what would your reaction be to proceed there? ‘Danger!’, right? But there is not even a danger sign on it. Turns out that we humans have a tendency to remember shapes to certain contexts and experiences we’ve had with them.
Understanding this makes it really easy for artists to use certain shapes in their artworks to invoke the desired emotions in humans.
Geometric vs. Organic Shapes
Anything you draw in art has a shape. Either it is geometric (square, circular, triangular, trapezoid, etc.) or organic (torso, flowing cloth, river, etc.). The use of only geometric shapes in the artwork in the traditional form of painting is much lesser than organic ones.
Anything contrasting in otherwise a homogenous painting is naturally emphasized.
Using this principle we can use certain geometrical shapes to draw things that we want to focus on in an artwork full of organic shapes. For example, drawing a modern building in a village full of huts with organic shapes. You already guessed what the emphasis of such artwork would be.
Geometric shapes add a sense of perfection into the artwork. With definite dimensions and linear outlines, understanding the tone of artwork is really easy. On the other hand, the organic shapes add dynamism to the artwork, making it look more natural and real. Mastering the right combination of both can result in amazing masterpieces.
Large vs. Small Shapes
Imagine an artwork of a hut in the middle of a city full of skyscrapers. You can’t put emphasis on the hut despite it being the unique shape in otherwise all geometrically shaped buildings. Here, the concept of large vs. small shapes comes into discussion.
Position
You cannot emphasize something small in a large-sized setting except by the use of other elements like hierarchical arrangements and relative positioning.
Relative Position
Imagine a little sapling in a dense forest. How to show this in art? It is possible through relative positions. You can do so by drawing the sampling, right in the middle of the drawing, illuminated by the sunlight reaching to it from the small gap in the dense canopies of the trees.
The position here is central. Likewise, you can use the other positions of the canvas to emphasize on things that are otherwise impossible to focus on their natural settings. Like how do you emphasize a specific bird in the artwork of a sky bustling with different birds?
Maybe by drawing that specific bird on the bottom of the canvas, on the land or water, while the rest of them fly in the skies.
This way, you can emphasize on things simply by using your canvas and page.
Hierarchical Position
Let’s take the quest of emphasizing a hut in a city full of buildings again. Draw the buildings in an orderly fashion starting from any side, let’s say right, with the tallest building and moving to the left with buildings gradually losing height until we reach the left side where there stands a hut.
This way, a hierarchy is set which guides the viewer to move his eyes to the object that the artist wants them to see, rather than what the artwork is full of.
Texture
The texture is how you feel the skin of an object. In art, the appearance of the material itself, as opposed to its manifestation in artwork, is called texture. However, texture can be used to supplement the impact or influence by emphasizing on the story being shown in art.
Real vs. Implied Texture
The real texture is the one that you can feel with your fingers. A glossy paint finish is very different from the coarse rugged stone finish, and you can differentiate between the two not only tangibly but also visually.
However, there is another kind of texture that you can recognize tangibly, but not visually and it is called implied texture. For example, a rugged stone can actually be skillfully molded play-doh, or a wet surfaced artwork can just be a shiny epoxy layer.
Emotional Impact of Texture
Different textures evoke different emotions in the viewers. This fact is exploited by the artists to invoke and enhance certain feelings that one feels after seeing certain artworks. Implied texture is all about this manipulation of viewers’ perspective and enhancing the effect of said artwork on emotions.
For example, the painting of an ancient castle with the texture of rugged stones looks better or with the texture of freshly painted acrylic paints? You got the answer; the first one. And that’s because the rugged stones emphasize on the authenticity of what’s being said through art.
Space
Space is less of an element of emphasis and more of what emerges as a result of the use of elements of emphasis. You’ll know further by understanding positive and negative space.
Positive Space
Positive space is everything where the eye of the viewer goes first. More simply, the area of focus, or to be focused, is called the positive space. This area contains all the important subjects of the artwork.
Contrary to the misconception, positive space is not a fixed point – center or top – on a canvas. Now where this space on the artwork is, is determined by many factors as explained above.
To consider positive space as an actual space on the canvas – a mistake made by many beginner artists – renders the artworks one-dimensional and bland. Because by doing so they throw the actual elements of emphasis in the dustbin.
Negative Space
Negative space is all the area surrounding the positive space. Though this definition may make it look like something comes out of the exclusion of the main thing (positive space), this is not the case at all. A good artist understands that
Positive and negative spaces are not in competition, but in synergy with each other.
By using negative space effectively, the eye of the viewer can be guided to look at the points that the artist intends. For example, contrasting colors, background aura, size contrast, position, spatial hierarchy, etc. can be used in such a way that one space helps the other perform its function better.
Combining Different Elements
It is not like you can use only one technique or element in the painting. On the contrary, using only technique drastically limits the options with which you can emphasize the objects. It is only by combining different techniques and elements that you can master emphasis in art with liberty.
Here are some possible scenarios where the said situation can never be emphasized except by combining more than one element of emphasis.
- A small flower in a field full of large trees can be emphasized with the use of bright colors against the uniform green and brown trees.
- A person in a crowd can be highlighted by drawing him right in the middle of the painting.
- A dull-colored object can be emphasized against the bright background by drawing it larger than the rest of the things.
Now as you can tell, such scenarios are limitless, and as you practice you will learn new and better ways to express your thoughts via art by combining everything at hand.
Common Mistakes in Using Emphasis in Art
The soul of emphasis in art is the correct balance of elements to ensure that the focal point is right and does not cause any confusion to the viewer. Confusion is agitation, and agitation is unliking.
However, it is not the lack of understanding of elements of emphasis only that disrupts the focal point. Overdoing them does the same. Therefore, understanding what not to do is as important as what to do, especially when you know only the latter. So, here’s what not to do
OverEmphasis of Subject in Art
Overemphasis refers to a state where artists use way too many elements to emphasize different spots of the painting. Using contrasting colors throughout the painting, too bright backgrounds and homogeneous subjects can confuse the viewer as to where to direct his attention.
Such an approach might be ok in designs and prints, but not so much in traditional artworks. It can dilute the message being given as there is no single subject standing out from the rest.
To avoid this, the artist must already decide which parts to highlight and only keep his attention to using the elements of emphasis at that spot while giving the negative space attention to the rest of the painting.
Lack of Focal Point
If you know nothing about the focal point, think of it as the ‘focus’ in your smartphone’s camera. While taking a picture you tap on the subject of attention to tell your camera to focus on it, and so it does. How does it do that? By not only sharpening it but also blurring the background so the viewer can easily discern what the photo is all about.
Focal points are exactly the same thing. It is to tell what to focus on and what to not.
An artwork without a focal point is the same as a picture without a focus.
Imagine a camera that takes a picture with no focus at all. How would you tell what the photographer intends for you to look at? Both the subject and background are equally crisp.
To avoid this, use different elements of emphasis to create an easily distinguishable white space in an artwork.
Inconsistent Use of Elements
There is another concept called unity in art, which gives an overall sense of completeness to the painting. Emphasis in art must be in harmony with unity. How can these two be in consonance? By use of elements of emphasis after developing an overall theme of the painting.
Lines, shapes, and positions spread across the sheet to give a false sense of emphasis make the art look forced, distorted, and childish.
To avoid this, first, the artist himself must be certain of what message he aims to imply by their artwork. After doing so, he must develop an underlying map of elements of emphasis in the artwork that does not look obvious but guides the viewer to the intended spot.
Conclusion
Now that you understand not only what emphasis but also everything you need from basics to most advanced you need to emphasize your artwork, all that remains is practically getting to it.
Theory will get you only so far in sounding artistic, but it is practice and practice alone that will make you a great artist. Once your hands get used to drawing well, you might as well just forget the theory and rules, your mind will be enough for you. But until then, carry on your artventure with us.
