The Arts · Grade 7 · Visual Narratives and Studio Practice · Term 1

Principles of Composition: Balance

Exploring symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial balance to create visual stability or tension.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• VA:Cr2.1.7a

About This Topic

Principles of composition like balance help Grade 7 students organize visual elements for stability or tension using symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial types. Symmetrical balance mirrors identical elements across a central axis to convey calm and order, as in formal portraits or flags. Asymmetrical balance counters unequal sides with differences in color, texture, or scale for lively energy. Radial balance arranges parts around a focal center, pulling attention inward like in mandalas or sunflowers.

This topic supports Ontario Arts curriculum expectations for analyzing artworks, understanding artist choices in eye guidance, and creating deliberate compositions. Students practice visual literacy by critiquing balance in pieces from Indigenous artists or contemporaries, then apply concepts in studio work.

Active learning excels with this topic. Sketching thumbnails, rearranging collages, and sharing critiques let students test adjustments in real time. They build intuition for visual weight through hands-on trials, iteration, and peer input, making principles stick beyond theory.

Key Questions

1. Differentiate between symmetrical and asymmetrical balance in a given artwork.
2. Analyze how an artist uses balance to guide the viewer's eye.
3. Construct a composition that intentionally creates a sense of imbalance.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the use of symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial balance in selected artworks by Indigenous Canadian artists.
• Compare the visual effects of symmetrical and asymmetrical balance in creating stability versus tension.
• Create a visual composition that intentionally employs imbalance to evoke a specific emotional response.
• Explain how an artist's choices regarding balance guide a viewer's eye through a composition.

Before You Start

Elements of Design: Line, Shape, Color, Texture

Why: Students need a foundational understanding of these basic visual elements to effectively discuss how they contribute to balance.

Introduction to Visual Art Analysis

Why: Familiarity with basic art analysis terms and processes will help students articulate their observations about composition.

Key Vocabulary

Symmetrical Balance	A type of balance where elements are mirrored equally on either side of a central axis, creating a sense of order and formality.
Asymmetrical Balance	A type of balance where dissimilar elements are arranged to achieve visual equilibrium, often creating a more dynamic and energetic feel.
Radial Balance	A type of balance where elements are arranged around a central point, radiating outwards, drawing the viewer's eye toward the center.
Visual Weight	The perceived 'heaviness' or importance of an element within a composition, influenced by factors like size, color, and texture.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Balance requires identical elements on both sides of a composition.

What to Teach Instead

Symmetrical balance mirrors parts exactly, but asymmetrical relies on visual weight from contrasts like large light shapes versus small dark ones. Pair sketching lets students experiment with offsets and feel equilibrium. Critiques clarify distinctions through shared examples.

Common Misconception

Asymmetrical balance appears random or unfinished.

What to Teach Instead

Artists plan contrasts in size, color, and position for intentional harmony. Collage stations allow rearrangement until balance clicks. Group discussions help students defend choices, building analytical skills.

Common Misconception

Radial balance fits only circular designs.

What to Teach Instead

Radiating lines or shapes work from any central point in squares or irregular forms. Hands-on web builds with varied papers show versatility. Peer testing via rotation reveals effective patterns.

Active Learning Ideas

Pairs: Balance Face-Off Sketches

Partners draw a grid portrait, making one symmetrical by mirroring halves, then asymmetrical by varying colors and shapes on each side. Swap sketches to critique stability and eye flow. Adjust based on feedback.

30 min·Pairs

Small Groups: Radial Symmetry Webs

Groups cut yarn or strips, attaching them radially from a central circle on black paper, balancing lengths and hues. Test by spinning slowly to check wobble. Refine for even pull.

40 min·Small Groups

Whole Class: Artwork Analysis Circuit

Project or display art exemplars of each balance type. Class circulates stations, sketching key features and noting eye paths on charts. Debrief patterns as a group.

25 min·Whole Class

Individual: Imbalance Shift Series

Create five thumbnails of a landscape, starting balanced, then shift one element like a tree for tension. Choose one to paint fully, journaling the mood shift.

35 min·Individual

Real-World Connections

• Graphic designers use principles of balance to create visually appealing and stable layouts for websites, advertisements, and book covers, ensuring information is easy to read and aesthetically pleasing.
• Architects and urban planners consider balance when designing buildings and public spaces, aiming for structural integrity and a harmonious visual experience for occupants and visitors.
• Fashion designers utilize balance in clothing and accessory arrangements to create flattering silhouettes and cohesive outfits, considering how different elements visually interact on the body.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Present students with three different artworks, each demonstrating a distinct type of balance (symmetrical, asymmetrical, radial). Ask students to identify the primary type of balance used in each artwork and write one sentence explaining their reasoning.

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'How can an artist use imbalance to create a specific mood or message?' Facilitate a class discussion where students share examples and explain their interpretations of artworks that intentionally disrupt balance.

Peer Assessment

Have students create a small collage using magazine clippings, focusing on achieving either symmetrical or asymmetrical balance. Students then exchange their collages and provide feedback using a checklist: 'Does it demonstrate the intended balance type?' 'What element contributes most to the balance?'

Frequently Asked Questions

How to introduce balance principles in Grade 7 visual arts?

Begin with familiar objects like butterflies for symmetry and scales for asymmetry. Show Ontario artist examples, such as Norval Morrisseau's dynamic balances. Guide students to label types in sketches before independent creation. This scaffolds from recognition to application per curriculum standards.

Examples of radial balance in Canadian art?

Emily Carr's forest paintings radiate branches from trunks for depth. Contemporary Indigenous dot art often centers motifs radially. Have students replicate in markers, noting how it focuses emotion. Connects to visual narratives unit.

How can active learning help students understand art balance?

Activities like pair sketches and group collages provide tactile feedback as students shift elements and observe stability changes. Gallery circuits encourage peer analysis of eye guidance. Individual thumbnails promote iteration, turning abstract ideas into personal mastery through doing and reflecting.

Ideas for teaching intentional imbalance in compositions?

Start with balanced still lifes, then instruct one heavy shift like oversized fruit. Students draw before-after pairs, describing tension created. Link to key questions on eye flow and emotion. Journal reflections solidify understanding for studio practice.