Proportion
Proportion, in a general sense, is the feeling of unity created when all parts, within a whole (sizes, amounts, or number) relate well with each other. Proportion ranges from the amount of food in a serving to the height and width of a horse to the amount of work completed by each employee. However for this lesson we will be focusing on the proportion between, and within, objects.
Proportion is usually not even noticed until something is out of proportion. When the relative size of two elements being compared seems wrong or out of balance it is said to be "out of proportion". For example if a drawing of a person’s head is larger than the rest of his/her body, then it could be said that the drawing is out of proportion.
Proportion refers then to the relative comparisons of the various elements in a design. The issue becomes the relationship, or Relative Ratio, between objects, or parts, of the whole rather than of a single object or part.
When the principle of proportion is applied to a work of art it is usually in reference to the Size, Position, and Angle within the whole.
For example the size of one element of the composition, or object, as compared to the size of another related element.
In the instance of a relationship of size, ratio comparisons are made between the:
- Height of one element to that of another
- Width of one element to that of another
- Height to Width relationship of one element to that of another
- Amount of Negative Space between one element to another
In the instance of a relationship of Position/Placement, ratio comparisons are made between the:
- Left and Right distance of one element to that of another
- Distance above and below of one element to that of another
In the instance of a relationship of Angle, ratio comparisons are made between the:
- Angle difference between a true Vertical or Horizontal line, and between one element to that of another
Basic Methods of Finding Proportion
There are many methods for finding proportion. The four most basic include, but are not limited to:
- Measuring
- Alignments/Plumb Lines
- Negative and Positive Space
- Linear Perspective
We will explore each of these methods throughout this lesson.
