28 DISTRIBUTION
ARRANGEMENT ACROSS A SURFACE
The way in which elements are distributed across a surface is an important consideration in composition, particularly in abstract painting. This is especially true when the elements are small relative to the area of the canvas. Elements can be clustered or scattered, concentrated or dispersed. The viewer’s eye tends to rush toward concentrations and moves more slowly in sparse areas. This makes a wide range of dynamics possible in which the eye is pulled or pushed in various directions.
Composition by distribution can be combined with other ideas. Elements can be set up in shapes or laid out in lines to suggest movement or convey meaning. Further reinforcement of these ideas can be achieved with the ...
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