When learning the principles of art and design, two concepts often discussed together are emphasis and subordination in drawing. These principles are essential for creating compositions that not only capture attention but also guide the viewer’s eye across the artwork in a meaningful way. Without proper use of emphasis and subordination, a drawing may look flat, chaotic, or lack visual interest. Artists from beginners to professionals use these techniques to tell stories, evoke emotions, and highlight what matters most in their work. Understanding how to apply these principles can transform a simple sketch into a powerful visual experience.
Understanding Emphasis in Drawing
Emphasis in drawing refers to the deliberate focus on a particular area or element of the artwork. The goal of emphasis is to create a focal point that immediately attracts the viewer’s eye. This can be done in several ways, including through contrast, size, color, placement, or detail. By choosing where to place emphasis, artists control how the audience interprets the message of the piece.
Techniques to Create Emphasis
- ContrastUsing light against dark, warm against cool, or sharp against soft textures to highlight a focal area.
- ScaleMaking one object larger than others to signify importance.
- PlacementPositioning the focal point in a strategic location, often slightly off-center, to grab attention naturally.
- DetailAdding intricate lines or textures in one area while keeping others simple to create a clear hierarchy.
In practice, an artist may emphasize a character’s face in a portrait by making it brighter or more detailed than the background. Similarly, in a still life, emphasis might fall on a single fruit through the use of stronger shading compared to the surrounding objects.
What Is Subordination in Drawing?
Subordination is the counterpart to emphasis. While emphasis highlights what is most important, subordination ensures that other elements remain visually supportive rather than competing for attention. Without subordination, an artwork can become confusing because the viewer’s eyes won’t know where to focus. Subordination creates harmony and balance by reducing the visual weight of less important areas.
Ways to Achieve Subordination
- Reducing detail or leaving areas less defined.
- Using muted or neutral tones instead of bold colors.
- Applying softer lines or lighter shading to background objects.
- Positioning elements in areas of the composition that naturally attract less attention.
For example, in a landscape drawing, an artist might subordinate distant mountains by sketching them lightly, allowing the main subject, such as a tree in the foreground, to dominate the scene. Subordination ensures the viewer experiences depth and direction rather than distraction.
The Relationship Between Emphasis and Subordination
Emphasis and subordination are not independent principles; they work hand in hand to structure a drawing. When one area is emphasized, other areas must be subordinated to reinforce the hierarchy. This relationship mirrors storytelling in literature just as a main character is supported by secondary characters, the focal point of a drawing is supported by background or secondary elements.
Balance Between the Two
Finding the right balance between emphasis and subordination can be challenging. Too much emphasis without enough subordination leads to overwhelming visuals, while too much subordination without emphasis results in dullness. The key is to guide the viewer naturally from the focal point to secondary areas without confusion.
Examples in Different Types of Drawing
The principles of emphasis and subordination can be applied to virtually any kind of drawing, whether realistic or abstract. Below are a few examples to illustrate their use in various artistic contexts
Portrait Drawing
In portraits, emphasis often falls on the eyes, as they are considered the window to the soul. Artists may use darker shading, strong highlights, or more detail to emphasize the eyes. Hair or clothing, on the other hand, may be subordinated with lighter strokes or less detail.
Landscape Drawing
A landscape might emphasize a tree, a mountain, or a building while subordinating the sky or background hills. This ensures the viewer appreciates the depth of the environment without being distracted by every element equally.
Still Life
In still life drawings, artists might emphasize one object, such as a brightly lit apple, while subordinating surrounding objects like a bowl or a tablecloth. This creates a visual story where the highlighted object becomes the main character.
Abstract Art
Even in abstract drawing, emphasis and subordination matter. Bold shapes or intense colors can serve as the focal point, while muted patterns or repeated forms in the background provide harmony and balance through subordination.
Common Mistakes in Applying Emphasis and Subordination
Many beginners struggle to balance emphasis and subordination, often making the following mistakes
- OvercrowdingAdding too many details everywhere, which makes the artwork visually confusing.
- Neglecting BackgroundForgetting that subordinated elements are still important for context and balance.
- Excessive ContrastUsing strong contrasts everywhere, reducing the power of the focal point.
- No Focal PointCreating drawings where nothing stands out, leaving viewers unsure of where to look.
Avoiding these pitfalls requires practice and a strong understanding of visual hierarchy. Artists can experiment with sketches, adjusting how emphasis and subordination interact until the desired balance is achieved.
Teaching Emphasis and Subordination
These principles are often taught in art classes to help students understand how to direct the viewer’s eye. Teachers encourage exercises where students create multiple versions of the same subject but emphasize different areas in each drawing. This not only develops technical skills but also enhances creativity, as students learn that emphasis and subordination can completely change the meaning of a piece.
Importance in Visual Communication
Beyond art, emphasis and subordination play important roles in visual communication, such as advertising, graphic design, and architecture. For instance, in a poster, the title may be emphasized with bold letters while additional details are subordinated with smaller fonts. This principle ensures clarity and effective communication, making it just as vital in practical design as in fine art.
Practical Tips for Artists
Artists looking to improve their use of emphasis and subordination in drawing can consider the following tips
- Plan the focal point before starting the drawing.
- Use thumbnail sketches to test different emphasis and subordination strategies.
- Pay attention to lighting, as it naturally creates emphasis through highlights and shadows.
- Experiment with composition, trying techniques like the rule of thirds to enhance focal points.
- Review finished drawings by asking Where does the eye go first? Does it move smoothly to secondary elements?
Emphasis and subordination in drawing are fundamental principles that shape how viewers experience a piece of art. Emphasis ensures that important elements stand out, while subordination maintains harmony and prevents distraction. Together, they create visual hierarchy, balance, and storytelling. Whether working on portraits, landscapes, still life, or abstract designs, artists can use these principles to craft more engaging and meaningful works. By mastering emphasis and subordination, an artist not only enhances technical skill but also strengthens the ability to communicate visually with impact and clarity.