What Is Asymmetrical Art?
Asymmetrical Art is achieved when two halves of a canvas are not identical yet balance is still achieved due to the use of its elements and space.
In other words while the composition may vary from one side of the work to the next, it is a seamless flow making the whole of the art come together as one.
This article will focus on Asymmetrical Art application within Wood Art. The study of this principle in art would greatly aid those who seek to further refine their skills in woodworking.
More can be learned on what symmetry in art is and its uses. It would do well to understand these basic principles in order to work with asymmetrical art design.
How Often Is Asymmetrical Art Used?
The use of asymmetry is quite common yet it is more common in different arts than others. Then there are other arts where asymmetry is almost an expected given.
What is overlooked is that the mediums which an artist uses can play a major role in the outcome of what is created.
Within drawing and painting the artist has full control over how art will be represented. The imagination can allow them to choose how the composition should be brought together.
This is not the same with Wood Art where often it is the canvas which will dictate how the art is applied.
Wood Art is one of those arts where asymmetry is very commonly found. There are exceptions to this such as sculptures or free standing pieces.
The reason why it is seen less in free standing art is due to the natural need for realistic representation or balance in the piece being able to stand on its own.
Nevertheless the composition within the sculpture can hold much more. The art itself which is carved can be asymmetrical in relationship to the space if so desired.
In Wood Art often the intended use or purpose of the project will determine the selection of the wood. More beautiful grains will be set aside for art where this grain will be displayed.
Wall art on the other hand may still be of beautiful grain yet a more symmetrical application can be used in the art.
Here is where the material, or canvas being wood, must be selected with care and foresight by the artist. While wood is a canvas in its own way, not every canvas should be used in the same way.
Why Is Asymmetrical Art Common In Wood Carving?
Wood is a unique medium unlike any other. A blank canvas is merely blank just as a potters clay is singular in color and then shaped by the potter.
There is little dynamic from the material itself and the artist must give it the story they wish to tell.
Wood Art is not this way. Nature provides this wood canvas and no two pieces will ever be identically alike. More exotic woods will have a pronounced grain that is beautiful within its own right.
It is as if the artist is taking a natural art that nature has made and merely enhances the beauty which already exists.
It is for this reason that Asymmetrical Art prevails in wood as one of the most preferred applications. There will be many times when the artist will wish to retain as much of the natural beauty of the wood possible.
To achieve this a wood carving will often need to be asymmetric in nature.
Finding Balance In Wood Carving
The challenge to carving art into wood is finding the right balance within the piece itself. The design of the piece will present one challenge. Additional challenges arise as one begins to apply art to that design.
An example of this can be found in comparing a wall art piece to that of a decorative box. Wall art is to exist on a two dimensional space while the box exists as a three dimensional work of art.
Here more will be needed to find balance and proportion within the box and greater care is required.
Balance in art is found when one can view a work and the eyes are not drawn to merely one element within the creation.
The eyes should be able to take in the whole of the work and each element of it adds to the beauty of what it is.
In the case of Wood Art the dynamics of the object, the construction, its purpose, the wood grain, and the art carving are separate elements which must come together.
If the carving is too pronounced, out of place, or out of balance, then the overall work is no longer aesthetically pleasing.
If art is carved into the wood at an improper place within the grain another problem arises. The grain color and its transitions must be suitable for the carving to display its details.
The carving may otherwise disappear into the background and all beauty is lost.
Finding balance within Wood Art can become a complicated process within some species. This goes back to the need in selecting the proper wood for carving.
Wood Grain As An Asymmetrical Art Element
By its very nature wood grain is asymmetric. It may all flow in the same direction yet it will have a character that is unique. The key in understanding wood grain is this flow.
The grain can create a visual weight which draws the eyes in a direction. The tighter the grain and if of great contrast the greater the visual weight.
In order to create a natural balance with powerful impact one must know how to work within this flow.
One can think of it like jumping into a river and swimming. If one swims against the current it can become futile as it carries you downstream.
Yet to reach land you must swim within the flow in a direction that allows you to achieve your goal.
The flow of the wood grain should move into, and then out of your carved art.
There will be times a horizontal grain with strong lines will work for some art but absolutely not with others. Strong vertical lines in the grain may obscure lettering.
There must be a balance which is struck between this grain, its flow, and the art which one carves. The goal is always to retain as much natural beauty as you can while still enhancing with the carved art.
Proportions In Asymmetrical Art For Wood Carving
While proportions are related to balance they are two different sides of the same coin. First the carving must be proportional to the size of the work itself. This is a given and is easy to understand.
Yet this relationship exists on more than a two dimensional scale. The size often will encompass its depth.
In a three dimensional object such as a box art more will be needed than a single carving on its front.
The art should be carved within the object proportionally compared to its overall surface area. There are ways to cheat this such as leaving the sides uncarved when using accenting species of wood.
The sides of the box may be of Walnut while the front, top, and back are Maple.
In this case the use of other elements outside of carving enhances the space used through color and grain of the wood. This is one way to find a natural balance between multiple elements bringing the whole together as one.
Translating Color Into Asymmetrical Wood Art
Among the most difficult elements to bring balance into Wood Art is color. Too often with wood carving the art can blend into the wood and disappear easily. When this happens balance is lost.
It can be very difficult to create depth of field using two dimensional carving within wood by its very nature. Where other arts such as in painting this is achieved easily a blade can only rely upon the concept of a line.
The line can only achieve so much in its efforts. In order to compensate for this and bring greater balance to the whole of the work color must be used.
Contrasts in colors can be achieved in different ways. While avoiding paints one can use different colors of stain which are highly contrasting.
Additionally for three dimensional objects different species of wood can create a natural contrast in color.
With these methods there are still limitations. The use of these colors alone can make some Wood Art appear monochromatic.
The richer the wood grain the greater the impact will be in breaking this bland appearance.
There are stains on the market which offer more colors than traditional stains. These can be used with great effectiveness if one desires. Yet this will also sacrifice some of the natural beauty within the wood itself.
Problems When Joining Wood Pieces
It can be easy to recognize immediate problems where wood boards join together. One of two things can immediately happen.
Either the natural asymmetric flow of the grain is interrupted, or suddenly a very symmetric line appears where there should be none. This common issue can be remedied.
From the onset it is always best to minimize this impact by selecting boards which will be joined that came from the same tree. It is better to use the same board which has been split down its center on a band saw to make two boards.
Before joining the boards to make a canvas or to be used in creating an object, look at both sides of each board. Choose the sides which best match and flow together in a natural way.
If this cannot be achieved then select different boards.
Nevertheless even with optimal conditions issues still will arise. Of the solutions available I always endeavor to have this imbalance to land at a point where the greatest detail of my wood art carving will be done.
In this way the carving will eliminate most if not all of the problem.
Where Corners Meet On Objects
Objects such as boxes will have corners where the construction of the object will bring the wood pieces together. Here is the opportunity to add the greatest Asymmetrical Art application.
Select a joining method which allows for beauty in its design. Box joints for example is far better than merely gluing the butt end to the other board.
In addition to this one can select alternate wood species for these side pieces to give greater contrast in color, grain, and natural beauty.
Opportunities such as these should not be passed on. Take the advantage which it gives by adding to the overall work.
In turn it will enhance the artwork which is carved into the wood bringing more balance and aesthetic appeal.
Art Concepts Should Always Apply To Woodworking
If one is involved in fine woodworking then art concepts should always be applied. Wood Art itself should be focused on using elements of art in its creation.
Certainly there will be differences in application from the more traditional arts.
Nevertheless these differences are not problems but rather they become opportunities where your creativity can be applied. To find the best solutions to questions which arise may require the study of multiple arts.
Sculpting and carving while not the same are relational in many ways. Wood will always have a very unique place in the world in terms of what it can provide as a canvas.
Despite this there are far more relational concepts than differences.
Within two dimensional pieces such as wall art there is an additional crossover. Drawing and painting play a role as well.
Indeed here wood is more limited yet the element of a line in art will always apply. How one achieves the line is the key difference.
I do believe that wood is without a doubt one medium which will have more Asymmetrical Art applications than any other. Due to how dynamic the medium is in its visual appearance, texture, and color, few can match it.
I hope that in the future more woodworkers will take the time to consider their work more as an art than a trade.
The end result of their creations would be the better for it. In turn I do believe we could revive many of the older ways which have been long lost to time.