Definition Of Unity In Art

Unity In Art can be defined by the word Order. Unity is achieved by the sum of the parts within the impression and feeling they give when seen as a whole.

The impression and feeling is derived by the Order of the parts speaking to that theme, subject matter, artistic expression, or story the artist is telling.

Unity In Art Is Not The Same As Harmony In Art

Many wish to use the terms Unity and Harmony as being one in the same. Many blogs will detail them as being near identical or synonymous. This is not true.

Unity In Art is something that is achieved through multiple avenues of Art Theory. Among these theories is the concept of Harmony. Due to this we need to look at some of these differences.

Difference Between Unity And Harmony In Art

Harmony in art is found through the similarity of different parts, objects, and elements of art. To give an easy example let’s select one principle that many artists naturally apply with little thought.

Color theory is used to create matching or contrasting colors within a work in order to achieve the artists end means. How the colors of different objects work together is Harmony by its color.

The same can be done with other elements such as the line or with shape. Similar curved contours of different objects for example would share Harmony between the objects.

Having said this, it is important to understand that Harmony is not Unity.

Unity would be found by the sum of all parts rather than individual like or similar elements. By contrast, Unity is also achieved through the inclusion of parts which do not share Harmony.

This principle of contrasting elements is found through the use of what is called Variety.

How To Understand And Know What Unity In Art Is

Unity In Art is a concept which an artists work arrives at due to the whole of the composition. Allow me to try to explain this from a literary perspective.

A writer can create a story that will be written by chapter, broken down by paragraph, and individual sentences. Unity is found when you are asked to explain what the story is about.

When you can relate the context of the story to an audience, then Unity was achieved. The parts and mechanics that created the unity were of less focus. The writer achieved his story with success.

As artists within our development, we at times forget that the visual arts is another form of story telling. We begin to focus on the parts so intensely that the parts distract from the true meaning of the story.

While each part can play a critical role to creating Unity, it is better to sacrifice that element if it will distract from the greater goal. The what of the story is more important than the how we arrived there.

The how behind the art content creation is merely the mechanical breakdown like the writers chapter, paragraph, and sentences. Do not become too hung up on the mechanics.

Certainly the mechanics are important. The elements which make up our art are vital to our success. Yet it is here that we must remember that we are story tellers of a visual kind and seek that end.

How Do You Achieve Unity Through Art Theory?

Unity can be achieved along many different possible avenues. The most common avenues you will find spoken of exists between the concepts of Harmony and also Variety.

These two concepts play out a constant game. This game is like tug of war. Each pulls the other in an attempt to hold some degree of influence within the work of art.

Where Harmony seeks to bring consistency to the elements such as shape or color, variety does the opposite. Variety seeks to break the pattern, create a contrast, or manipulate the space in art to shift the weight.

Why Too Much Harmony Is Bad For Unity

Some say that too much Harmony can cause artwork to be boring. I believe the result is far worse than merely being boring.

Art which exists within perfect Harmony lacks substance, expression, and often has no real message. In other words the artist has failed at creating a focal point or focus within within the art.

If one studies the works of artists within Naturalism you would discover that rarely does the real world ever hold perfect Harmony. The natural world itself will hold a distinct broken rhythm.

The concept of Rhythm In Art itself dictates that while rhythm is often consistent, it can alternate, shift direction, frequency, intensity, and weight.

With this example from nature, and the artists who focused on Naturalism, we clearly see that Harmony must exist with Variety. For Variety to not exist makes any art seem unnatural and can create discomfort.

How Variety Influences Unity In Art

Variety will influence Unity In Art through several key avenues. Among these avenues is balance in art, rhythm, color, and space in art.

Of these I have mentioned know that Variety is not limited to these principles or elements. Nevertheless these are among the most common.

The goal for the artist is to use these points of intersection to create Emphasis. The unity within the work will speak to this focus to deliver the message or feeling within this emphasis.

Variety can sometimes be mistaken as a primary tool to create Contrast. Contrast will almost certainly be present, yet the degree in which it exists can be subtle to maintain the natural flow.

This subtle transition can aid in maintaining the visual balance of the art which aids in building its Unity.

Finding Unity In Art Through Composition Of These Parts

Unity is found through the Composition of the art. A composition is the sum of these many different parts whether by element or concept of theory.

Each piece is part of the structure. A stone wall is made from many different unique stones. Each has its own shape, color, and size. Nevertheless its composition allows an audience to see the structure of the whole rather than a single stone.

To achieve Unity the artist must successfully build their composition in this way. As the audience views the work its sum is greater than its parts.

How To Manipulate Unity By Balance, Focus, And Scale

Unity can be manipulated in rather unique ways. Ultimately each way an artist can manipulate Unity is achieved by using space.

Dividing space into what will be positive and negative space will aid in determining focus and scale in art. How the objects and subject is represented will then shift the balance of the art to that focus.

Think of this in terms of photography. A high powered lens will allow for the photographer to focus on a subject eliminating much of its surrounding.

Likewise, the same lens will also allow the photographer to pull back from the subject. Doing this will include more contextual surroundings from the environment.

We then can further manipulate this image by its angle, or edit the image to manipulate certain objects within it.

Artists have this same ability. The representational art can be augmented to be more stylized to place emphasis on a part for the purpose of the work.

Unity In Art is maintained while achieving the message, emotion, and artistic expression desired. Often where there is more manipulation many artists like to employ art symbols to aid in this expression.

Using Movement To Aid In Creating Unity

Movement can be used to aid in creating Unity In Art. Movement is a result of similar principles. Order plays a role in how effectively movement is achieved.

When movement is used outside of Naturalism, but is created by the use of elements, its goal is to guide an audience. The Unity is successful when it arrives at the focus aiding in delivering the context and message to the work.

This strategy seeks to reach a certain Emphasis for an end means. It can arrive at a single focal point, or alternatively create a consistent patterned flow across the whole of the artwork.

Review Of Unity In Summary

Arriving at Unity In Art should be a natural evolution. If the artist has in mind what they wish to convey, then all elements and parts will naturally lead to this direction.

Mastering the use of elements and art theory will help artists to tell their story in a defined and clear way. This is much like a writer evolving techniques to their story telling. It takes time and practice.

What should be kept in mind is the constant question of, does this add to the Unity of the message? If it distracts from that goal it may be best to leave that part out of the work.

It can aid an artist to draft concept art before setting out on what will become their completed art. Through the concept piece you will be able to gain insight to how effective your composition will become.

Plan your work according to the goals you have in mind. All art needs some choices to be made, and some planning to be given, even if only its color.