Rhythm in Art and Quiltmaking
“Sew to the Music”
Rhythm in Visual Art
A visual tempo or beat. The principle of
design that refers to a regular repetition of
elements of art to produce the look and
feel of movement. It is often achieved
through the careful placement of repeated
components which invite the viewer's eye
to jump rapidly or glide smoothly from one
to the next.
Repetition, Pattern, Rhythm
• Repetition refers to one object or shape
repeated.
• Pattern is a combination of elements or
shapes repeated in a recurring and regular
arrangement.
• Rhythm is a combination of elements
repeated, but with variations.
Ghanaian Kente Cloth
Rhythm is like pattern, in that the same elements (i.e. shape, line) are repeated;
however, with rhythm there are slight variations in the pattern. Rhythm is easily
perceived but complex and subtle. Think of water on a beach; it continually
breaks on the shore in lines that are repeated, yet each one is different.
Taizokai (Womb World) Mandala
Buddhist, second half of the 9th century
Using Color, Line and Form to Create Rhythm
• Colors of a piece can convey rhythm, by
making your eyes travel from one
component to another.
• Lines can produce rhythm by implying
movement.
• Forms can cause rhythm by the ways in
which they're placed one next to the other.
Color, Line and Form
Types of Visual Rhythms
Random, Regular, Alternating, Flowing, Progressive
When motifs or elements are repeated,
alternated or otherwise arranged, the
intervals between them or how they
overlap can create rhythm and a sense of
movement. In visual rhythm, design motifs
become the beats. Rhythms can be
broadly categorized as random, regular,
alternating, flowing and progressive.
Random Rhythm
Groupings of similar motifs or elements that
repeat with no regularity create a random
rhythm. Pebble beaches, the fall of snow, fields
of clover, herds of cattle and traffic jams all
demonstrate random rhythms. What may seem
random at one scale, however, may exhibit
purpose and order at another scale.
René Magritte - Golconde, 1953
Wassily Kandinsky
Swinging
Regular Rhythm
Like a heart or song with a steady beat,
regular rhythm is created by a series
of elements, often identical or similar,
that are placed at regular or similar
intervals, such as in grids. Simple
regular rhythms, if overused, can be
monotonous.
Jasper Johns - Three Flags, 1958
Alternating Rhythm
Two or more different motifs may be
alternated, such as the black and red
squares in a checkerboard; a single motif
might be flipped, mirrored or rotated every
so many iterations; or the placement or
spacing between motifs can be alternated.
This is essentially a regular rhythm that
has more complex motifs, or meta-motifs.
The added variety can help lessen the
monotony of a regular rhythm.
M.C. Escher - Lizard, 1942
Andy Warhol – Marilyn Monroe
Flowing Rhythm
Flowing rhythm is created by undulating
elements and intervals, bending and
curving motifs and spaces. Natural flowing
rhythm can be seen in streams and
waterways, beaches and waves, sand
dunes and glaciers, rolling hills and windblown grasses.
Gloria Petyarre
Bush Medicine Dreaming, 2008
Three women, fresco from Knossos palace,
island of Crete, Minoan civilization
(27th c. BCE --15th c. BCE)
Progressive Rhythm
In progressive rhythm, each time a motif
repeats it changes a little, transforming
and translating in a steady sequence - the
motif progresses from one thing to
another.
Marcel Duchamp
Nude Descending a Staircase (No. 2), 1912
Henri Matisse
La Danse
Grant Wood
Young Corn
Red Pepper Quilts
Free Quilt Patterns
Rhythm and Pattern in Design
Spring Leaf Studios
Rhythm and Blues
Libs Elliott
Deadly Rhythm Quilt
Michael James
Rhythm/Color: Morris Men
Brave New Quilts
C&T Publishing
Karen Kamenetzky
Roots of Rhythm III
Caryl Bryer Fallert
Feathers in the Wind #1
Karen Echmeier
Rhythm & Roses
Mary Beth Anderson
Rhythm I
Tina Williams Brewer
Darlings of Rhythm
References
• sophia.org/tutorials/design-in-artrepetition-pattern-and-rhythm
• arthistory.about.com/cs/glossaries/g/r
_rhythm.htm
• artlex.com/ArtLex/r/rhythm.html
• flyeschool.com/content/repetitionrhythm-and-pattern