Straight lines and sharp angles are largely a manmade concept and rarely appear in nature. No wonder, then, that our eyes are drawn to circles! Circles create a sense of wholeness, unity, completion. In nearly every culture and in art, they are ancient symbols, representing the eternal, the infinite, even the sacred. Learn to incorporate circles into your images with these techniques:
Use circles as primary subjects. Circles are everywhere if you are looking for them: in the sun, the moon, the center of a flower, architectural details, even the center of our own eyes! Circles make a strong primary subject, drawing the viewer’s gaze. Multiple circles in an image create a sense of worlds connecting or colliding. Stacked circles suggest worlds within worlds.
Circles as a compositional device. Because circles are such powerful symbols, they need not be complete to be effective. Our brains will fill in any missing pieces. For this reason, they can be powerful compositional tools, connecting elements in an image. Circles take us on a process of discovery as our eyes trace the curve, creating unity, harmony, and a sense of organization between elements.
After you have created your images, upload your post on our Muench University Facebook page. We will be waiting to offer helpful commentary, and we also encourage you to leave comments on each other’s images.
