Defining Variety
Variety refers to using different design elements in a piece of art to capture the viewer's attention and direct their gaze throughout the artwork. It can create contrast and either occur naturally or deliberately created by the artist.
Elements
Color: "An element of art made up of three properties: hue, value, and intensity. • Hue: name of color • Value: hue's lightness and darkness (a color's value changes when white or black is added) • Intensity: quality of brightness and purity (high intensity= color is strong and bright; low intensity= color is faint and dull)" (MassArt, n.d.).
Contrast: Combining shapes, forms, colors, textures, or other contrasting elements can produce visually striking and energetic artworks (MassArt, n.d.).
Line: An element of art defined by a point moving in space. The line may be two- or three-dimensional, descriptive, implied, or abstract (MassArt, n.d.).
Shape: An element of art that is two-dimensional, flat, or limited to height and width (MassArt, n.d.).
Cultural Significance
Standing Warrior (Mexican Sculpture): The sculpture is painted with red clay; using the red and hues might indicate cultural significance. The sculpture is hollow, and a large figure also has a helmet with spikes, a leather-like vest, and short trousers. There is a contrast between the prominent hollow ceramic figure and the delicate details, such as the red clay and other colors (LACMA, n.d.).
Shiva as the Lord of Dance: The sculpture of Shiva as the Lord of Dance displays variety through its combination of contrasting elements, dynamic shapes, smooth lines, and meaningful colors. It represents the Hindu belief in the cyclical nature of the universe and the balance between opposing forces—creation, destruction, and salvation (LACMA, n.d.).
References
LACMA. (2015, March 2). From the collection: Shiva as Lord of the Dance. Unframed.
https://unframed.lacma.org/2015/03/02/collection-shiva-lord-dance
Los Angeles County Museum of Art. (n.d.). Standing Warrior. LACMA Collections.
https://collections.lacma.org/node/253626
Massachusetts College of Art and Design. (n.d.). Principles and elements. [PDF file].
https://massart.edu/app/uploads/legacy-files/Principles%20and%20Elements.pdf