Focal Point in Art: Creating Engaging Artworks

What is a focal point in art, why do we need one and how do we create one in our paintings? These are important questions we will answer.

Artists can create an area of interest with values, color, detail, easy focal points and more.

Learning these techniques is essential for all artists. First, we'll explore what is a focal point, its importance and how to find it. Then we'll look at examples and learn how to create them.

Learn to create a focal point.

Learn to create a focal point.

What is a focal point in art?

The focal point is the main attraction of a painting. It's the what and why of the painting.

People will come to look at our paintings, when they are attracted by a focal point. The attraction connects them to the artwork, enhancing their overall viewing experience.

Why is a focal point important in artwork?

It guides the viewer's eyes to the most important part of the painting. By directing their focus, it helps the viewer understand the reason for the painting.

A painting without a focal point is harder to connect with. It runs the chance of being overlooked.

How do we find a focal point in art?

As soon as we look at a piece of artwork, what do we look at? We can't help it, our eyes are automatically drawn to the focal point or the focal area.

This page covers the ins and outs of how to create focal point. We'll answer such things as:

• Should there be a focal point in every painting?
• Where do we put it?
• What's an easy focal point?
• Lines leading bring us to the subject.
• Techniques to enhance focal points.

examples of focal points

What made the points of interest in these paintings? We'll talk more about the techniques on down the page.

Animals are attention-getters. People are the same. Our eyes are automatically attracted to living things.

Contrast catches our attention. The difference between light and dark values stands out in a painting.

The focus is normally placed off-center. Very seldom would we place the subject in the exact middle of the painting.

We can paint a second attention getter. The line of sight of the second fish directs our focus to the main fish on the left.

where do we put the focal point?

It's not a hard and fast rule, but generally the focal point is placed "near" the center of the painting.

A well-placed focal point

The focal point should be well integrated into the design of the entire painting.

The subject is almost never placed in the absolute center of the painting.

When the subject is dead-centered, the viewers are drawn to look at the subject and then leave the painting. They don't spend additional time looking at the rest of the painting.

Don't place the subject close to the edge of the painting. It will make the viewers feel uncomfortable and possibly take them out of the painting.

The woodpecker painting is an example. The bird is slightly off-centered and well-integrated into the design of the painting.

An easy method of placing the subject is the rule of thirds.

should there be a focal point in every painting?

It is up to the artist whether they want focal point or not.

When a painting is basically a display of patterns, it may not have a specific area of focus.

The fish painting below does not have a focal point. It's basically a painting of detailed patterns. Patterns are one of the principles of art.

This is a painting of patterns.

Should a painting have only one center of interest?

Some paintings may have more than one area of focus.

They have a main point with supporting points of interest.

This is a painting with multiple points of interest. The cottage is the main one, pelicans are second and the sun is third.

This painting has two focal points. The hummingbird is the center of interest. The daylily is the supporting focal point.

how do we create an easy focal point in art?

How do we know our focal point will work?

Some things have an automatic pull on the human psychic. Consequently, they are easy focal points for a painting.

people, animals and vehicles are attention-getters

People, animals or vehicles become the star of the show when they are in a painting.

Also, any man-made things such as vehicles, buildings, boats, etc. will automatically be the focal point in art paintings.

Most people enjoy both domestic and wild animals. So, all types of critters always attract people.

Give people or animals plenty of space in front of their face.

Have them looking into the painting, not out the edge of the painting. If they are looking out of the painting, their view will carry the viewers right out of the painting.

Eyes always attract our attention

People or animal eyes grab our gaze and pull us into a painting. They are an automatic focal point.

Notice how our attention goes to the eyes.

solitary objects will be the star of the show

A single object is a focal point.

Solitary items automatically attract attention.

This hummingbird has multiple things going for it that call attention to itself.

First, we know animals, as well as birds, automatically attract the viewer's attention.

Second, it is a solitary item. It's flying, all by itself out away from the flowers, so it stands out.

Third, it demands attention because it is small compared to the mass of flowers. Contrasting sizes attract attention. Not always a small size, it could be the other way around with a large mass as the main attraction.

Fourth, it has painting techniques used to create focal points, contrasting values, intense color and hard edges.

leading lines bring us to the subject

How the viewer gets to the focal point. Lines in the compositions lead and direct the visitor to the main point of the painting.

Common things we use are a road, a path, a river, a ravine or a fence. We could also use the line of roof-tops, clouds, ocean waves or any other part of the composition that creates a line.

We create a line of sight that the viewer follows to arrive at the main subject of the artwork.

We are accustomed to reading from left to right. The bottom left-hand side of the painting is the common place to paint a line leading into the artwork.

The clouds flow to the focal point. Edge of beach leads to the lighthouse. Grasses come in and turn up to the lighthouse.

The road leads to the focal barn. The tree trunk and branch frame the barn. Tree foliage points down to the focal point.

Techniques to Enhance Focal Points

We know where to place a focal point and what attracts attention. What painting techniques can we use to amplify the center of interest?

In the art of painting, every part of the painting contributes to the creation of a focal point, from color and contrast to composition and detail.

Accomplished painting artists will use one or more of the following methods while creating a focal point.

contrasting values are sure to stand out

Light values contrast against the darks.

Values are the light and darkness of a color.

Good contrasting values is the #1 way to create a focal point in art.

Value contrast is the easiest way to make a focal point. The eye is automatically drawn to an area of high contrasting values.

Artists will use light against dark in many areas of the painting. But the focal point in art should have the strongest value contrast.

The fish is obviously the focal point. Its white, red, orange and yellow contrast well with the dark colors of the background.

Red, orange and yellow are the lightest values on the artist color wheel.

color

The judicious use of color draws our eyes to the main subject of the painting.

Bright colors contrast with subdued colors.

An artist may use bright colors to draw attention to a specific area or subject.

Bright, clean colors contrast well with subdued colors.

The clean yellow and blue on the butterfly stand out from the subdued colors of the background.

Colors may be subdued by adding white, grey or black or mix them with their compliment.

The subdued colors look farther away than the clean, clear colors.

So, the flowers and the background behind the butterfly recede and bring the butterfly forward making him stand out.

paint warm and cool colors against each other

Opposites attract.

The warm horse shows off against cool colors.

Painting warm colors and cool colors beside each other is an attention-getter.

The warm colors, (red, orange and yellow) will automatically attract attention. When we place them against cool colors, (blue, green or purple) they really sparkle.

Although the horse has several things that make it a focal point, it's over-all warm colors really make it stand out against the cool colors of the background.

The colors of the mane and shadows were mixed from the warm sienna in the horse and the cool blue of the background. But even these dark colors are basically warm.

See more about how to mix colors.

complimentary colors

Complimentary colors attract the viewer's attention. They are across from each other on the color wheel. They are red and green, yellow and violet, blue and orange.

Complimentary colors vibrate when they are painted next to each other.

The bluebird below exhibits his complimentary colors with a warm orange chest and a cool blue body.

details attract people

People like details and they enjoy looking at them.

Details make the subject more important.

Use more detail in the focal area compared to other areas of the painting.

There is a lot going on in the background with the leaves and the many individual flowers the butterfly is sitting on.

But our eyes are drawn to the intricate detail of the patterns on the butterfly's wings.

There is more detail on the large focal butterfly than the smaller ones.

The size of shapes is important, too.

The focal butterfly and its flowers are a larger shape than the other two butterflies with their flowers.

Notice: The main butterfly has more value contrast than the other two butterflies. That keeps the focus on him.

The lower right butterfly is directing our line of sight to the focal butterfly. The branch on the lower left is pointing to the butterfly. Both are leading lines.

soft and hard edges

Soft edges are easy to view and they recede. Hard edges attract attention and come forward.

Compare the hard edges on the main butterfly with the soft edges of the flowers and foliage.

The butterfly's hard edges attract our attention and bring him forward. The soft edges in the background push it back and make it recede.

wrapping it up!

Let's review and see what we can spot that makes this bluebird the focal point.

Complimentary colors, warm vs cool colors

This bluebird has several things that make him the focal point of the painting.

1. He is complimentary colors, blue and orange.
2. Hard edges are painted on the bird, compared to the soft edges in the background
3. He is bright, saturated colors.
4. There is plenty of space in front of his face, so the viewer stays in the painting.
5. Warm versus cool colors in the entire painting are a nice attraction.
   

Do you think I missed one?

Yes, he is a solitary object and a bird or animal. Also, the painting shows movement, that's another attraction.

It's easy to create a focal point in art with multiple methods.

Use any or all of these techniques to make a focal point in your paintings. They will be sure to create an attractive painting.

go - you can create a focal point!