What is Balance? A New Perspective

What is balance? A new perspective. Pun intended 😂 Does this composition feel balanced?

This is the next piece in my 2D/3D landscape exploration.That’s what came to mind while drawing this. And part of the reason I kept the underlying sketch. Because balance is a PROCESS.

I was trying to balance out a composition and do one-point perspective in Procreate by eye (I don't recommend). Even though the software has perspective tools, I want to give it a human touch.See, balance is one of those overlapping principles we see and can use in both design and illustration.

But why do we like to feel like things are balanced? Why do we like our lives to feel balanced? Equal weight on both sides of something, like a scale that is about to tip with one wrong move. Almost being afraid of what could happen if the weight shifts. I don’t know the answers to all these questions.

But I think it has to do with comfort, happiness, and feeling like we are in control. And I believe in God's plan, and I don't trust my own plans anymore. He knows what I need better than I do.

Balance now is being content with where I’m at: spending time with my daughters/wife at night, drawing, or working on client projects a couple of hours a week rather than it being a part-time job. And the most important thing for me is contentment. To sum it all up, balance for me is finding a place you love to work (whether it be freelance, agency, in-house, hybrid approach, etc.), spending time with those you love, getting much-needed rest (and sleep), praying and reading a lot, and pursuing what you love to do. Spend time doing those things and the rest (no pun intended this time) will fall into place.But back to the composition. Does it feel balanced? What does a balanced life feel like for you?

Brad Hansen
Creative Director, Designer, & Illustrator

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