SCALE and PROPORTION

SCALE and PROPORTION

I never realized that the terms scale and proportion were related to each other. Until this class. We always say things like that is "Large scale" or that is "Small scale". We are so used to those terms that we know what is meant by large and small in these instances. Large would be a whale, compared to a perch. But they are all relative. The Whale is large for a fish, but is small compared to an island.

There are many examples that we may look at to learn about scale and proportion.



Proportion refers to relative size - size measure against other elements or against some mental norm or standard.(1)  Look at this light, by designer Penelope Batley, our mind tells us the average size of the chair in the picture. We know relatively how big it is. Therefore, we know the size of the necklace light fixture is incredibly larger than a necklace (or a light fixture) usually is. If the light fixture was pictured alone, we may assume it to only be 18-22", the size of the average necklace. This lighting fixture also shows you surrealism, where the subject matter is "dreamlike". It is logical to say that a light fixture would never be a necklace, or that a necklace would never be this large. But a designer who's theme is surrealism, says... why not?

"PENELOPE BATLEY - BESPOKE LIGHTING AND CERAMICS." PENELOPE BATLEY. Penelope Batley. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. http://www.penelopebatley.co.uk/lightgallery.html.

(1) "Scale and Proportion." Design Basics. 7th ed. Lauer/Pentak. 72. Print.

Historically, proportion and scaling has been seen in many paintings, mostly religious in nature, and is called hieratic scaling. Hieratic Scaling is when the size of the people in the painting were directly related to their importance in history.  In this 15th century painting by Sandro Botticelli, called "Madonna Adorning the Child with Five Angels" notice the size of the infant Jesus and his mother Mary. Their size, in comparison to all five angels is significantly larger.

 European Art. 1485-1490. The Baltimore Museum of Art: The Mary Frick Jacobs Collection, BMA 1938.226, Baltimore, Maryland. European. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. http://www.artbma.org/collection/overview/european.html.



Another way to scale items, is Human Scale Reference. Because we know the size of the average human, we can judge the size of other items in the picture by judging their size to the size of a human who appears in the same picture.

Looking at the statue itself, you cannot tell how large it is. But look down at the base and see the visitors looking at it and you get an idea of the enormity of this monument.

The actual size of this monument is 170ft tall and the sword alone is 108ft.

"The Motherland Calls." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 04 Sept. 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Motherland_Calls.

 In interior design, it can be used in reference to a piece of artwork. Because we know that a persons head would never be larger than their bed, we can relatively guess the size of the artwork , due to the logical size that the bed appears in ratio to the artwork. 2012 Trend Series: INTERIOR DESIGN." The Crafty Hostess. Web. 20 Apr. 2012. <http://thecraftyhostess.com/?p=2494>.

 

Internal Proportions is a term used to describe the way the artist or designer utilizes the elements within their project. This is relative to the size of the project/canvas.  For instance, cramming several subjects into a picture, with anguished looks on their faces would evoke an emotional response. Even if each of those figures were only 2 feet tall in the painting. Now look on a large scale painting, where each figure is over 8 feet tall, but each are spread out. Even if the subject matter was the same, the emotional response would be different due to the internal proportions of the figures. The same can be done in Interior Design. Look at the first picture, showing an oversized light fixtures in a bedroom, though it is larger than average, the size of the room is relative and it doesn't look massive and negatively out of proportion.

 Petersik, Sherry. "Mistakes We (Hopefully) Won’t Make Again | Young House Love." Mistakes We (Hopefully) Won'€™t Make Again. 6 Apr. 2011. Web. 20 Apr. 2012. http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/04/mistakes-we-hopefully-wont-make-again/.

but looking at the same light fixture, in the next picture and the emphasis of the entire room changes to showcase the light fixture only. It's the first thing you notice in the room. This could be exactly what the client was looking for, or it could be considered a drastic proportional mistake to them.

Ikea. "Five Creative Chandeliers: Interior Design Showcase." AGBeat. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. <http://agbeat.com/design/five-creative-chandeliers-interior-design-showcase/>.