A definition of Direction as defined by Linda Goin (2001) is guiding "a viewer's eye into and around" a piece of artwork. Direction is what steers the visual movement across a piece of artwork. Artists position components in artwork to direct attention in a way that depicts the symbolism and feeling intended to be represented by the piece. Placement of elements, dimension and format are all used to render direction in order to produce focal points and dictate how an artist wants viewers to "read" the artistic image.

Direction can be depicted in various mediums and eras of artwork. In every type of art from sculptures to photographs and paintings, the eye will initially concentrate on some focal point, which is not necessarily the center of the image, and will move along shapes, lines, dimensions or elements to lead the eye throughout the image. There will usually be one or two outstanding items that either primarily attracts the viewer's eye or smaller items methodically positioned to lead the eye to the most significant components of the image.

The element of direction involves all of the elements of art and design in order to efficiently guide the viewer's eye towards vital components of a piece of art. Layout can help an artist define direction in a composition. There are various artistic design elements that assist in creating direction in layout. One method for successful layout is the use of grids. "The grid is a formal application of structure which helps give a designated position to the elements of design…made up of horizontal and vertical lines which tell you where to place elements" (Goin).

Another method for grid layout is the "Rule of Thirds." This rule is based on dividing the design area into equivalent horizontal and vertical thirds. Direction is achieved by utilizing this method to create focal points at the intersection of the grid lines.

A third method for directive layout is in the use of colors. Elements of color among white space for example will direct the eye to important features of an image and are good indicators for direction. In the photo to the right, I felt that the application of the colored line on the brick in the hallways were a good example of using color to catch attention and help visually guide direction (in this case to help locate the classroom door). Variations in color can guide the eye in viewing an image and cause a key image component to stand out.

One of the palpable facets in demonstrating direction coincides with the element of motion or movement. Motion can suggest direction in an image and vice versa. In many instances the elements of movement and direction are utilized to achieve one or the other, or both. The purpose of motion is to depict action, and motion is always in a certain direction. Without direction, it would be difficult to successfully portray motion in a piece of art. Dimension is another element also plays an important role in representing direction. In the photo to the right of the school hallway the skylight presents a dimensional perspective along with a feeling of motion and direction and guides the viewer's eyes to the left in the turn of the skylight. The tiled floor also depicts direction and movement in its progressive layout. Without a collaborative implementation of all of the artistic elements, direction could not fruitfully be achieved.

As an example of direction found in an image from an online museum, I have chosen the two images that can be found at the URL's listed below:

1. "With These Wings" by Brian G. Truex
http://www.cwcafineart.com/Members/Brian%20G%20Truex.htm

This piece of artwork employ the element of direction by placing the central landscape image surrounded by roses in the center between the eagle and the woman. The direction of the woman's arms and head along with the direction and position of the eagle head and beak lead the direction of the eye toward the landscape image. The eagle and woman are significant and cause the view to move back and forth across the entire image from the focal point to the woman and back, and up to the eagle and back, and so forth.

2. "Madonna and Child" by VanDerWeyden
http://www.huntington.org/ArtDiv/VanDerWeydenPict.html

The look in the eyes of both Madonna and Child are terrific indicators of direction. Both sets of eyes are pointed in the direction of the Bible held in the mother's hand and touched by the child. These components dictate the element of direction and as a viewer's eyes travel from the mother and child viewing is directed to the bible because of the look of direction in both subject's eyes.

Bibliography:

Conover, Theodore E. (1995). Graphics Communications Today. West Publishing, Minnesota.

Howse, James, and Mittler, Gene A. (1989). Creating and Understanding Drawings. Glencoe, Calif.

Goin, Linda. (2001). The Principle of Direction.
http://www.graphicdesignbasics.com/article1017.html