The artwork chosen for Formal Analysis is by Instagram artist EsterEggz. It is a digital portrait of a person whose face and upper body are illuminated by vibrant neon light, set against a dark, abstract background. The artist uses high contrast, saturated colours, and an analogous palette to emphasise the subject's features and presence.
Building on this, the artist uses a predominantly warm palette, featuring warm pinks and purples as the primary hues. The subject appears cooler than the background, which incorporates more desaturated, cooler pinks and greys. EsterEggz includes a warm blue as an accent. While colour guides the viewer's gaze through the painting, it is not the principal compositional element directing attention to the subject.
Estereggz, 2022
The driving compositional element is the shape design. The background features round, flowing shapes that either originate from or point to the subject, helping lead the eye through the painting. The subject, by contrast, has sharper edges in areas such as the foreshortened hand, the hair, and the blazer's shading. Combined, they create a distinct sense of movement.
Additionally, despite the energetic movement, the composition feels stable thanks to effective symmetrical balance. The background neon, flowy elements contrast against the dark background and evenly fill the space, creating a sense of cohesion.
In conclusion, by uniting deliberate control of colour, shape, and balance, Estereggz creates a chaotic yet satisfying artwork that guides the viewer's eye through the painting. This is a demonstration of how formal principles can generate energy within a single image.