The artwork chosen for Formal Analysis is an Instagram artist named EsterEggz. It is a digital portrait depicting a figure illuminated by a neon glow against a dark, abstract background. The artist uses high contrast, saturated colour and an analogous palette to create emphasis on the subject.
The artist uses a predominantly warm palette, using warm pinks and purples as the predominant hues. The subject is cooler in comparison to the background, where there are more desaturated, cooler pinks and greys. EsterEggs uses 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, flowy shapes which all either originate from or point to the subject, which helps lead the eye through the painting. The subject, contrastingly, has sharper edges in areas such as the foreshortened hand, the hair and the shading on the blazer jacket. Combined, these elements create a distinct sense of movement.
Despite the energetic movement, the composition feels stable due to an effective use of symmetrical balance. The background neon, flowy elements contrast against the dark background and evenly fill the space, creating a sense of unity.
In conclusion, Estereggz's deliberate control of colour, shape and balance contributes to a chaotic yet satisfying artwork that guides the viewer's eye through the painting. This is a testimony to how formal principles can be used to generate energy within a single image.