STATIC ELEMENTS:
To understand dynamics, one has to understand what is static. Static is an element having no direction. Has no motion. It is inert, stands alone, does nothing -- no action, no direction. They are the endpoint or resting point of a composition, much like a period ending a sentence.
Static elements are squares, equal lateral triangles, and circles (1 (click on the footnote to see the example).
This is not hard to understand, they pull at each corner, and go nowhere. A circle pulls equally in all directions. These shapes are at rest. Working with a square is easier than working with the other static shapes. The relationships are easier to see.
What is a static element?
1. Any parallel lines or lines parallel to the picture frame (2, or touching the picture frame.
2. Other lines are diagonal lines that have their beginning or end at the corners.
3. Even numbers: 2, 4, 6, 8, etc. Or, a division of equal parts.
4. Similarly, any single shape, or any shape having elements equal on each side, or any shape smack-dab in the middle.
To understand this, one has to imagine looking at the end of a picture frame. Imagine any element behind or in front of the picture’s surface, this is dynamics. If the elements are fixed to the picture frame, they are static.
So, anything inline or touching the picture frame tends to pull your eye to the picture’s surface -- it does not recede or project, it is flat.
Converging lines cause depth (perspective), in or out of the picture frame—they are not static. They are an element of dynamics.