I have been a photographer and mixed media artist for many years. I just naturally seem to create with a 60/30/10 split in my art. In my image Salsa you can see that about 60% of the image is yellow, 30% is red and 10% green. Most artists do this intuitively, without thinking about it too much. It just feels "right."
The 60/30/10 split evolved from the 70/30 compositional principle that creates visual harmony and interest through asymmetrical balance. The 60/30/10 split moves the viewer's eye through dominant, secondary and accent elements. Most often it is divided by color, but also can be split by texture and composition.
You can see the split in many famous paintings.
Van Gogh's "Starry Night" (1889) is 60% deep blue to black, 30% swirling lighter blues, white stars and clouds and 10% yellow accents. The blue sets the mood. The clouds and stars add movement and the yellow provides some emotional intensity. I especially like how the yellow is repeated in the village windows.
The "Girl with a Pearl Earring" (1665) by Johannes Vermeer is another example. 60% is the dark background. 30% are the skin tones and blouse. 10% is the earring, white collar and highlights on her face.
Clause Monet's "Water Lilies" series (early 1900s) makes the reflective water surface about 60% of the image. 30% are the flowers and waterlilies and 10% are the bright pink, purples and white accents.
Pablo Picasso's "Les Demoiselle d'Avignon" (1907) is 60% flesh tones. The background blues and browns are about 30% of the painting. The black outlines are about 10%.
Georgia O'Keefe's "Red Canna" (1924) red petals are the dominant color. The secondary colors are the oranges and pinks. The yellow highlights are the remaining 10%.
How about your art? Look at a piece you have created in the past. Have you intuitively used the 60/30/10 split? Is there a piece you are currently working on that might be more powerful with a 60/30/10 split?
"Campbell's Magnolia" by botanical illustrator Walter Hood Fitch is another example. Whites take up about 60% of the image, pinks 30% and green/golds 10%.
