Using The Golden Ratio (AKA Golden Mean) To Improve Your Artworks

Today I will be discussing what the golden ratio is (otherwise known as the golden mean) and how we can use it to improve your artwork.

What Is the Golden Ratio?

The golden ratio is the ratio of approximately 1 to 1.618. These are extremely important numbers to mathematicians. But what do they mean to us artists?

Well there have been studies which suggest designs set out using the golden ratio are aesthetically pleasing. We can use the golden ratio to help design our paintings and position our subjects.

Who would have thought art and maths could have such a close connection? Luca Pacioli (a contemporary of Leonardo da Vinci) went as far as saying:

“Without mathematics there is no art.” 

What Is the Golden Ratio?

The golden ratio has been around for some time and has influenced many areas of life, including architecture, maths, design and of course art.

Here is a rough timeline of the golden ratio’s history according to author Priya Hemenway:

  • Phidias (490-430 BC) made the Parthenon statues that seem to embody the golden ratio.
  • Euclid (c. 325-c. 265 BC), in his Elements, gave the first recorded definition of the golden ratio, which he called, as translated into English “extreme and mean ratio”.
  • Fibonacci (1170-1250) mentioned the numerical series now named after him in his Liber Abaci. We will discuss the Fibonacci sequence later in this post.
  • Luca Pacioli (1445-1517) defines the golden ratio as the “divine proportion” in his Divina Proportione.
  • Charles Bonnet (1720-1793) points out that in the spiral phyllotaxis of plants going clockwise and counter-clockwise were frequently two successive Fibonacci series.
  • Martin Ohm (1792-1872) is believed to be the first to use the term goldener Schnitt (golden section) to describe this ratio, in 1835.
  • Édouard Lucas (1842-1891) gives the numerical sequence now known as the Fibonacci sequence its present name.

Calculations

I will try and keep this simple (as we do not need to understand all the complexities of the golden ratio as artists). 

The golden ratio can be calculated as follows:

{frac {a+b}{a}}={frac {a}{b}}equiv varphi

That weird symbol at the end represents the golden ratio.

I find this equation easier to understand in pictural format:

Golden Ratio - Calculation

So a+b is to a as is to b.

Confused yet? Keep reading as it becomes easier to understand when we apply it to certain situations.

The Golden Rectangle

Below is a golden rectangle, which means the side lengths are in golden ratio. If you take away that square on the left, another rectangle will remain which is also in golden ratio. This could continue indefinately.

There is some kind of peacefulness and beauty in infinite numbers, which is possibily why the golden ratio is so popular in design.

Golden Rectangle

Creating the golden rectangle is easy using these steps. All you need is a compass.

Step 1 – Construct a simple square.

Step 2 – Draw a line down the middle of the square.

Golden Rectangle - Step 1 & 2

Step 3 – Grab your compass and place one point at the intersection at the bottom middle and draw down from the edge of top right corner, as shown below.

Golden Rectangle - Step 4

Step 4 – Complete the golden rectangle.

Golden Ratio Final

Note: This is for demonstration purposes only so it may not be the exact proportions of the golden ratio. 

The Fibonacci Sequence

The following is the Fibonacci sequence: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, … The next number is found by adding up the two numbers before it.

When we take any two successive (one after the other) in the sequence, their ratio is very close to the golden ratio.

In fact, the later the numbers are in the sequence, the closer it becomes to the golden ratio.

This relationship between the Fibonacci sequence and the golden ratio is shown below:

Golden Ratio

Golden Spiral

The golden spiral is what occurs when you spiral a line through the golden rectangle.

Fibonacci Sequence

This  spiral can be found throughout nature:

 Photo Credit: natureandwisdom.wordpress.com
Photo Credit: natureandwisdom.wordpress.com

Applying the Golden Ratio in Art

Now we can get to some of the more interesting applications of the golden ratio.

The golden ratio has been used by artists to locate aesthetically pleasing areas to place our subjects and distribute weight in our paintings.

The Eyes Of The Golden Rectangle

One technique is to use the “eyes of the rectangle” to position your subjects. These “eyes” are indicated in blue below:

The Golden Section

Another option is to segment your painting into nine unequal sections using the golden ratio.

The ratio of the columns is 1: 0.618: 1. Likewise for the rows.

You can then use this diagram as a tool to ensure there is balance throughout your composition. I will show you some examples below.

This is a more complex version of the rule of thirds. The application of the golden section and the rule of thirds is basically the same.

Examples of the Golden Ratio

My Website

I could use the golden ratio to design this very website in an aesthetically pleasing manner. For example, I could distribute the content to sidebar widths according to the golden ratio.

I could also use the golden ratio to determine the size of my header in relation to my content, or my logo to my menu. There is no limit to how I could use the golden ratio.

This is not to say my website is designed strictly using the golden ratio – this is just for demonstration purposes.

Capture

The Golden Ratio In Paintings

In this painting by Georges Seurat, the golden ratio appears to have been used throughout the painting – to define the horizon, to place points of interest and to create balance in what would appear to be a very active scene.

Georges Seurat, Bathers at Asnières, 1884
Georges Seurat, Bathers at Asnières, 1884

Georges Seurat also seems to have used the  golden ratio in this painting. Notice the positioning of the jetty, the sail mast and the horizon.

Georges Seurat, Bridge at Courbevoie, 1887
Georges Seurat, Bridge at Courbevoie, 1887

This contemporary peice needs little explanation. It is just an arrangement of golden rectangles and colors.

Piet Mondrian, Compositions in Red, Blue, and Yellow, 1930
Piet Mondrian, Compositions in Red, Blue, and Yellow, 1930

Take note of the position of the table and the edge of the ceiling in this painting by Salvador Dali, who seems to have used the golden ratio to help design a number of his paintings.

Salvador Dali, The Sacrament of the Last Supper, 1955
Salvador Dali, The Sacrament of the Last Supper, 1955

The golden ratio even appears to have been used in this classic painting by Michelangelo.

Michelangelo, The Creation of Adam, 1512
Michelangelo, The Creation of Adam, 1512

Summary

I hope this post helps you understand the importance of the golden ratio in art and design. But, as with many other art concepts, the golden ratio is just a tool to assist you. Do not end up being confined by always needing to follow the golden ratio.

The majority of famous paintings do not follow the golden ratio. But by using the golden ratio you may have a greater chance of your painting being aesthetically appealing.

If you want to learn more, refer to my detailed guide on composition.

Want to Learn More?

You might be interested in my Painting Academy course. I’ll walk you through the time-tested fundamentals of painting. It’s perfect for absolute beginner to intermediate painters.

Thanks for Reading!

I appreciate you taking the time to read this post and I hope you found it helpful. Feel free to share it with friends.

Happy painting!

Dan Scott

Draw Paint Academy

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Dan Scott is the founder of Draw Paint Academy. He's a self-taught artist from Australia with a particular interest in landscape painting. Draw Paint Academy is run by Dan and his wife, Chontele, with the aim of helping you get the most out of the art life. You can read more on the About page.

21 comments on “Using The Golden Ratio (AKA Golden Mean) To Improve Your Artworks”

  1. i read about the golden ratio before and have no idea how to use it and where to apply it.
    i spend good time reading your explanation and where to use it make a lot of sense to me. thank you
    very good and easy to understand and we have the option to use it or not.
    thanks again

    Reply
  2. Dan
    Great post. I’ve read much about the Golden Ratio and it’s an absolute classic. I’m a beginner and I’d rather follow proven techniques than muddle through by myself. Many Thanks.

    Reply
  3. Hi Dan,
    I enjoyed this article, very informative as usual. But golden ratio ?? Colour me dumb.
    I just paint by the seat of my pants ( instinct).
    I will continue following your articles, there is always something to learn, even for a fossil like yours truly.
    Keep ’em coming Dan.

    Reply
  4. Thank you David! Your presentation of Golden Ratio as a scientific tool for artists was very exciting for me! I have been familiar with the golden ratio and its calculation, but its application by painters was absolutely new! I learned a lot!

    Reply
  5. I learned something new today. I knew about the rule of thirds but not about the golden ratio. Thank you.
    I am a photographer and have used my gut to tell me what looks right. I am sure that I have a lot to learn.

    Reply
  6. As so many others, I am a beginner. I knew about the Golden Ratio and what it was so I thought it would be a doddle when it was recently touched upon in an art class. Unfortunately, I very much struggled to train my eye to see both it and the Rule of Thirds or rather to apply it to my efforts.
    I am so glad my search brought me to this page. This is the first time someone has explained it in an approachable, practical and clear way.

    Many, many thanks

    Reply
  7. For years, I used an old Disney short film, “Donald in Mathemagic Land” teaching my undergrad intro to Philosophy classes. The imagery is too dated now for students (e.g. rotary dial phones) but the range and variety of examples of the Golden Section is still captivating. It was always a great preview to hitting them with logic. Thank you for your post. It is a great explanation of a complex topic.

    Reply
  8. Way cool! I just googled golden rectangle because I wanted to make a clay box. Read down about the golden spiral which I had seen previously but didn’t know the mathematics behind it. Great information with clear explanation. Thank you!

    Reply
  9. A great read & one of the more well explained articles I’ve read on the rule.

    One of the things I always wonder though is: were these great works planned out as golden ratio pieces or did the artists just put together something aesthetically pleasing and it happens to ‘fit’ the formula.

    For example, ive had students and collectors note that some of my work fits the golden ratio – to which i will nod and smile – even though I myself have never actually set out to design it this way. lol

    Reply
  10. Hi!

    The Mondrian painting are not just squares, sort of speak.
    Mondrian used a much deeper explanation for the use of color, each color has a separate meaning, for example. He was very serious in that. Maybe interesting for those who did not know this fact.

    Reply

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