Gestalt Principle #2: Continuation

Is it just me, or do these lines seem to continue off of the page?

What is it?

Continuation is a Gestalt principle of design that creates movement between elements, a movement that compels the eye of the viewer to move in its direction. In this piece, there are three instances of continuation present, each created by aligning circles that vary in size. By using a variety of circle sizes, the viewer pairs circles of similar scale together, which helps him/her differentiate between each continuation.

Composition Details

The strongest continuation in this piece comes from the curved line that intersects the other two perpendicular lines. Because this line is curved, it becomes the focal point of the piece due to its abnormality, which moves the viewer’s eye along this line in particular. Continuation is further exemplified by having each line bleed off of the edges of the composition. This implies that, although the composition ends, each alignment continues off of the page and into space, strengthening the sense of continuation in each alignment.