You can treat any part of the painting in any way you feel. There are no rules. However, it is important to understand the power of the center of your art. The very center of your art, just because it is in the middle, makes it very noticeable. I like to call the center of one’s art the “10x spot” or the “bulls eye. It is not too much of an exaggeration to state that the middle of your art is 10 times more noticeable than any other place in your art.

This is crucial to know because if we place something in the center, the viewer will notice it above all else. Additionally, if we add high contrast value and size to this space it will become distractingly noticeable, making the rest of the art almost unseen. The viewers’ eyes will stay in the center and be unable to visit and experience any of the other areas. It is powerful to let the viewer see all the areas of your art, not just one.

It can be challenging sometimes to diagnose this problem when it occurs in your art. Below is a diagram that shows the problem as well as several possible solutions to the 10x spot or “bulls eye” problem.  

In the above example, the large circle on the left panel illustrates the “bulls eye” problem. On the right panel, the large circle was simply moved from the center to the upper left corner. Notice how your eyes move more easily around the entire composition on the right panel.

In the diagram above, the large circle on the left panel again shows the “bulls eye” problem. On the right panel, the circle has been reduced in scale, and is considerably less noticeable even though it remains in the center. Notice how your eyes move more easily around the entire composition on the right panel.