Rhythm is the repetition or alternation of elements, often with defined intervals between them. It can create a sense of movement, and can emphasize pattern and texture.

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1. Regular: A regular rhythm occurs when the intervals between the elements, and often the elements themselves, are similar in size or length. This involves the same or similar elements repeating at even and predictable intervals. Think of equally spaced light posts extending from left to right across the frame, or the alternating squares on a checkerboard, the slats of a crib, or a series of windows on the side of a city apartment building. In music, this might be the same key played once every 1/4 second on the piano

2. Flowing: A flowing rhythm gives a sense of movement, and is often more organic in nature. The organic and natural patterns are used to create a feeling of movement. This involves a smoother, continuous progression of elements that rise and fall or weave across the composition. This uses more curvy, wavy, or rolling lines that extend and often repeat throughout the composition. This often literally use water, like with a tall waterfall, or such as a mountain stream winding and flowing out onto a plain, or waves rolling up onto the beach…And any subjects that emulate flowing water like “flowing” hair, or “waves” of softly blowing grasses, or “rolling” hills, or stars “sparkling” in the cosmos, or “waves” of wind-swept sand dunes, a snake’s “winding” body, or “rolling” stripes on a tiger or zebra, or the “flow“ of a dancer’s graceful extensions, or lazy “floating” clouds in the sky.

3. Progressive: A progressive rhythm shows a sequence of elements that change slightly and predictably with each iteration as perspective changes. With a change in perspective, the repeated elements appear to gradually become smaller and smaller as they progress towards a vanishing point, or elements can appear to gradually appear larger & larger at they radiate out from a central point.  Examples: Lamp posts lining a pier as it stretches out over the ocean;  Ripples on water, with concentric circles appearing larger & larger as they extend outward

4. Irregular: An irregular rhythm occurs when intervals between elements, or the elements themselves, are not similar and repetition varies or is broken. It might have parts that are regular, progressive, or flowing (or all 3). Interest is created by an emphasis or contrast of an element that interrupt the pattern at times. This could be a contrasting shape or color or drastically changing the size of one element. This sets an element apart from the pattern and momentarily breaks the rhythm. It can be used to control how the eye flows through the rhythm. More emphasis on a single element makes the eye pause on it before continuing. However, Too much irregular rhythm can lead to discordance and chaos