A Review of the A Review of the Elements & Principles of Elements & Principles of

ArtArtAVI3MAVI3M

In the arts, even though we use many In the arts, even though we use many different materials, the visual appearance different materials, the visual appearance can be reduced to seven can be reduced to seven elements of elements of designdesign. They are . They are lineline, , shapeshape, , formform, , spacespace,, valuevalue, , colorcolor and and texturetexture. They are what we . They are what we organize. They are the tools.organize. They are the tools.

The principles of designThe principles of design are how we are how we organize or use the tools. The principles of organize or use the tools. The principles of design are design are balancebalance, , emphasisemphasis, , movementmovement, , patternpattern, , contrastcontrast, , rhythmrhythm and and unityunity.   .  

Let us begin the slide show Let us begin the slide show

LineLine

LineLine – a defined – a defined mark with length mark with length and direction and direction created by a point created by a point that moves across a that moves across a surface.surface.

Lines can be Lines can be horizontal, vertical horizontal, vertical or diagonal, straight or diagonal, straight or curved, thick or or curved, thick or thin.thin.

The Elements…The Elements…

ShapeShape

ShapeShape - a closed line. - a closed line. Shapes are flat and can Shapes are flat and can

express length and width.express length and width. Shapes can be geometric, Shapes can be geometric,

like the squares in like the squares in Mondrian’s artworkMondrian’s artwork

Shapes can also be Shapes can also be organic, like free-formed organic, like free-formed shapes or natural shapes shapes or natural shapes exemplified by Joan Miro. exemplified by Joan Miro.

SpaceSpace SpaceSpace - the area - the area

around, between, around, between, above, below or above, below or within objects.within objects.

Two types of space:Two types of space:• POSITIVE- example POSITIVE- example

on top right by Rene on top right by Rene MagritteMagritte

• NEGATIVE – example NEGATIVE – example on bottom right also on bottom right also by Magritte.by Magritte.

ValueValue

How light or dark something How light or dark something appearsappears

Tint: Creating a lighter tone by Tint: Creating a lighter tone by adding white to a pigmentadding white to a pigment

Shade: Creating a darker tone Shade: Creating a darker tone by adding blackby adding black

Example at top by Carravagio- Example at top by Carravagio- excellent example of excellent example of chiroscurochiroscuro (drastic instance of (drastic instance of light and dark- ULTIMATE light and dark- ULTIMATE value)value)

Example at bottom by Example at bottom by Ferdinand Leger. Adding these Ferdinand Leger. Adding these will make two-dimensional will make two-dimensional objects "look" like they are objects "look" like they are three-dimensional.three-dimensional.

FormForm

FormForm – – the 3-the 3-dimensionality dimensionality of an object. of an object. It has length, It has length, width and width and depth.depth.

Implied form – Implied form – using a range using a range of values can suggest form. of values can suggest form.

Actual form - a sculpture Actual form - a sculpture by Jana Sterbek is an by Jana Sterbek is an example of pushing limits example of pushing limits to the max (i.e. the female to the max (i.e. the female form as a true translation form as a true translation of a meat market) of a meat market)

ColourColour ColourColour is light reflected off is light reflected off

objects. objects. Colour has three main Colour has three main

characteristics: characteristics: huehue or its or its name (red, green, blue, name (red, green, blue, etc.), etc.), valuevalue (how light or (how light or dark it is), and dark it is), and intensityintensity (how bright or dull it is).  (how bright or dull it is). 

Primary- those colours that Primary- those colours that cannot be made by mixing cannot be made by mixing others (R,B, Y)others (R,B, Y)

Secondary- mixing primary Secondary- mixing primary colours to get others (O, P, colours to get others (O, P, G)G)

Complementary- colours Complementary- colours across front each other on across front each other on the wheel (R+G, O+B, P+Y)the wheel (R+G, O+B, P+Y)

Analogous- colours beside Analogous- colours beside each other on the wheeleach other on the wheel

TextureTexture TextureTexture - the surface - the surface

quality that can be quality that can be seen and/or felt seen and/or felt

Actual texture – Actual texture – Spiral Spiral JettyJetty by Robert by Robert Smithson. Example of Smithson. Example of land art (man made land art (man made influence- often influence- often impermanent- on land impermanent- on land for viewing purposes).for viewing purposes).

Implied texture – Implied texture – Example of Winnie Example of Winnie TruongTruong

The Principles…The Principles…

BalanceBalance BalanceBalance is the distribution of the is the distribution of the

visual weight of objects, colors, visual weight of objects, colors, texture, and space. If the design texture, and space. If the design was a scale these elements should was a scale these elements should be balanced to make a design feel be balanced to make a design feel stable. stable.

In symmetrical balance, the In symmetrical balance, the elements used on one side of the elements used on one side of the design are similar to those on the design are similar to those on the other side. Example of Georgia other side. Example of Georgia O’Keefe O’Keefe

In asymmetrical balance, the sides In asymmetrical balance, the sides are different but still look are different but still look balanced. (Example shown left by balanced. (Example shown left by Mary Pratt- east coast Canadian- Mary Pratt- east coast Canadian- The weight of the plate, one jar The weight of the plate, one jar and massive shadow/ table space and massive shadow/ table space on left half balances out the 3 jars on left half balances out the 3 jars and aluminum foil on the right.and aluminum foil on the right.

In radial balance, the elements are In radial balance, the elements are arranged around a central point arranged around a central point and may be similar.  and may be similar. 

RhythmRhythm RhythmRhythm is created is created

when one or more when one or more elements of design are elements of design are used repeatedly to used repeatedly to create a feeling of create a feeling of organized movement.organized movement.

Rhythm creates a Rhythm creates a mood like music or mood like music or dancing. dancing.

Types of rhythm = Types of rhythm = random, regular, random, regular, alternating, flowing alternating, flowing and progressive and progressive

Example to left shows Example to left shows Munch’s Munch’s ScreamScream exemplifying exemplifying flowingflowing in in particularparticular

MovementMovement MovementMovement is the is the

path the viewer’s eye path the viewer’s eye takes through the takes through the artwork, often to focal artwork, often to focal areas areas

3 types of movement:3 types of movement:- Kinetic (art moves)Kinetic (art moves)- Implied (looks like it is Implied (looks like it is

moving in 2D- like moving in 2D- like Degas’ dancers left)Degas’ dancers left)

- Sympathetic Sympathetic (audience must walk (audience must walk around art)around art)

EmphasisEmphasis EmphasisEmphasis is the part of is the part of

the design that catches the design that catches the viewer’s attention the viewer’s attention

Can be achieved with Can be achieved with contrast of elements, contrast of elements, changes in proportion, changes in proportion, or placement of the or placement of the elementelement

In Mary Cassatt’s In Mary Cassatt’s painting, painting, The LetterThe Letter, , the envelope is the the envelope is the emphasis because of emphasis because of it’s contrast against the it’s contrast against the patterned background patterned background and its placement in and its placement in the centre of the the centre of the compositioncomposition

ContrastContrast

Refers to the Refers to the arrangement of arrangement of opposite elements opposite elements (light vs. dark colors, (light vs. dark colors, rough vs. smooth rough vs. smooth textures, large vs. textures, large vs. small shapes, etc.) small shapes, etc.) in a piece so as to in a piece so as to create visual create visual interest, excitement interest, excitement and drama. and drama.

PatternPattern PatternPattern is the is the

repeating of an repeating of an object or symbol all object or symbol all over the artwork. over the artwork.

Left is a VERY Left is a VERY literal repetition of literal repetition of the an iconic the an iconic symbol for power- symbol for power- the American flagthe American flag

Example by Jasper Example by Jasper JohnsJohns

UnityUnity UnityUnity is the feeling of is the feeling of

harmony between all harmony between all parts of the artwork parts of the artwork creating a sense of creating a sense of completeness.  completeness. 

Van Gogh’s ‘ Bedroom Van Gogh’s ‘ Bedroom at Arles’ shows a at Arles’ shows a convergence of lines, convergence of lines, perspective, a perspective, a complementary colour complementary colour scheme (O + B), scheme (O + B), repetition of shapes repetition of shapes (i.e. brush strokes & (i.e. brush strokes & rectangles in frames rectangles in frames etc)- many elements etc)- many elements to make the entire to make the entire piece come togetherpiece come together

The EndThe End