ART

PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

PRINCIPLES OF ARTPRINCIPLES OF ART Principles are guidelines used to help Principles are guidelines used to help

artists organize the art elements to create artists organize the art elements to create works of artworks of art

Principles include:Principles include: BalanceBalance VarietyVariety HarmonyHarmony EmphasisEmphasis ProportionProportion MovementMovement RhythmRhythm UnityUnity TransitionTransition

BALANCEBALANCE A principle of art concerned with arranging A principle of art concerned with arranging

art elements so no one part of a work art elements so no one part of a work overpowers or seems heavier than any overpowers or seems heavier than any other partother part

There are three kinds of balance in artworkThere are three kinds of balance in artwork Formal balance-Formal balance- also known as also known as symmetricalsymmetrical

balance where the two halves are mirror imagesbalance where the two halves are mirror images Informal balance-Informal balance- known as asymmetrical known as asymmetrical

balance where two unlike elements seem to balance where two unlike elements seem to carry equal weightcarry equal weight

Radial balance-Radial balance- occurs when elements or occurs when elements or objects are positioned around a central point objects are positioned around a central point and radiates from the centerand radiates from the center

BALANCE-BALANCE-continuedcontinued

Visual Weight-Visual Weight- creates a visual sense creates a visual sense of equal weight by using size, of equal weight by using size, brightness, hues, textures, shapes, brightness, hues, textures, shapes, light and dark hues.light and dark hues.

Psychological Weight-Psychological Weight- refers to the refers to the importance of the person or objects importance of the person or objects within the artworkwithin the artwork

VARIETYVARIETY Concerned with combining one or Concerned with combining one or

more elements to create interest by more elements to create interest by adding slight changesadding slight changes

Heightens the visual appeal of the Heightens the visual appeal of the workwork

Too little variety and work is boring, Too little variety and work is boring, too much creates chaostoo much creates chaos

VARIETY-VARIETY-ContinuedContinued

Types of variety include:Types of variety include: ShapesShapes

valuevalue

sizessizes

HARMONYHARMONY

A principle concerned with blending A principle concerned with blending elements to create a more calm, elements to create a more calm, restful appearancerestful appearance

EMPHASISEMPHASIS

Makes an element of an artwork Makes an element of an artwork stand outstand out

Attracts viewer’s attention to an Attracts viewer’s attention to an important partimportant part

Can be created by contrast or Can be created by contrast or extreme changes in an elementextreme changes in an element

PROPORTIONPROPORTION

Principle concerned with the Principle concerned with the relationship of one part to another relationship of one part to another and to the wholeand to the whole

Can be size, color, etc.Can be size, color, etc.

MOVEMENTMOVEMENT

Used to create the look and feeling of Used to create the look and feeling of action and to guide a viewer’s eye action and to guide a viewer’s eye throughout the work of artthroughout the work of art

RHYTHMRHYTHM

Principle concerned with repeating Principle concerned with repeating an element to make a work seem an element to make a work seem active or to suggest vibrationactive or to suggest vibration

Can create rhythm by repeating Can create rhythm by repeating elements but also the same object elements but also the same object over and over to form a patternover and over to form a pattern

UNITYUNITY Is the arrangement of elements and Is the arrangement of elements and

principles with media to create a principles with media to create a feeling of supporting each other and feeling of supporting each other and of completenessof completeness

Ways to unify a work of art:Ways to unify a work of art: Grouping ObjectsGrouping Objects – fewer forms/shapes – fewer forms/shapes

to seeto see

Vs.

UNITY - UNITY - continuedcontinued

Similar use of elementsSimilar use of elements – objects or aspects – objects or aspects within a work of art can be unified by using within a work of art can be unified by using similarities of color, shape, form, etc.similarities of color, shape, form, etc.

ContinuityContinuity – using an element or series of – using an element or series of elements that continue relatively uninterrupted elements that continue relatively uninterrupted through much of the artworkthrough much of the artwork

Dominant FeatureDominant Feature – Use of a dominate feature – Use of a dominate feature

TRANSITIONTRANSITION A series of gradual step by step A series of gradual step by step

changes of an elementchanges of an element Some types of transitions:Some types of transitions:

Color TransitionsColor Transitions – blended gradations – blended gradations between different huesbetween different hues

Large to SmallLarge to Small – often used to establish – often used to establish the illusion of depththe illusion of depth

TRANSITION- TRANSITION- continuedcontinued

Dark to LightDark to Light – also used to create a – also used to create a sense of depth or set a particular sense of depth or set a particular moodmood

Rough to SmoothRough to Smooth – creates variation in – creates variation in a textured areaa textured area