““Principles of Design” Principles of Design” organizeorganize the parts the parts of a composition, of a composition,

bringing clarity, coherence and meaning.bringing clarity, coherence and meaning...

Introduction to Art

Woodcut by Tom Killian

COMPOSITIONCOMPOSITION

“…the placement or arrangement of visual elements or ingredients in a work of art… as distinct from the subject of a work. It can be

thought of as the organization of the elements of form according to the principles of design.”

(derived from Wikipedia definition)

Effective use of Effective use of design principles design principles • holds the viewer’s attention; adds interest

• directs the viewer’s eye into and around the composition

• makes the composition more understandable, more “readable”

• creates effects of mood, emotional tone or expression

Some PRINCIPLES of DESIGN:

Balance (Harmony, Unity)Variety (Contrast)

Repetition (Rhythm, Pattern)Movement and DirectionEmphasis (Focal Point[s])

TensionComplexity & Simplicity

Proportion

BALANCE:

Jacob Lawrence

Frank Lloyd Wright

equilibrium achieved through placement of colors, values,

shapes, masses or weight.

SYMMETRICAL BALANCEGilbert and George

Symmetrically balanced compositions, divisible intomatching parts, tend to be more static and decorative.

Marc Quinn (marble)

Jay DeFeo “The Rose”

Victor Vasarely

RADIALBALANCE

Zechin Japanese wood-cut print

ASYMMETRICAL BALANCE Compositions arranged with asymmetrical

balance tend to be more dynamic, formally andemotionally, and to suggest more spatial depth.

Giorgio Dechirico

What qualities in a composition lead to

UNITY or

HARMONY?

--- repetition of similar colors, shapes, lines, textures, images or materials, throughout a composition

--- formal elements arranged to lead the viewer’s eye AROUND and throughout the composition

Pablo Picasso

H

VARIETYRobert Rauschenberg

Hieronymus Bosch (15th c.)Jessica Stockholder

Differences of color, shape, material, etc. add interest and move the viewer’s attention

around a composition.

CONTRAST(of color, form and texture, for example)

command a viewer’s attention,and may contribute to an illusion of depth.

VALUE CONTRAST

Rembrandt

Claude Monet

clarifies forms and edges,makes a composition more

readable, may contribute to a sense of depth (space) and may

add a sense of drama.Kerry James Marshall

REPETITIONREPETITIONCambodia

of shapes, colors, images, etc. can unify and create of shapes, colors, images, etc. can unify and create a sense of rhythm in a composition.a sense of rhythm in a composition.

Francesco Clemente

Movement

Jackson Pollock

the look and feeling of action; also, form leading the viewer’s gaze in a

particular direction.

Peter Paul Rubens16th-17th c.

Umberto Boccioni

Marcel Duchamp

Movement and Direction:

Jacques Louis David

John Bartlett

Andrew Wyeth

HORIZONTAL lines suggest calm, quiet, stasis.

Jan Van Eyck

Samuel Bak

VERTICALlines may evoke a

sense of forcefulness,power or stability.

What creates a FOCAL POINT or area of EMPHASIS, to which our attention is drawn?

Diego Velasquez

• directional, pointing (or “framing”) lines

• areas of greater detail & complexity

• contrast of colors, values, textures or shapes

• central placement of imagery

• recognizable imagery

TENSION

Richard Serra

Tension may be evoked through precariousbalance, ambiguity of forms,or a “tense” quality of mark-making.

“ a controlled dramatic or dynamic quality” eb.com

Jean Michel Basquiat AlisonSaar

Kasimir Malevich

Economy / SimplicityOnly what is essential to the expression is utilized.

Japan 18th c.

Cyclades3300-2000 BC

Judy Pfaff sculptural installation

COMPLEXITYCOMPLEXITY--- abundance or even excess --- abundance or even excess of visual information or detailof visual information or detail

Audrey Flack oil painting

Parthenon, Greece

Roselyn Delisle ceramic vessel

PROPORTION --- the relation of parts

to the whole and parts to each other.

Max Ernstfrottage drawingscreated using rubbings over textured surfaces.

Student Graphite Pencil Drawings