Download - Elements and Principles of Design
Elements and Principles of Design
Elements:
Line
Shape
Form
Color
Value
Texture
Space
Principles:
Balance
Emphasis & Focal Point
Movement
Contrast
Variety
Pattern & Repetition
Unity
Harmony/Gestalt
LineA line is defined as a mark with length and direction, created by a
point that moves across a surface. A line can vary in length, width, direction, curvature, and color.
Contour, Diagonal, Broken, Curved, Outline, Implied, Vertical, zigzag, Horizontal, Wavy, Slanted, Continuous, Solid, Narrow, Bold
Jasper Johns, 0-9 (continuous line) Gesture drawing
line
Jackson Pollock, Autumn Rhythm
Andy Goldsworthy
LINE
Keith Haring
Shape Shape is an enclosed space defined by other
elements of art. Shape is 2-Dimensional
Shape can be:Geometric: Angular, man-made conceptOrganic: curvilinear - found in nature
Fernana Leger, The City Matisse, from the series “Jazz”
Picasso, Three Musicians
FORM3 Dimensional Shape. Volume
MC Escher, Self Portrait
Tamara de LempickaPortrait of Ira P. 1925
Vincent Van Gogh, Shoes
Value
An element of art that refers to luminance or luminosity – the lightness or darkness of a color.
Value is an especially important element in works of art when color is absent. This is particularly likely with
drawings, printmaking, and photographs
Kathe Kollwitz,Self portrait
Value
Chuck Close(made w/ thumbprints!)
Edward Weston, Pepper
(photograph)
TextureTexture refers to the surface quality or "feel" of an object,
such as roughness, smoothness, or softness. Actual texture can be felt while simulated textures are implied by the way the
artist renders the surface area
OppenheimFur-lined cup
Texture
Actual and Implied
Golsdworthy
Albrecht DurerRhinocerus
Color Is an element of art with three properties1) Hue, the name of the color, e.g. red, yellow, etc. 2) Intensity or the purity and strength of the color 3) Value, or the lightness or darkness of the color
Delauney
Jasper Johns, Target
(primary colors)
Primary Colors
Piet Mondrian Wassily Kandinsky
Warm Colors
• Colors that are often described as being higher in temperature
• Reds, oranges, yellows
• Associated with fire and sun
• Optically, appear to advance
• Stimulating and passionate
Ex. Warm
Cool
• Colors that are often described as being lower in temperature
• Greens, Blues, and Violet
• Associated with water, sky, and spring
• Optically, they appear to recede
• Calming and depressing
Ex. Cool
Color and Mood
Picasso, the Old Guitarist
Van Gogh, the Night Cafe
SpaceSpace is the empty or open area between, around, above,
below, or within objects. Shapes and forms are made by the space around and within them. Space is often called three-
dimensional or two- dimensional.
MC Escher
SpacePositive space is filled by a shape or form. Negative space surrounds a shape or form.
Space/DepthMay be created by overlapping, change in scale,
perspective placement, color theory, or projection toward the viewer.
David HockneyPlace Furstenberg, Paris, August 7,8,9, 1985 -#11985
BalanceBalance is a sense of stability in the body of work.
Balance can be symmetrical (formal) or assymmetrical (informal)
Wayne Thiebaud, Around the Cake (formal balance)
Diane Arbus, Twins
Symmetrical/Formal Balance
Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper 1495-1498
Symmetrical Balance
Asymmetrical Balance
Edgar Degas (informal balance)
Asymmetrical Balance
VarietyWhen elements are changed in scale, color, or form.
Andy Warhol
Stuart Davis
MovementMovement adds excitement to your work by showing action and
directing the viewers eye throughout the picture plane.
Edward Munch, the Scream
Movement
Marcel Duchamp, Nude Descending StaircaseUmberto Boccioni,
Unique forms of continuity in space
Dominance & SubordinationThe part of a composition that is emphasized, has the greatest visual weight, the most important, powerful, or has the most influence.
Emphasis & Focal PointEmphasis - Any forcefulness that gives importance to some feature or
features of an artwork; something singled out, stressed, or drawn attention to by means of contrast, anomaly, or counterpoint
Focal Point = portion of an artwork's composition on which interest or attention centers
David Hockney
Emphasis & Focal Point
Barbara Kruger Rene Magritte
Pattern & RepetitionInvolves multiples of the same element. Repeated elements can vary in size, color, or axis placement. Repeated elements can create a pattern. The use of repetition may be applied to all Visual Elements. Motion can
be created by repetition.
William MorrisArts and Crafts Movement
Pattern & Repetition
Chuck Close, Self Portrait, detail
ContrastA large difference between two things,
such as light and shadow, color and black/white
Andy Warhol
Contrast
David, the Death of Marat
Economy
Unity & HarmonyThe quality of wholeness or oneness (Gestalt) that is achieved through
the effective use of the elements and principles of design.
Claude MonetHaystacks
Unity
Cezanne
Wayne Theibaud
Unity
Van Gogh “Starry Night”
What Elements and Principles stand out?
What Elements and Principles stand out?
Goya, “The 5th of May”
Gauguin
What Elements and Principles stand out?
What Elements and Principles stand out?