The Principles of The Principles of DesignDesign

What are The Principles of What are The Principles of Design?Design?

The Principles of Design areThe Principles of Design are

the ways that artists the ways that artists useuse the the

Elements of Art to create a good Elements of Art to create a good

Composition.Composition.

There are 11 Principles of There are 11 Principles of DesignDesign

Balance Balance ContrastContrast

EmphasisEmphasis Variety Variety

Unity/HarmonyUnity/Harmony ProportionProportion

RhythmRhythm MovementMovement

PatternPattern RepetitionRepetition

Balance:Balance:Balance is the distribution of the visual weight of objects, colors, texture, and space. If the design

was a scale these elements should be balanced to make a design feel

stable.

There are three major forms of There are three major forms of balance:balance:

The three major forms of The three major forms of balance:balance:

Asymmetrical balance: where equilibrium is achieved by the balance differences in the art elements within a composition.

Symmetrical balance: where the art elements in a composition are balanced in a mirror-like fashion (it does not have to be exact but close).

Radial balance: the elements are arranged around a central point and may be similar.

What kind of What kind of balancebalance is illustrated in this is illustrated in this painting painting Oriental PoppiesOriental Poppies, , by Georgia by Georgia O’Keefe?O’Keefe?

                                  

What type of What type of balancebalance is shown in this painting, is shown in this painting, Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Painter's Mother (commonly known as WhistlerPainter's Mother (commonly known as Whistler’’s s Mother)Mother), by James Whistler?, by James Whistler?

                  

                       

What type of What type of balancebalance is shown in this is shown in this stained glass artwork, stained glass artwork, Rose WindowRose Window??

                                                                                                    

ContrastContrastA design principle that emphasizes differences between the art elements.

For example, a painting may have bright colors that contrast with dull colors or angular shapes that contrast with rounded shapes.

Sharp contrast draws attention and can direct a viewer to a focal point within a work of art.

In In Spiral of EmotionSpiral of Emotion by Joseph Perkins we by Joseph Perkins we see a sharp see a sharp contrast contrast between darks and between darks and lights which he has balanced out with lights which he has balanced out with some middle tones.some middle tones.

                                

        

In this work we see sharp lines and In this work we see sharp lines and shapes against softer lines and shapes. shapes against softer lines and shapes. We also see sharp We also see sharp contrastcontrast between between colors.colors.

                               

                    

Marlene Healey, Sections of my Destiny

EmphasisEmphasis

Emphasis is meant to catch the viewer’s attention. Usually the artist will make one area stand out by contrasting it with other areas. The area can be different in size, color, texture, shape, etc.

Where is the Where is the focal pointfocal point in Wassily in Wassily Kandinsky’s, Kandinsky’s, Composition VII Composition VII ??

                                            

In Francisco Goya’s, In Francisco Goya’s, The Shootings of May The Shootings of May Third 1801Third 1801, where is the area of , where is the area of emphasisemphasis??

                                            

VarietyVariety

Variety is achieved when the art elements are combined in various ways to increase visual interest.

For instance, an assortment of shapes that are of a variety of sizes attracts more attention than an assortment of shapes all the same size.

Let’s look at Kandinsky’s painting again. Let’s look at Kandinsky’s painting again. How is the artist showing How is the artist showing varietyvariety in this in this work?work?

Unity/HarmonyUnity/Harmony

How the elements work and fit together to make a work of art

complete.

What do you think Cezanne used to keep this What do you think Cezanne used to keep this painting, painting, Mt. VictoriaMt. Victoria,, unified or working together? unified or working together?

                                           

ProportionProportion

Proportion refers to the relative size and scale of the various elements in a design. The issue is the relationship between objects, or parts, of a whole.

How is this artist, John Zacchea, showing How is this artist, John Zacchea, showing correct correct proportionproportion in in Wine Bottle and Wine Bottle and Cheese?Cheese?

                          

                         

When comparing the size of the objects in the composition, you see that the objects are not too large or too small for each other. They are of a realistic size.

                          

                         

Sometimes artists chose to distort or Sometimes artists chose to distort or exaggerate the exaggerate the proportionsproportions of the of the subjects involved. subjects involved.

                                  

Fernando Botero, A Family

In this case the artist chose to use these "puffed up forms" to exaggerate the size of the people. By showing the figures larger than life size, he is attempting to celebrate the life within, and perhaps to mock their role in the world.

RhythmRhythm

Rhythm refers to a way of utilizing the art elements to produce the look and feel of rhythmic

movement with a visual tempo or beat

Here is an example of a cut paper Here is an example of a cut paper tessellation design. What is used to create tessellation design. What is used to create

the appearance of the appearance of rhythmrhythm in this work? in this work?

                                       

Possible answers could be:The fish design is repeated over and over.The colors white and orange appear as a pattern.The lines that form the scales of the fish. The black triangles that decorate the backbone of the fish.

MovementMovement

Movement is the path the viewer’s eye takes through the artwork, often to focal areas. Such movement can be directed

along lines edges, shape and color within the artwork.

In In Starry NightStarry Night, artist Vincent Van Gogh creates , artist Vincent Van Gogh creates movementmovement in his sky. How does he show us in his sky. How does he show us this?this?

PatternPattern

Repetition of an element of art (i.e., shapes, lines, or colors) to achieve

decoration or ornamentation.

How has the artists use of How has the artists use of patternpattern enhanced this enhanced this piece?piece?

                          

                         

RepetitionRepetition

A way of combining art elements so that the same elements are used over and over to achieve balance and harmony.

Ben Shahn has shown Ben Shahn has shown repetitionrepetition in his work, in his work, SupermarkeSupermarkettby repeating the same subject over and over to by repeating the same subject over and over to create an interesting composition. He used the create an interesting composition. He used the same type and thickness of line and the same same type and thickness of line and the same shapesshapes

The Principles of Design in The Principles of Design in ReviewReview

The Principles of Design are the ways that artists use The Principles of Design are the ways that artists use the Elements of Art to create successful the Elements of Art to create successful compositions. compositions.

Balance Balance ContrastContrast

EmphasisEmphasis Variety Variety

Unity/HarmonyUnity/Harmony ProportionProportion

RhythmRhythm MovementMovement

PatternPattern RepetitionRepetition