1. Elements and Principles of Design
Elements:
Line
Shape
Form
Color
Value
Texture
Space
Principles:
Balance
Emphasis & Focal Point
Contrast
Movement
Variety
Pattern & Repetition
Unity
Harmony/Gestalt
2. Line
A 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
6. Shape
Shape is an enclosed space defined by other elements
of art. Shape is 2-Dimensional
Shape can be:
Geometric: Angular, man-made concept
Organic: curvilinear - found in nature
Fernana Leger, The City Matisse, from the series “Jazz”
11. 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
13. Texture
Texture 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
Oppenheim
Fur-lined cup
15. Color
Is an element of art with three properties
1) 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)
18. 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
20. 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
23. Space
Space 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
24. Space
Positive space is filled by a shape or form. Negative space
surrounds a shape or form.
25. Space/Depth
May be created by overlapping, change in scale,
perspective placement, color theory, or projection toward the
viewer.
David Hockney
Place Furstenberg, Paris, August 7,8,9, 1985 -#11985
26. Balance
Balance 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)
32. Movement
Movement adds excitement to your work by showing action and directing the
viewers eye throughout the picture plane.
Edward Munch, the Scream
34. Dominance & Subordination
The part of a composition that is emphasized, has the
greatest visual weight, the most important, powerful, or
has the most influence.
35. Emphasis & Focal Point
Emphasis - 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
37. Pattern & Repetition
Involves 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 Morris
Arts and Crafts Movement
43. Unity & Harmony
The quality of wholeness or oneness (Gestalt) that is achieved through the
effective use of the elements and principles of design.
Claude Monet
Haystacks
