The document outlines the fundamental concepts of art elements and design principles, highlighting key components such as line, shape, space, value, form, texture, color, harmony, balance, proportion, emphasis, movement, rhythm, and unity. Each concept is defined and explained in terms of visual language applicable for planning, creating, and critiquing artwork. Additionally, it provides various resources for further exploration of these design principles and elements.

1. Art Elements
and
Design
Principles

2. These are two major concepts in
Basic Design:
Art Elements
• The Building Blocks
&
Design Principles
• The Structural Rules

3. These are what you will learn about

4. LINE
• A moving point.
• Defines an edge.
• Is straight and/or
curved.
• Can vary in
thickness.
a

5. So far we covered:

6. SHAPE
• Enclosed by a line.
• Occupies a space.
• Is two dimensional.
• Can be empty or
filled.

7. So far we covered:

8. SPACE
• Bound or
boundless.
• Positive or
negative.
• Exists: above,
below, around, or
inside an object.

9. So far we covered:

10. VALUE
• Measurement of
light.
• Black, white, and
gray.
• Lights and shadows.
• Volumetric.
highlight
light
shado
w
core of
shadow
reflected
light
cast
shadow

11. So far we covered:

12. FORM
• Three
dimensional.
• Contains a space.

13. So far we covered:

14. TEXTURE
• “Feel” of the surface.
• Smooth or rough.
• Plain or busy.

15. So far we covered:

16. COLOR
• Spectrum of light.
• Hues and tones.
• Warm, cool, neutral.
• Primary, secondary,
tertiary.
• Contrasting and
analogous.

17. So far we covered:

18. HARMONY
• Repeats similar
colors and
shapes
throughout.
• Uncomplicated,
yet rich.
• Easy on the eye.

19. So far we covered:

20. Balance
• Equal visual weight.
• Nothing overly
dominates.
• Symmetrical,
asymmetrical,
radial.

21. So far we covered:

22. PROPORTION
• Relationship of parts
to one another and
the whole.
• Ratio of: size,
distance, and
amounts.

23. So far we covered:

24. EMPHASIS
• Brings out
particular objects
or areas.
• Achieved through:
size, position, and
contrast.

25. So far we covered:

26. MOVEMENT
• Directs the eye
around.
• Shows action.

27. So far we covered:

28. RHYTHM
• Pattern
• Repetition of
motifs.
• Regular,
alternating,
random.

29. So far we covered:

30. UNITY
• Completeness,
Gestalt.
• Different pieces
working
together.
• The whole is
greater than
the sum of its
parts.

31. So far we covered:

32. Lets Review What We Covered
• Basic design can be broken down into
art elements and design principles.
• The art elements are the building blocks and
the design principals are the rules and
guidelines.
• These elements and principles make up a
visual language that can be used to: plan,
create, and critique a piece of artwork.

33. INFORMATION RESOURCES
Principles of design:
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_elements_and_
principles
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principles_of_art
• http://www.artsconnected.org/toolkit/encyc_balan
cesymmetry.html
Elements of art:
• http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l9kduyOxOd1q
e2odko1_400.jpg
• http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building
_lessons/formal_analysis.html
• http://www.goshen.edu/art/ed/Compose.htm

34. IMAGE RESOURSES
• Art Deco Title Border http://www.clipartof.com/interior_wall_decor/details/Retro-Black-And-White-Art-Deco-Styled-Border-3-
Poster-Art-Print-209596
• Elements and Principles Symbols http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l9kduyOxOd1qe2odko1_400.jpg
• “Woman” line drawing, Wayne Roberts, www.wroberts.com.au/html/drawings.html
• Hand with Paint Brush http://www.123rf.com/photo_10843144_female-hand-holding-paint-brush-isolated-over-white-
background.html
• Heart Symbol http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_(symbol)
• “Negative Space Pillow,” Mathilde Roussel-Giraudy, http://www.cmybacon.com/2010/09/negative-space-pillow/
• Value Faces http://www.gomediazine.com/tutorials/beautiful-vector-illustration/
• Value Sphere http://jwaltonart.wordpress.com/drawing-one/drawing-slideshows/
• White Vase Forms http://www.decorpad.com/relatedBookmarks.htm?bookmarkId=1532
• Texture http://mayang.com/textures/Architectural/html/Paint%20Effects/index.html
• Color Prism http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2011/05/the_fun_of_going_faster-than-l.php
• Harmony, “Mont Sainte Victoire,” Cezanne http://www.writedesignonline.com/resources/design/rules/balance.html
• Balance, “Queen of the Night” Erte http://artdecoblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/erte.html
• Balance, “Symmetrical, Asymmetrical, Raidal” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principles_of_art
• Proportion, “Accurate Proportion” http://blogs.msdn.com/b/socaldevgal/archive/2007/06/24/accurate-proportion.aspx
• Proportion, “Golden Spiral” http://layersmagazine.com/the-divine-proportion.html
• Emphasis, “dots” http://csulaart156.wordpress.com/category/principles-of-design/
• Empasis, “Campbell's Soup “ Warholl http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Warhol
• Emphasis, “Birds” Esher http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/m-c-escher/birds
• Movement, “The Green Dancers” Degas, http://www.theartgallery.com.au/ArtEducation/greatartists/Degas/GreenDancers/
• Rhythm, “Regular, Random, Alternating http://www.designamour.com/2009/01/09/i-never-met-a-tile-pattern-i-didnt-like/
• Unity, “The Arnolfini Marriage” Jan van Eyck http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/eyck_jan_van.html

35. FINIS
The materials for this presentation and associated resources have been prepared for
educational purposes based on independent and public resources and are not to be
reproduced without written permission.
© 2012 Julia M. Damon