This document provides information about the elements and principles of art and design. It discusses the key elements, which are the basic building blocks that make up a piece of art, such as line, shape, space, value, color and texture. It then covers the principles of design, which are techniques for arranging the elements, like emphasis, balance, unity, contrast, movement and pattern. Students are assigned a project to present examples that demonstrate each element and principle using their own photographs.

1. Elements and Principles
of Art & Design!
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Unit 4 • Composition

2. Learning Goals
Today, I will…
• Have knowledge and understanding of the
elements of design and art
• Be able to communicate my understanding of the
elements of design and art using digital tools

3. The Elements & Principles
Elements
• The basic building blocks;
• The things inside, that
make up a piece of art
• Most art will contain all of
the elements
• (Think of as the ingredients)
Principles
• What we do with the
building blocks (elements)
• (Think of as your chef’s
technique and preparation
of a dish)

4. Role Reversal
• In pairs, you will be given one of the elements
to research and present to the class

5. Role Reversal
• In your presentation you should provide the
following:
• Your element
• A definition/description
• Minimum 5 examples, describing how each
photograph uses your element
• Final slide; links to sources

6. Elements of Art & Design!
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The ____________ of a composition.
• The basic building blocks; the ingredients

7. Line
• Directs the eye – horizontal, vertical,
diagonal, curvy, zig-zag, etc.
• Has greater length than width
• Can be a mark made by a moving
point
• Can be actual obvious lines or the
borders or edges of shapes

12. Shape/Form
• A contained area.
• Can be GEOMETRIC (man-made)
ex. Square, triangle, circle, etc.
• Can be ORGANIC (natural) ex.
Leaves, humans, puddles, etc.
• Used to create a sense of space
and substance.

13. Shape/Form
Shape
• Shapes are 2-Dimensional
and flat; created when a line is
enclosed
• Can be measured in width x
height
• For example, a circle
Form
• Form encloses volume;
3-Dimensional
• Can be measured in width
x height x depth
• For example, sphere

14. The basic arch
shape takes on form
when depth is
created with
different shadow
and highlight values.

15. The basic square
shape takes on form
when depth is
created with
different shadow
and highlight value
as well as the
camera’s
perspective helps
emphasize the form.

18. Space
• The area used or unused in a composition; can contribute to balance within a
composition
• Use of space can create dimension for the viewer; the area around, within, or
between objects/subjects in an image create perspective; positive and
negative space.
• Positive space – the area the objects/subject takes up.
• Negative space – the area around, under, through and between.
• Foreground (closest), Middle ground, and Background (farthest).
• Can be open, crowded, near, far, etc.
• When used effectively, it can define importance and lead the eye.

22. Value
• Black and White and all the Grays in between
• The darkness or lightness of a colour; adding
white to a colour makes it a tint; adding black
to a colour makes it a shade
• Can add drama and impact to composition

27. Color
• Colour can alter the overall mood/
feeling.
• Hue (refers to the name; i.e. red)
• Saturation (intensity or amount)
• Temperature (cool, warm; measured
in Kelvin)
• Related to value.

28. Color

33. Texture
• The appearance of how a surface feels
• Rough, smooth, bumpy, gooey, sharp, etc.
• Adds interest! Sense of sight and sense of
touch involved.

37. Learning Goals
Today, I will…
• Have knowledge and understanding of the
principles of design and art
• Be able to communicate my understanding of the
principles of design and art using digital tools

38. Principles of Art & Design!
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39. Principles of Art & Design:
What you do with/how you arrange the basic
building blocks (elements) to create artistic,
interesting, more visually powerful photographs.
Just like elements, photographs can utilize
multiple principles.

40. Principles!
What you do with the basic building blocks (elements)
• Emphasis
• Balance
• Unity / Harmony
• Contrast
• Movement / Rhythm
• Pattern / Repetition
• Scale / Proportion

41. Emphasis
• Creating a focal point;
• Emphasis in a composition refers to creating
points of interest to pull the viewer's eye to
important parts of the body of the work

42. Emphasis is created through
contrasting colour.

43. Even though all
elements share a green
hue, emphasis is
created due to the
difference in shape/
form.

45. Da egg is different, so….

46. Balance
• Balance is the impression of
stability or equality in a
composition.
• Balance is often referred to as
symmetrical, asymmetrical, or
radial.

47. Symmetrical
balance is created
through the
reflection of the
cliff in the water.
*Although, this does look heavily
Photoshopped ;)

48. Symmetrical balance is achieved as
the photograph has equal weight.

49. Asymmetrical balance
is created by using
space and
perspective.
The pole in the
foreground is
emphasized, however,
the right side of image
contains multiple poles
to help balance the
photograph.

51. Radial balance is
created with the majority
of the weight centred in
the image and repeated
elements circle away
from the centre point.

53. Unity / Harmony
• Unity is achieved when the components of a
work of art are perceived as harmonious,
giving the work a sense of completion
• How things are linked, similar, common -
when all the parts equal a whole.

56. Contrast
• Contrast refers to the opposites and differences in the
composition.
• You can achieve contrast by using different shapes,
textures, colors and values in your work.
• For example, something light against something dark,
rough against smooth textures, etc.

61. Movement/Rhythm
• Rhythm or movement refers to the
suggestion of motion through the use of
various elements.
• The way elements are arranged to lead the
eye to or from the focal area.

62. Rhythm and motion
are created through
the repeated
pattern of ripples in
the sand.

65. Pattern/Repetition
• An element that occurs over and over again
in a composition
• Can repeat the element in a consistent or
varying pattern

71. Scale / Proportion
• Scale/proportion refers to the relative size and scale of
the various elements in a design; the relationship
between objects, or parts, of a whole
• For example, a person compared to large building, or
different sized people in same photograph.

72. Hi.

73. Nope.

78. Elements and Principles
of Art & Design!
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Assignment
Due: Tuesday March 24, 2015

79. Task:
• Choose one of the following methods to present
your elements and principles of art & design:
1. Video slideshow (i.e. created with iMovie)
2. PowerPoint (or Prezi, Google Slides, etc.)
3. Word (similar to glossary)
Elements and Principles
of Art & Design • Assignment!
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80. Task:
• Present an example of each element and principle of art
& design using original photography.
• For each example, provide a detailed description of how
each photograph presents the element or principle
• A different original photograph must be used for each
element (no repeats!) – 13 total photos & descriptions.
Elements and Principles
of Art & Design • Assignment!
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81. What you will be marked on…
• Appropriate and accurate examples of each element & principle
• Creative and appropriate method of presentation (Slideshow,
PowerPoint, etc.)
• Accurate, detailed description and communication of how each
photograph presents the element or principle
• Composition (yes, this always matters)
• Exposure (same with this)
• Post-processing (use of Photoshop to correct and enhance)
Elements and Principles
of Art & Design • Assignment!
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82. Journal #5
March Break
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TAKE PHOTOS OF YOUR WEEK OFF SCHOOL!
Get out of the house and practice composition, exposure, digital
darkroom, and elements & principles of design & art.
Due: Friday March 20, 2015