The document discusses several principles of design including balance, unity, contrast, gradation, harmony, dominance, proportion, positive and negative space, similarity, rhythm, closure, and continuance. Balance refers to using size and tone to counterbalance large and small, light and dark shapes. Unity involves relating design elements to the subject. Contrast uses opposing elements like color, tone, direction. Gradation creates perspective and movement.

1. Principles
of Design

2. Balance
A large shape close to
the center can be
balanced
by a small shape close
to the edge. A large
light
toned shape will be
balanced by a small
dark toned
shape (the darker the
shape the heavier it
appears to be)

3. Unity
• Relating the design elements
to the the idea being
expressed in a painting
reinforces the principal of
unity. eg. a painting or with an
active aggressive subject
would work better with a
dominant oblique direction,
course, rough texture, angular
lines etc. whereas a quiet
passive subject would benefit
from horizontal lines, soft
texture and less tonal contrast.
• Unity in a painting also refers
to the visual linking of various
elements of the work.

4. CONTRAST
• Contrast is the proximity of
opposing elements
• Examples:
• Opposite colors on the color
wheel
- red / green
-blue / orange
• contrast in tone or value
- light / dark.
• Contrast in direction
- horizontal / vertical.
The major contrast in a
painting should be located at
the center of interest.
• Too much contrast can destroy
unity and make a work difficult
to look at. Unless you are
trying to show chaos and
confusion

5. Gradation
Gradation of size and direction produce
linear perspective. Gradation of colour
from warm to cool and tone from dark to
light produce aerial perspective. Gradation
can add interest and movement to a
shape. A gradation from dark to light will
cause the eye to move along a shape.

6. HARMONY
Harmony in painting
is the visually
satisfying effect of
combining similar,
related elements.
eg.adjacent colors
on the color wheel,
similar shapes etc.

7. DOMINANCE
Dominance gives a
painting interest,
counteracting
confusion and
monotony.
Dominance can be
applied to one or
more of the elements
to give emphasis

8. Proportion
Proportion is the
relationship in scale
between one element and
another, or between a whole
object and one of its parts.
Differing proportions within
a composition can relate to
different kinds of balance or
symmetry, and can help
establish visual weight and
depth.

9. Positive and Negative Space
• Positive and negative
space refers to the
position of figure and
ground in a
composition. The
objects in the
environment
represent the positive
space, and the
environment itself is
the negative space

10. Similarity, Proximity and
Alignment
• Items of similar size, shape
and color tend to be grouped
together by the brain, and a
semantic relationship between
the items is formed. In
addition, items in close
proximity to or aligned with one
another tend to be grouped in
a similar way. In the example,
notice how much easier it is to
group and define the shape of
the objects in the upper left
than the lower right

11. Rhythm
• The repetition or alternation of
elements, often with defined
intervals between them.
• Can create a sense of
movement, and can establish
pattern and texture.
Different kinds of rhythm:
• Regular: A regular rhythm
occurs when the intervals
between the elements, and
often the elements
themselves, are similar in size
or length.
• Flowing: A flowing rhythm
gives a sense of movement,
and is often more organic in
nature.
• Progressive: A progressive
rhythm shows a sequence of
forms through a progression of
steps

12. Closure
• the idea that the brain
tends to fill in missing
information when it
perceives an object is
missing some of its
pieces. Objects can be
deconstructed into
groups of smaller parts,
and when some of these
parts are missing the
brain tends to add
information about an
object to achieve
closure.

13. Continuance idea
• Continuance is the
that once you begin
looking in one direction,
you will continue to do
so until something more
significant catches your
attention. Perspective, or
the use of dominant
directional lines, tends to
successfully direct the
viewers eye in a given
direction. In addition, the
eye direction of any
subjects in the design
itself can cause a similar
effect.