Transcript The Principles of Design

The Principles of Design
The principles of art are used to
control and order the elements of art
and create organization in the art form.
The unification of these elements and
principles produces a successful
design.
Balance
Refers to a way of combining
elements to establish a feeling of
equilibrium and stability to the work
of art.
Formal Balance
Symmetrical, based on imaginary central
vertical line in which each half of the design is
a mirror image of the other, therefore the 2
halves are identical
Vincent van Gogh
Leonardo Da Vinci. The Last Supper.
Informal Balance
Asymmetrical, based on an imaginary
central vertical line in which one side of
the design is weighted the same visually –
or – different qualities (hue, value,
intensity, shape and size) are combined to
achieve an equality of apparent weights
Mary Cassat. The Tea.
Still-Life Vase with Fourteen
Sunflowers
Café
Terrace at
Arles at
Night
Radial Balance
Design radiating from a central axis, like
the sun rays from the sun
TIP: Hold up your artwork/image to a
mirror, usually problems with balance will
present themselves upon seeing the
reflected image
Emphasis
Also known as Contrast or Dominance.
This is a way of combing elements to stress
the differences between those elements
Contrasting elements is often used to direct
and focus the viewer’s attention to the most
important parts of design
Allows the eye to focus on important parts of
the design, the centre of interest
Henri Matisse
Picasso
Proportion
concerned with the relationship of certain
elements to the whole and to each other
The elements of design determine
proportions, which can differ depending on
the desired effect of the artist (exaggerated
for animation, realistic for still-life)
Pablo
Picasso
Picasso's Guernica
Rhythm
• created by the careful placement of
repeated elements in a work of art to
cause a visual tempo or beat
• repeated elements that invite the
viewer’s eye to jump rapidly or glide
smoothly from one to the next, like a
pattern
• the movement of the eye can be rapid or
smooth
Bridget Riley
Variety
• A way of combining elements in complicated
or involved ways to create intricate and
complex relationships, or changes
• increases visual interest of the unified whole
• a visual surprise that excites our interest and
holds our attention, achieves individualism
and interest and attracts attention
Max Weber. Chinese Restaurant.
JeanAugusteDominique
Ingres
Princesse de
Broglie
Pablo
Picasso.
Girl Before
Mirror
Repetition
Repeating an element (or elements), to
create an interesting image or variation.
Often repetition creates a pattern.
Gradation
A way of combining elements by
using a series of gradual
changes in those elements.
This is unlike emphasis (abrupt
changes), gradation refers to an
ordered, step-by-step change
that is slow and gradual
Antonio M. Ruiz.
School Children on Parade.
Salvador Dali. Gad.
Harmony
A way of blending
elements to creates a calm,
restful appearance
Royo
Liubov
Popova
Movement
• used to create the look and feeling of action
and guide the viewer’s eye throughout the
work of art
• The placement of elements allows the eye to
follow a certain path, perhaps towards a
focal point, through curves, contours of
shape, repetition of certain colours, textures
or shapes
• directs our attention to a particular object or
figure
• creates a certain mood or feeling
Starry Night
Marcel
Duchamp
Nude
Descending
a Staircase
Salvador
Dali
Winged Demon
Types of Movement
vertical: up and down movement will produce a feeling
of stability, balance, lack of action lines (tall buildings,
telephone poles)
horizontal: side to side, can show quiet, rest and calm
(land and seascapes)
diagonal: will provide a feeling of uneasiness,
imbalance, action (a running figure)
shape: the edges of a shape leads the eye around
colour: warm colours advance, cool colours recede,
bright colours seem closer to us than faded or muted
colours
Henry Moore
Other ways to create
Movement
 overlap objects to produce movement from one to
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the other
align the edges or contours to create a feeling of
continuous movement along its edges
create a path between objects in which movement
seems to flow
emphasize or exaggerate certain lines or colours to
draw attention to the pattern of movement.
place the horizon line higher up on the picture plane
to emphasize movement to the centre of interest.
tilt the picture plane to give a sense of action
use lines of perspective to draw your eyes further
into the picture plane
Unity
All elements of design work
harmoniously. The total effect
of the art quality or wholeness is
achieved through the effective
use of the principles and
elements of art.
Max Weber
Henri Matisse
The
Mona
Lisa
Chuck
Close
Christo. Wrapped Reichstag.
The Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson used
the earth itself to create sculptural landscapes
called earthworks
Andy Warhol
REMEMBER:
The Principles of Design
The principles of art are used to
control and order the elements of art
and create organization in the art form.
The unification of these elements and
principles produces a successful
design.