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WHAT ARE THE ELEMENT S AND

PRINCIPLES OF ART?
The elements of art and principles of design are the fundamental pieces that
make up an artwork. Most works of art will make use of many or all of the
elements and principles of art. We often judge art by how effectively the artist
used these design fundamentals even before we learn about them.

The elements of art are the building blocks of an artwork: color, line, shape,
form, value, texture, and space. They are the tools artists use when creating an
artwork. See Elements of Art Examples and Definitions for more on the elements
of art.
The principles of design are how those building blocks are
arranged: contrast, rhythm, proportion, balance, unity, emphasis,
movement, and variety. They are the ways an artist can organize the elements of
art to create a wide range of effects.

Each of these art fundamentals are closely related and many of them overlap.
When combined, they produce a complete artistic vision.

WHY ARE THE ELEMENTS AND


PRINCIPLES OF ART IM PORTANT?
Knowing the elements and principles of art boosts visual literacy. Artists and
creators make more powerful works when they utilize the principles of art. When
viewers are familiar with the elements of art, they become more aware of the
details and can better appreciate what they see and the message behind
it. Connecting with art makes us more empathetic and strengthens the fabric of
society. In the age of the internet, understanding how and why advertisers make
design decisions can empower students with information and make them less
susceptible to manipulation.

TEACHING THE ELEMENT S OF ART


AND PRINCIPLES OF DE SIGN
I once said that I hate the elements and principles of art, but that’s not quite
accurate. The elements and principles of art are a lens through which to view
and understand art, but they are not what makes art education vital. Art inspires
higher level thinking, focus, a growth mindset, visual literacy, curiosity, respect,
and connection. The elements and principles of design are an artist’s toolbox.
Knowing the tools not only improves students’ studio art skills and gives them
deeper appreciation when viewing artworks, it helps make them better, more
informed citizens and prepares them for a visually complex and culturally
interconnected modern world in need of creative problem solvers.

Below you’ll find an explanation of each of the principles of design, including


artwork examples and links to helpful materials for teaching the individual
concepts.

Please note, this post includes Amazon affiliate links. Purchases made through
these links help support Art Class Curator at no additional cost to you.

D O W N L O AD T H E F R E E E L E M E N T S AN D
P R I N C I P L E S P R I N T AB L E P AC K
This pack of printables was designed to work in a variety of ways in your
classroom when teaching the elements and principles of art. You can print and
hang in your classroom as posters/anchor charts or you can cut each element
and principle of art in its own individual card to use as a lesson manipulative.

Click here to download the Elements and Principles Printable Pack.


GET YOUR FREE DOWNLOAD
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN EXAMPLES
AND DEFINITIONS
Scroll below for each element or click the link to be taken to the appropriate
principle of design:

 Contrast
 Rhythm
 Proportion
 Balance
 Unity
 Emphasis
 Movement
 Variety

C O N T R AS T
As a principle of art, contrast refers to the arrangement of opposite elements and
effects. For example, light and dark colors, smooth and rough textures, large and
small shapes. Contrast can be used to create variety, visual interest, and drama
in an artwork.

In this example of contrast in art, Caravaggio created a scene of action and


energy by contrasting both light/dark and directional lines.
Caravaggio, Crucifixion of St. Peter, 1601

Käthe Kollwitz adds contrast using the elements of art line, value, and shape, but
she also adds contrast of emotion showing the despair of the mother in dark
values and lighter sweeter elements like the heart on the chair in the
background.
Käthe Kollwitz, Misery, 1897

CONTRAST IN ART RESO URCES


 The Paper Mill Store: Design Principles, Contrast
 Jon Lovett: Contrast, Principles of Design
 Edvard Munch Art Lesson with Project

 Judith and Holofernes Paintings: A Compare and Contrast Art Lesson

RHYTHM
Rhythm is a principle of design that suggests movement or action. Rhythm is
usually achieved through repetition of lines, shapes, colors, and more. It creates
a visual tempo in artworks and provides a path for the viewer’s eye to follow.

In this rhythm example, the artist uses pattern, repetition of line, and contrast
between curved and straight lines to create rhythm in art.
Tughra (Official Signature) of Sultan Süleiman the Magnificent (r. 1520 –66)

In this example of of rhythm in art, Mondrian repeats shape, color, and line to
bounce the viewer’s eye around the artwork.
Piet Mondrian, Broadway Boogie-Woogie, 1942-43

In this fun rhythm in art examples video, the differences between pattern,
repetition, and rhythm are described and put to music.

RHYTHM IN ART RESOUR CES


 Art Soup Video: Principles of Design: Rhythm
 Horse in Motion & The First Moving Pictures
 Early Photography Inspired Flipbook Project

PROPORTION
Proportion is the size relationship between the various parts of an artwork.
Artists can use the scale and proportion to create sensations such as depth,
realism, disorientation, and drama.
The human figure is scaled to appear larger than the city skyline. The
proportions could indicate depth of perspective or could symbolize the
relationship of laborers in building a city.

In this example of proportion in art, the artist manipulates the individual


proportions of the child as well as create varying size relationship (scale)
between the objects in the painting and the child to create meaning in the
artwork.
María Izquierdo, The Indifferent Child, 1947

In this proportion in art example, the artist make the hands out of proportion with
the rest of their bodies to enhance the meaning of the artwork. These men work
with their hands, and their hands are needed for the .

Looking for more examples of proportion in art? Check out The Ultimate List of
Proportion and Scale in Art Examples post!

SCALE
Scale in art describes the size of one object in relation to another and also refers
to our perception of perspective and proportion. Artworks that look realistic are
scaled similarly to real world objects. Scale in art can also refer to the overall
size of the work.

In this scale in art example, the artist uses scale to show the space or depth
between the girl and the house in the background.

Andrew Wyeth, Christina’s World, 1948


In this example of scale in art, Magritte plays with scale to create an amusing
composition.

René Magritte, Les valeurs personnelles (Personal Values), 1952

HIERARCHICAL SCALE
Hierarchical scale is a technique used in art, most often in sculpture and
painting, in which the artist depicts objects with an unnatural scale to show their
importance or lack thereof. This size manipulation draws the viewer’s eye where
the artist wants attention.

Ancient Egyptian artists are well-known for their use of hierarchical scale. In this
example of hierarchical scale in art, the artist shows the man as largest (most
important) and the child smallest (least important). The figures are in proportion
within the figure but out of proportion with the other figures in the picture.
Egyptian, Nebamun hunting in the marshes, fragment of a scene from the tomb-chapel of Nebamun, Late 18th
Dynasty, around 1350 B

For more examples of scale in art, check out our proportion and scale in art blog
post!

PROPORTION IN ART RE SOURCES


 The Ultimate Collection of Proportion in Art
 How Artists Depict Space
 Art Around the World in 30 Days – Day #24 – Columbia’s Fernando Botero
 Sophia.org: Design in Art: Scale and Proportion

B AL AN C E
As a principle of art, balance refers to the distribution of weight in a composition.
While actual weight is a factor in sculpture and architecture, the principle of
balance most often refers to the visual heaviness of shapes and forms in an
artwork. An artwork’s balance affects the equality and tension of the composition
and can lend a feeling of calm or chaos to the work.

SYMMETRICAL BAL ANCE


An artwork with symmetrical balance is well-balanced and looks even and stable.
When one side of an artwork mirrors the other, it has absolute symmetry. When
the symmetrical balance is not exact, it is called bilateral symmetry.

In this example of symmetrical balance in art, each animal on the left has its
equal counterpart on the right. The colors are not exact, but it is still considered
symmetrical balance.
American, Cutout of Animals, second quarter 19th century

ASYMMETRICAL BAL ANCE


An artwork with asymmetrical balance is “heavier” or “lighter” in some areas,
looks unstable, and can make the viewer uncomfortable. Asymmetric balance
adds a dynamic look to artworks and often draws attention to focal points in the
composition.

In this example of asymmetrical balance in art, the artist balances the heavy
black figure on the right with the curtain on the left. If the curtain were a different
size or a different color, the balance would be thrown off.
James Abbott McNeill Whistler, Arrangement in Grey and Black No.1, 1871

RADI AL BAL ANCE


An artwork with radial balance is arranged around a central component. Forms
and objects in a radially balanced composition appear to radiate out of the
circular focal point of the artwork.

With radial balance, like in the example of radial balance below, one can imagine
the artwork as equal pieces of a pie.
England, Charger of Charles II in the Boscobel Oak, c. 1685

Looking for more examples of balance in art? Check out The Best Examples of
Balance in Art post!

BAL ANCE IN ART RESOU RCES


 The Ultimate Collection of Balance in Art
 Smashing Magazine: Design Principles: Compositional, Symmetrical, and
Asymmetrical Balance
 Lifewire: Balance: The Basic Principles of Design

UNITY
Unity, also known as harmony, is a design principle that refers to the
cohesiveness of an artwork—how whole, consistent, and complete it appears.
Unity in art is not necessarily just a repetition of the same element over and over
again, but it is the pleasing combination of elements to create a harmonious
composition.

In this example of unity in art, Botero creates unity through subject matter,
through rhythm, and through repetition of form, shape, and color.
Fernando Botero, The Musicians, 1991
In unity blog post, you will find more examples of unity in art created with
shape/form, color, texture, line, style, and in architecture.

UNITY IN ART RESOURC ES


 Examples of Unity in Art
 Natomas High School Design Department
 Virtual Art Instructor: Teach harmony and unity with a game

E M P H AS I S
As a principle of art, emphasis refers to the area of an artwork that dominates
attention or draws interest. It is often the place a viewer looks first. Artists create
emphasis by contrasting the elements of art, such as color or shape.

In this example of emphasis in art, Goya highlights the man in white through
putting him in a spotlight, having the man wear bright clothes, having many lines
throughout the composition pointing to the man, and having his emotional face
be one of the only faces shown.
Francisco Goya, The Third of May 1808, 1814

Looking for more examples of emphasis in art? Check out The Best Examples of
Emphasis in Art post!

EMPHASIS IN ART RESOURCES


 The Ultimate Collection of Emphasis in Art
 Sophia.org: Design in Art: Emphasis, Variety, and Unity

MOVEMENT
Movement can be thought of in two ways – the first refers to how an artist
depicts movement using the elements and principles of art. The second way
refers to the visual flow of an artwork, indicated by the path a viewer’s eyes take
as they look at the artwork.

Lines, edges, shapes, and colors can be utilized by the artist to point the way
through an artwork as a map for our eyes to follow.

In this example of movement in art, the artist shows the movement of the wind
through the shapes of the paper. The lines of the figures and the lines of the
billowing clothing convey movement in art as well.
Hokusai, Ejiri in Suruga Province, 1830

MOVEMENT IN ART RESO URCES


 Classic Graphic Design Theory: Principles of Design: Movement
 Art, Design, and Visual Thinking: Movement
 Art About Love: Oskar Kokoschka’s The Bride of the Wind
 Fate of the Animals by Franz Marc

V AR I E T Y
Variety refers to the elements of a composition that differ from one another.
Variety creates visual interest and energy.

A lot of variety can make an artwork look busy or overwhelming. When paired
with unity, variety offers the viewer points of interest.
In this example of variety in art, Kandinsky uses a variety of lines, shapes,
values, and colors.
https://artclasscurator.com/principles-of-design-examples/

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