Elements and Principles of Design

Elements:

Principles:

Line

Balance

Shape

Emphasis & Focal Point

Form

Contrast

Color

Movement

Value

Variety

Texture

Pattern & Repetition

Space

Unity
Harmony/Gestalt

Line
A line is defined as a mark with length and direction, created by a
point that moves across a surface. A line can vary in length,
width, direction, curvature, and color.
Contour, Diagonal, Broken, Curved, Outline, Implied, Vertical, zigzag,
Horizontal, Wavy, Slanted, Continuous, Solid, Narrow, Bold

Jasper Johns, 0-9 (continuous line)

Gesture drawing

line

Jackson Pollock, Autumn Rhythm

LINE

AndyGoldsworthy

KeithHaring

Shape
Shape is an enclosed space defined by other
elements of art. Shape is 2-Dimensional
Shape can be:
Geometric: Angular, man-made concept
Organic: curvilinear - found in nature

Fernana Leger, The City

Matisse, from the series Jazz

Picasso,ThreeMusicians

FORM
3DimensionalShape.Volume

MCEscher,SelfPortrait

Vincent Van Gogh, Shoes

Tamara de Lempicka
Portrait of Ira P. 1925

Value
An element of art that refers to luminance or luminosity
the lightness or darkness of a color.
Value is an especially important element in works of art
when color is absent. This is particularly likely with
drawings, printmaking, and photographs

Kathe Kollwitz,
Self portrait

Value

Chuck Close
(made w/ thumbprints!)

Edward Weston,
Pepper
(photograph)

Texture
Texture refers to the surface quality or "feel" of an object, such
as roughness, smoothness, or softness. Actual texture can be
felt while simulated textures are implied by the way the artist
renders the surface area

Oppenheim
Fur-lined cup

Texture
Actual

and

Implied

Albrecht Durer
Rhinocerus

Golsdworthy

Color

Is an element of art with three properties

1) Hue, the name of the color, e.g. red, yellow, etc. 2)
Intensity orthe purity and strength of the color 3)
Value, or the lightness or darkness of the color

Jasper Johns,
Target
(primary colors)
Delauney

PrimaryColors

PietMondrian

WassilyKandinsky

WarmColors
Colorsthatareoftendescribedasbeing
higherintemperature
Reds,oranges,yellows
Associatedwithfireandsun
Optically,appeartoadvance
Stimulatingandpassionate

Ex.Warm

Cool
Colorsthatareoftendescribedasbeing
lowerintemperature
Greens,Blues,andViolet
Associatedwithwater,sky,andspring
Optically,theyappeartorecede
Calminganddepressing

Ex.Cool

Color and Mood

Van Gogh, the Night Cafe

Picasso, the Old Guitarist

Space
Space is the empty or open area between, around, above,
below, or within objects. Shapes and forms are made by the
space around and within them. Space is often called threedimensional or two- dimensional.

MC Escher

Space
Positive space is filled by a shape or form. Negative
space surrounds a shape or form.

Space/Depth
May be created by overlapping, change in scale,
perspective placement, color theory, or projection toward the
viewer.

David Hockney
Place Furstenberg, Paris, August 7,8,9, 1985 -#11985

Balance
Balance is a sense of stability in the body of work.
Balance can be symmetrical (formal) or assymmetrical (informal)

Wayne Thiebaud, Around the Cake (formal balance)

Symmetrical/Formal Balance

DianeArbus,Twins

SymmetricalBalance

LeonardodaVinci,TheLastSupper14951498

Asymmetrical Balance

Edgar Degas (informal balance)

Asymmetrical Balance

Variety
When elements are changed in scale, color, or form.

Stuart Davis

Andy Warhol

Movement
Movement adds excitement to your work by showing action and
directing the viewers eye throughout the picture plane.

Edward Munch, the Scream

Movement

Umberto Boccioni,
Unique forms of continuity in space

Marcel Duchamp, Nude Descending Staircase

Dominance & Subordination

The part of a composition that is emphasized, has the
greatest visual weight, the most important, powerful, or
has the most influence.

Emphasis & Focal Point

Emphasis - Any forcefulness that gives importance to some feature or
features of an artwork; something singled out, stressed, or drawn
attention to by means of contrast, anomaly, or counterpoint
Focal Point = portion of an artwork's composition on which interest or
attention centers

David Hockney

Emphasis & Focal Point

Barbara Kruger

Rene Magritte

Pattern & Repetition

Involves multiples of the same element. Repeated elements can vary in
size, color, or axis placement. Repeated elements can create a pattern.
The use of repetition may be applied to all Visual Elements. Motion can
be created by repetition.

William Morris
Arts and Crafts Movement

Pattern & Repetition

Chuck Close, Self Portrait, detail

Contrast
A large difference between two things,
such as light and shadow, color and black/white

Andy Warhol

Contrast

David, the Death of Marat

Economy

Unity & Harmony

The quality of wholeness or oneness (Gestalt) that is achieved through
the effective use of the elements and principles of design.

Claude Monet
Haystacks

Unity

Cezanne
Wayne Theibaud

Unity

Van Gogh Starry Night

WhatElementsandPrinciplesstandout?

WhatElementsandPrinciplesstandout?

Goya,The5thofMay

WhatElementsandPrinciplesstandout?

Gauguin

WhatElementsandPrinciplesstandout?