ART DESIGN AND STYLE TERMS 1

COMPOSITION The plan, placement, or arrangement of the elements in an art work.

BALANCE The way the elements of art are arranged to create a feeling of stability in a work; a pleasing or harmonious arrangement or proportion of parts or areas in a design or composition. Balance is the equalization of elements in a work of art. Balance in design is similar to balance in physics. 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)

CONTRAST A large difference between two things; for example, hot and cold, green and red, light and shadow. A way of putting elements of art next to each other to stress the differences between them. Used in this way, contrast can excite, emphasize and direct attention to points of interest.

COMPLEMENTARY COLORS Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel are considered to be complementary colors (example: red and green). The high contrast of complementary colors creates a vibrant look especially when used at full saturation. This color scheme must be managed well so it is not jarring. Complementary colors are tricky to use in large doses, but work well when you want something to stand out.

SATURATION A color's purity of hue; its intensity. A brilliant color is strongly saturated. A deep color is also highly saturated, but has little lightness. A pale color is little saturated and has great lightness. High saturation low saturation

HARMONY Agreement; a way of combining elements of art to accent their similarities and bind the picture parts into a whole. It is often achieved through the use of repetition and simplicity.

NEGATIVE SPACE Empty space in an artwork, a void. This is sometimes a bad thing, though other times negative space is used creatively to express something.

JUXTAPOSITION being placed close together or side by side, so as to permit comparison or contrast.

SILHOUETTE An outline filled with a solid color, typically black on a white ground.

TEXTURE An element of art, texture is the surface quality or "feel" of an object, its smoothness, roughness, softness, etc.

VIGNETTE an unbordered picture, often a portrait the edges of which fade off or blur into the color of its surrounding area.