ARTS 1303, Principles and Elements of Design Overview of Chapters 4-8

Basic Terms for understanding art 1) Form = the overall structure of the work 2) Subject matter = what is literally depicted 3) Content = What it means 4) Composition = how elements are organized Principles and Elements of Design – the building blocks to create a work of art Elements Principles a) Line a) Balance b) Space b) Emphasis and Focal Point c) Light and Color c) Scale and Proportion d) Texture d) Repetition and Rhythm e) Pattern e) Unity and Variety f) Time and Motion

Line – a point in space that indicates the edge of a 2Dimensional or 3Dimensional form. Outline line – 2D form Contour line- 3D form (volume) Implied Line – creates a sense of directional movement, by pointing, glancing or movement of body through space Contour Line Outline Implied Line

Qualities of Line Expressive Line- free, loose and emotive Analytical Line – precise, controlled and mathematical vanGogh, The Starry Night, 1889 Mondrian, Composition, 1928

Space – inner space, outer space and virtual space Shape – two-dimensional and can be measured in width and height Three Dimensional – possesses height, width and depth (volume) Sultan, Lemon, May 16, 1984, 1984 Puryear, Self, 1978

Negative Space or Shape - empty space that surrounds, and shapes so that it acquires a sense of volume Hepworth, Two Figures, 1947-48 Feast-Making Spoon, 20th-Century

Linear Perspective – representing 3D space on 2D plane One Point Perspective – two lines that recede to a vanishing point Two Point Perspective – two sets of lines that recede

Light and Color – use and manipulation of each to create a sense of depth, representation, and emotion. Atmospheric Perspective (aerial perspective)- objects further away appear less distinct, often bluer in color and the contrast between light and dark is reduced

Chiaroscuro – light and dark, the balance of light and shade to create modeling Tenebroso – means murky. Not so much modeling as dark contrasting sharply with small pockets of light akin to stage lighting and dramatic. Value – Gray scale, shift from light to dark…tint, shade and tone

Subtractive color = mixing of pigments of all the colors equals black. Color – primary, secondary, additive and subtractive color, complimentary, anologous and arbitrary Primary Colors = Red, yellow, blue. Secondary Colors = mixing of the primaries give us orange, green, purple(violet) Additive color = mixing of light as seen on TV, or computer monitor, smart phone equaling white. Subtractive color = mixing of pigments of all the colors equals black.

Complimentary colors – opposite each other on the color wheel Analogous colors – sit next to each other and are neighbors on the color wheel Complimentary colors – opposite each other on the color wheel Bearden, She-ba, 1970

Arbitrary Color – no realistic or natural representation to the object that is depicted Symbolic Color – Color has meaning more than what one literally sees

Texture – surface quality of a work. Actual Texture – texture you can feel whether that be rough, smooth, bumpy, etc. Visual Texture – Appears to be actual but it is not. Frottage means to rub, Grattage means to scrape.

Pattern – Repetitive motif or design, lines, shape, color, texture, mass repeat

Time and Motion – Sense of Movement or multiple stories (narratives in “frozen” time

The Principles of Design…

DaVinci, Study of Human Proportion, The Vitruvian Man, 1492 Circle = symbol of heavenly world, mind the transcendental world Square = symbol of of the finite world, matter, the material world Symmetrical Balance – two sides of the composition correspond to one another in terms of size, shape and placement of forms. Absolute Balance – each side is exactly the same Bilateral symmetry – overall effect of the composition is one of absolute symmetry even though there are clear discrepancies from side to side…such as our bodies

ACTUAL Weight – physical weight in relation to the space around us VISUAL BALANCE – apparent “heaviness” and “lightness” of the shapes and forms in a composition Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance, 1664

ASYMMETRICAL Balance – two sides of the composition lacks symmetry, yet seem to possess the same visual weight. Hassam, Boston Common at Twilight, 1885-1886

RADIAL BALANCE – everything moves outward from a central point like spokes on a wheel Chartres Cathedral, Rose window, 1215

EMPHASIS draws the eye toward the FOCAL POINT, the area of visual attention De la Tour, Joseph the Carpenter, 1645 Kiefer, Parsifal I, 1973

Velazquez, Las Meninas, Maids of Honor, 1656 Where are or what is the Focal point(s)?

SCALE – comparative size of an object in relation to objects and settings (2 separate objects) PROPORTION- relationship between parts to each other and the whole (1 object) Suh, Public Figures, 1998-99 Oldenburg and van Bruggen, Spoonbridge and Cherry, 1988

REPETITION – implies monotony RHYTHM – repeated elements in a composition over and over again (line, color shape) UNITY – everything in composition works together and fits VARIETY- creating something different from the rest of the work Lawrence, Ironers, 1943 Lawrence, Barber Shop, 1946

Representational Abstract Nonrepresentational Representational – works of art portrayed objects in a recognizable form Abstact – the less a work resembles real things in the world Nonrepresentational – does not refer to natural objects at all Representational Abstract Nonrepresentational Ahearn & Torres, Pat, 1980s Mendieta, Silueta Works in Mexico Malevich, Suprematist 1973-77 Painting, Black Rectangle, Blue Triangle, 1915

Iconography = a system of visual images the meaning of which is widely understood by a given culture or cultural group