PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN -The arrangement of elements of art in a composition. Balance Rhythm Movement Variety Proportion Emphasis Unity Home

BALANCE (visual weight) Symmetrical Asymmetrical Radial Unbalanced Principles

Symmetrical Balance A feeling of balance attained when elements on either side of a vertical axis are very similar or mirror one another Back to Balance Back to Balance

Asymmetrical Balance A feeling of balance attained when the elements on either side of a vertical axis are different but of equal visual weight. Back to Balance Back to Balance Click to Enlarge

Asymmetrical Balance Back The bright highlighted area on the left is balanced by the bright highlighted area on the right. The dark figure against the bright yellow on the right balances the dark area on the left.

Back to Balance Back to Balance Radial Symmetry The parts of the design turn around a central point.

Unbalance in an work of art Back to Balance Back to Balance

Rhythm / Pattern Repetition of art elements with a visual tempo or beat Regular Alternating Progressive Principles

ReGuLaR RhYhHm Repeating the same element with same amount of space Back to Rhythm

A LTERNATING RHYTHM Back to Rhythm Rhythm

PROGRESSIVE RHYTHMPROGRESSIVE RHYTHM BackBack to Rhythm Back

Movement (The appearance of action in a work of art.) Implied Sympathetic Kinetic Visual Animation Principles

Sympathetic The viewer physically moves around the work of art Back to Movement Movement

Kinetic Back to Movement Movement

Visual Movement Using elements to direct the viewers eye throughout the composition Back to Movement Movement

Animation Wallace and Gromit Claymation Back to Movement Movement

Implied Movement: not visible but sensed Back to Movement Back to Movement

Variety (creating interest in a composition to offset unity through at least three variations of many elements.) Principles

Proportion / Scale Relationship of parts to the whole and to each other Use of proportion / scale Exaggerated Accurate Human Proportions Principles

Exaggerated Proportions Artists exaggerate scale purposely to illustrate a concept. Back

Accurate Proportions Back

Human Proportions Back

E mphasis Dominance, focal point, area of interest Principles

Unity (Harmony) Use of similar elements to create oneness or wholeness in a work of art. Principles In Keith Harings painting, Unity is shown through similar use of thick black line throughout the composition. The texture is consistent within each shape. The light cyan color throughout the entire background unifies the imagery.