The Principles of Design The principles of art are used to control and order the elements of art and create organization in the art form. The unification of these elements and principles produces a successful design.

Balance Refers to a way of combining elements to establish a feeling of equilibrium and stability to the work of art.

Formal Balance Symmetrical, based on imaginary central vertical line in which each half of the design is a mirror image of the other, therefore the 2 halves are identical

Vincent van Gogh Vincent van Gogh

Leonardo Da Vinci. The Last Supper.

Asymmetrical, based on an imaginary central vertical line in which one side of the design is weighted the same visually – or – different qualities (hue, value, intensity, shape and size) are combined to achieve an equality of apparent weights Informal Balance

Mary Cassat. The Tea.

Still-Life Vase with Fourteen Sunflowers

Café Terrace at Arles at Night

Radial Balance Design radiating from a central axis, like the sun rays from the sun TIP: Hold up your artwork/image to a mirror, usually problems with balance will present themselves upon seeing the reflected image

Emphasis Also known as Contrast or Dominance. This is a way of combing elements to stress the differences between those elements Contrasting elements is often used to direct and focus the viewer’s attention to the most important parts of design Allows the eye to focus on important parts of the design, the centre of interest

Henri Matisse

Picasso

Proportion concerned with the relationship of certain elements to the whole and to each other The elements of design determine proportions, which can differ depending on the desired effect of the artist (exaggerated for animation, realistic for still-life)

Pablo Picasso

Picasso's Guernica

Rhythm created by the careful placement of repeated elements in a work of art to cause a visual tempo or beat created by the careful placement of repeated elements in a work of art to cause a visual tempo or beat repeated elements that invite the viewer’s eye to jump rapidly or glide smoothly from one to the next, like a pattern repeated elements that invite the viewer’s eye to jump rapidly or glide smoothly from one to the next, like a pattern the movement of the eye can be rapid or smooth the movement of the eye can be rapid or smooth

Bridget Riley

Variety A way of combining elements in complicated or involved ways to create intricate and complex relationships, or changes A way of combining elements in complicated or involved ways to create intricate and complex relationships, or changes increases visual interest of the unified whole increases visual interest of the unified whole a visual surprise that excites our interest and holds our attention, achieves individualism and interest and attracts attention a visual surprise that excites our interest and holds our attention, achieves individualism and interest and attracts attention

Max Weber. Chinese Restaurant.

Jean- Auguste- Dominique Ingres Princesse de Broglie

Pablo Picasso. Girl Before Mirror

Repetition Repeating an element (or elements), to create an interesting image or variation. Often repetition creates a pattern. Repeating an element (or elements), to create an interesting image or variation. Often repetition creates a pattern.

Gradation A way of combining elements by using a series of gradual changes in those elements. This is unlike emphasis (abrupt changes), gradation refers to an ordered, step-by-step change that is slow and gradual

Antonio M. Ruiz. School Children on Parade.

Salvador Dali. Gad.

Harmony A way of blending elements to creates a calm, restful appearance

Royo Royo

Liubov Popova

Movement used to create the look and feeling of action and guide the viewer’s eye throughout the work of art used to create the look and feeling of action and guide the viewer’s eye throughout the work of art The placement of elements allows the eye to follow a certain path, perhaps towards a focal point, through curves, contours of shape, repetition of certain colours, textures or shapes The placement of elements allows the eye to follow a certain path, perhaps towards a focal point, through curves, contours of shape, repetition of certain colours, textures or shapes directs our attention to a particular object or figure directs our attention to a particular object or figure creates a certain mood or feeling creates a certain mood or feeling

Starry Night

Marcel Duchamp Nude Descending a Staircase

Salvador Dali Winged Demon

Types of Movement  vertical: up and down movement will produce a feeling of stability, balance, lack of action lines (tall buildings, telephone poles)  horizontal: side to side, can show quiet, rest and calm (land and seascapes)  diagonal: will provide a feeling of uneasiness, imbalance, action (a running figure)  shape: the edges of a shape leads the eye around  colour: warm colours advance, cool colours recede, bright colours seem closer to us than faded or muted colours

Henry Moore

Other ways to create Movement  overlap objects to produce movement from one to the other  align the edges or contours to create a feeling of continuous movement along its edges  create a path between objects in which movement seems to flow  emphasize or exaggerate certain lines or colours to draw attention to the pattern of movement.  place the horizon line higher up on the picture plane to emphasize movement to the centre of interest.  tilt the picture plane to give a sense of action  use lines of perspective to draw your eyes further into the picture plane

Unity All elements of design work harmoniously. The total effect of the art quality or wholeness is achieved through the effective use of the principles and elements of art.

Max Weber

Henri Matisse

The Mona Lisa

Chuck Close

Christo. Wrapped Reichstag.

The Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson used the earth itself to create sculptural landscapes called earthworks

Andy Warhol

REMEMBER: The Principles of Design The principles of art are used to control and order the elements of art and create organization in the art form. The unification of these elements and principles produces a successful design.