Emphasis A Principle of Design

Emphasis Created with Contrast or Movement Created using Contrast in Color, Value, Texture, Lines, etc…

Where is the Emphasis? Think about color. Think about Shape. Think about Value.

Where EMPHASIS Should Be People naturally look for the center, so taking the eyes off the center creates more interest.

Where EMPHASIS Should Be The rule of thirds is a good rule, but it’s only a suggestion because it draws the eye away from the center. Some artist break this rule on purpose or don’t have an EMPHASIS at all.

Emphasis: using Colors Color Compliments. Ex. Red and Green…

Emphasis using Shape Organic and Geometric shapes. The only one of it’s kind will stand out.

Emphasis: color & Shape Contrasting: Color Temp. and Shape Types…

Emphasis in Your Abstract Portrait… Use Color Temperature and Contrasting Organic and Geometric…

Emphasis with Movement Movement is a Principle of Design. It is when the artist uses shapes, colors, lines to move your eyes form the edge to the focal point (emphasis).

Black, white, and Grays Create emphasis using Contrast in: Shape (org. & geo.), Line (weight, org. & geo., strait, wavy, curved…), Color (black next to white)

Sample from an artist:

Did he place it here?

…Or on the freaky-looking woman with a green face, orange hair,and red lips?

How did Toulouse-Lautrec create emphasis in this painting? What colors did he use? Did he use size? Where did he place his emphasis? What other principles did he use to create emphasis in this painting?

Emphasis in Weaving Medium? Where is the EMPHASIS in this weaving? How do you think EMPHASIS could be created in a weaving? Which elements would work best to you?

EMPHASIS in weaving? Perhaps here in the middle of this Navajo Chief’s Blanket?

EMPHASIS in weaving? What about this Navajo weaving? Where is the EMPHASIS? Still in the middle?

Cubism by Pablo Picasso

Cubism Cont…

Cubism Cont…Where is the EMPHASIS?