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

2. 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

3. 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

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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

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

13. 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.

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

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

16. The Principles of Design…

17. 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

18. 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

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

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

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

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

23. 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,
Oldenburg and van Bruggen, Spoonbridge and Cherry, 1988

24. 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

25. 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
Painting, Black Rectangle, Blue Triangle, 1915

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