1. “GUIDELINES” FOR MAKING GOOD ART
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
“GUIDELINES” FOR MAKING GOOD ART

2. “B VEERRS”
Balance
Variety
Emphasis
Economy
Repetition
Rhythm
Scale

3. BALANCE Symmetrical Asymmetrical
Same or “mirror image” on both sides, like a paper heart folded in half
Asymmetrical
NOT the same on both sides, but still balanced
Approximate symmetry—not perfectly symmetrical, but not really asymmetrical either

4. VARIETY “variation on a theme”
Does NOT mean having a bunch of different things in your work
Takes something already being repeated and changes it up just enough to keep things interesting

5. EMPHAS!S a.k.a. “focal point”
It’s like the thesis sentence of an essay, the thing you keep coming back to, the most important part of the picture.

6. ECONOMY Using just enough to get the point across
Artist chooses to limit use of one or more of the elements
Keeps artwork from getting to cluttered, keeps focus on the focal point or message

7. REPETITION
Some element of the artwork that is being repeated…a pattern or motif
Our brains are wired to seek out patterns, which are visually pleasing and comforting to our brains—a sense of order and unity
Artists use the principle of VARIETY to keep the repetition from getting too boring

8. RHYTHM
The visual “beat” of the picture…how your eye moves around the picture
Both repetition and variety create rhythm, just like in music

9. SCALE Proportion, or size relationships
Relationship of the artwork to its surroundings
Consider the different visual impacts of a life-sized statue of a human versus a larger-than life-sized statue