1. Elements and Principles
of Art & Design
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2. Learning Goals Today, I will…
Gain an understanding of the elements of art and the principles of design
Apply my understanding of the elements of art and the principles of design using text & images

3. The Elements & Principles
The basic building blocks;
The things inside, that make up a piece of art
Most art will contain several of the elements
(Think of as the ingredients)
Principles
What we do with the building blocks (elements)
(Think of as your chef’s technique and preparation of a dish)

4. Elements of Art & Design –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The basic building blocks (ingredients) of a composition.

5. Line
Directs the eye – horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curvy, zig-zag, etc.
Has greater length than width
Can be a mark made by a moving point
Can be actual obvious lines or implied like borders or edges of shapes

9. Shape & Form A contained area.
Can be GEOMETRIC (man-made) ex. Square, triangle, circle, etc.
Can be ORGANIC (natural) ex. Leaves, humans, puddles, etc.
Used to create a sense of space and substance.

10. Shape/Form Shape Form Form encloses volume; 3-Dimensional
Shapes are 2-Dimensional and flat; created when a line is enclosed
No highlights / shadows
Can be measured in width x
Height
For example, a circle
Form
Form encloses volume; 3-Dimensional
highlights / shadows
Can be measured in width
x height x depth
For example, sphere

15. Space
The area used or unused in a composition; can contribute to balance within a composition
Use of space can create dimension for the viewer; the area around, within, or between objects/subjects in an image create perspective; positive and negative space.
Positive space – the area the objects/subject takes up.
Negative space – the area around, under, through and between.
Foreground (closest), Middle ground, and Background (farthest).
Can define importance and lead the eye to focal point.

20. Value True black, pure white and all the greys in-between
The darkness or lightness of a color
Can add drama and impact to composition

23. Color Color can alter the overall mood/ feeling.
Hue (refers to the name; i.e. red)
Saturation (intensity or amount)
Temperature (cool, warm; measured in Kelvin)
Related to value.

29. Texture The appearance of how a surface feels
Rough, smooth, bumpy, gooey, sharp, etc.
Adds interest - sense of sight and sense of touch involved.

32. Principles of Art & Design –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

33. Principles of Art & Design:
What you do with/how you arrange the basic building blocks (elements) to create artistic, interesting, more visually powerful photographs.
Just like elements, photographs can utilize multiple principles.

34. Principles What you do with the basic building blocks (elements)
Emphasis
Balance
Unity
Contrast
Movement
Rhythm
Pattern

35. Emphasis Creating a focal point
Emphasis in a composition refers to creating points of interest to pull the viewer's eye to important parts of the body of the work

39. Balance
Balance is the impression of stability or equality in a composition.
Balance is often referred to as symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial.

43. Unity
Unity is achieved when the components of a work of art are perceived as harmonious, giving the work a sense of completion
How things are linked, similar, common - when all the parts equal a whole.

46. Contrast Contrast refers to the opposites in the composition.
You can achieve contrast by using different shapes, textures, colors and values in your work.
For example, something light against something dark, rough against smooth textures, etc.

49. Movement
Movement refers to the suggestion of motion through the use of various elements.
The way elements are arranged to lead the eye to or from the focal area.

53. Rhythm
Rhythm is the regular repetition of elements such as line, shape and forms to create interest and consistency.

57. Pattern An element that occurs over and over again in a composition
Can repeat the element consistently