Guidelines that govern how artists organize the Elements of Design

The Principles of Design ORGANIZE

the Elements of Design Line Shape Form Value Color Texture Space

Emphasis Contrast Rhythm Pattern

Movement Unity/Varity

Balance

Good Design!

Elements and Principles Worksheets

Find and cut out magazine images

that CLEARLY show the element /

principle. For Line, the image must contain mostly

different types of lines.

Copy the definition from the PPT presentation.

Copy the notes from the PPT

and complete the illustrations.

Look anywhere in the book and find an artwork that CLEARLY

shows the element/principle.

Emphasis Marc Chagall

The Sun of Paris Jean-Honore Fragonard

The Swing

Emphasis

A principle of design in which one element, or a combination of elements, create more attention than anything else in a composition. Adolph Gottlieb, Dialogue I

Ways to Create Emphasis

Rembrandt van Rijn, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp

Converging Elements Other elements in the

composition point or direct the eye to the emphasis.

Contrast Create a large difference in value, color, texture, line, or

any other element.

Grouping Place similar items together to create attention to a particular

area.

Isolation Make the subject the only thing

in the image.

Balance Jean Delville

Mysteriosa (or Portrait of Mrs. Stuart Merrill)

Georgia O’Keefe Pink Moon and Blue Lines

Balance

A principle of design referring to the arrangement of visual elements to create stability in an artwork.

Jean Delville, Parsifal

Types of Balance

Symmetrical Elements are

equally distributed on either side of a

central axis.

Kenneth Noland, Jazz

Joan Miró, Danger

M.C. Escher Circle Limit IV

Asymmetrical The artwork is

visually balanced but different on

either side.

Radial Elements are balanced by radiating outward from a central point.

Contrast Mark Rothko

Earth and Green Theo van Rysselberghe

Portrait of Marguerite van Mons

Contrast

A principle of design that refers to differences between elements such as color, texture, value, and shape.

John Bauer, She kissed the bear on the nose

Ways to Create Contrast

Texture Shape

Line Color

Value

Rhythm Charles Demuth

The Figure 5 in Gold Guariento di Arpo

Army of Angels

Rhythm

A principle of design that refers to ways of combining elements to produce the appearance of movement in an artwork. Jackson Pollock

Blue Poles Number 11

Types of Rhythm

Regular Elements repeat in a predictable manner.

Progressive Elements get bigger or smaller (like louder or

softer).

Jasper Johns Three Flags

Irregular Elements repeat in a

unpredictable manner.

Paul Ranson The Clearing

Andy Warhol Marilyn Dyptich

Pattern Mary Cassatt

The Letter Aubrey Beardsley The Peacock Skirt

Pattern

A principle of design that refers to the repetition of elements (motif) or combinations of elements in a recognizable organization.

Rene Magritte, Goldconda

Types of Patterns

Grid Pattern

William Morris, Brer Rabbit

Half-Drop

Pattern

Moroccan Tile

Radial Pattern

M.C. Escher, Smaller and Smaller

Random Pattern

Vassily Kandinsky, Several Circles

Movement Georgia O’Keefe St. Christopher

Erik Demaine Curved Crease Sculpture

Movement

A principle of design referring to the arrangement of parts in an artwork to create a sense of motion to the viewer’s eye through the work.

Paul Ranson Nabi Landscape

Ways to Create Movement Repeating the Same Element Such as a shape or figure with little or no variation

Repeating Two or More Elements in an alternating basis.

Progression An element gradually changes shape, size, position or color.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Ayus Swimming Upstream with Hagi Branch

Unity and Variety Red Dust Ceramics

Flowerhead Maxfield Parrish

The Latern Barrers

Unity and Variety A principle of design related to the sense of wholeness that results from the successful combination of the elements within in a work of art.

Jasper Johns, Map

Ways to Create Unity Proximity Overlap, touch, or place object close together

Similarity Create similar colors, textures, shapes, etc.

Continuation Create a flow of vision directed by the arrangement of elements. Repetition Repeat the same elements through the work.

Piet Mondrian, Trees