Principles of ArtPrinciples of Art

……or, what are the tools or, what are the tools needed to make really great needed to make really great

works of art?works of art?

Elements vs. PrinciplesElements vs. Principles With the first mark on a page, you are With the first mark on a page, you are

creating a composition. Learning to creating a composition. Learning to manipulate the art elements and principles manipulate the art elements and principles to achieve a unified composition may take to achieve a unified composition may take a lifetime to master—but let's get started!a lifetime to master—but let's get started!

You need to know what your tools are first. You need to know what your tools are first. Hopefully you have learned the Hopefully you have learned the Elements Elements of artof art. They are the building materials for . They are the building materials for art. art.

Now you must learn and be able to apply Now you must learn and be able to apply the the Principles of art. Principles of art. They are theThey are the tools tools used to manipulate the building blocks. used to manipulate the building blocks. (Elements)(Elements)

The Principles of Art are:The Principles of Art are:

ProportionProportion MovementMovement EmphasisEmphasis ContrastContrast Repetition / Repetition /

PatternPattern UnityUnity BalanceBalance

Do I haft’a know

theses for some test?

I guess I’d better get out my notebook and

a pencil. Yes. You need to know these for the test

ProportionProportion

Proportion is Proportion is the size the size relationships of relationships of parts. It is the parts. It is the comparison of comparison of part: part and part: part and part: whole. part: whole.

Movement:Movement:

Movement is where the viewer's eye is made Movement is where the viewer's eye is made to follow a path through the artwork. You eye to follow a path through the artwork. You eye will follow a pattern that the artist has skillfully will follow a pattern that the artist has skillfully created. created.

See how the eye follows a path and traces over the runner as he moves. The artist created this work so that your eye would follow a pattern.

EmphasisEmphasis Emphasis is used to Emphasis is used to

stress important stress important parts of an artwork. parts of an artwork. Artist use it to make Artist use it to make certain parts stand certain parts stand out by usually using out by usually using color or size. color or size. Another technique Another technique used to create used to create emphasis is by emphasis is by making a focal point making a focal point (a point where the (a point where the artwork comes artwork comes together).together).

In this design all object are the same shapes and similar sizes yet the artist easily created emphasis with color alone. The blue object catches your eye first for it is the only color different from the rest. The blue stands out amongst the red.

EmphasisEmphasis Emphasis in Emphasis in

composition:composition: The term The term emphasis also can be emphasis also can be called "dominance" or called "dominance" or dominant. A feature dominant. A feature may be dominant may be dominant owing to its size, its owing to its size, its color, or some other color, or some other device which the artist device which the artist uses to draw attention uses to draw attention to the point of focus or to the point of focus or main interest.main interest.

One reliable way to create a good placement of Emphasis or interest is the ‘Rule of Thirds’

ContrastContrast

Contrasts in composition:Contrasts in composition: Contrast suggest Contrast suggest differences between any of the elements being differences between any of the elements being described. Such as size contrast, color contrast, line described. Such as size contrast, color contrast, line movement (movements) contrast, tonal contrast. movement (movements) contrast, tonal contrast. Any visual element can be contrasted. Contrast Any visual element can be contrasted. Contrast contributes to clarity and variety.contributes to clarity and variety.

Contrast can help make

variety

Variety: Refers to different kinds of visual content, it refers to "differences" in general. Why variety? Variety makes things interesting, without it we experience Monotony or Boredom. 

VarietyVariety Variety is used to Variety is used to create interest by create interest by making a range of making a range of all different types of all different types of parts. To create parts. To create variety an artist variety an artist needs to use needs to use diversity of the diversity of the elements. When elements. When adding variety one adding variety one has to be careful to has to be careful to make sure that make sure that everything is still everything is still unified in some way. unified in some way.

Different sizes and colors for variety but still unified by shape.

RhythmRhythm

Rhythm is what makes artwork flow Rhythm is what makes artwork flow by using patterns and repetition. If a by using patterns and repetition. If a piece has good rhythm the work piece has good rhythm the work should flow freely without should flow freely without interruption. There are two types of interruption. There are two types of rhythms: random rhythms and rhythms: random rhythms and regular rhythms. Random rhythms regular rhythms. Random rhythms are harder to pull of for there is no are harder to pull of for there is no set pattern. A regular rhythm is one set pattern. A regular rhythm is one where there is an obvious pattern. where there is an obvious pattern.

RhythmRhythm Rhythm in composition:Rhythm in composition: Rhythm is Rhythm is

a system of adding visual a system of adding visual varieties of varieties of shapesshapes or or movementsmovements that resemble (show similarity to) that resemble (show similarity to) others in the composition. others in the composition. Repetition is the way rhythm Repetition is the way rhythm occurs. Repetition means occurs. Repetition means repeating line movements or repeating line movements or similar shapes or forms similar shapes or forms throughout the picture area or throughout the picture area or "design space." Strong vertical "design space." Strong vertical rhythm may be called for in such rhythm may be called for in such subjects as trees in forest or sky subjects as trees in forest or sky scraper cityscapes. Vertical scraper cityscapes. Vertical movements sometimes are used movements sometimes are used to symbolize "heavenward" or to symbolize "heavenward" or inspiration such as a church inspiration such as a church steeple. Strong horizontal rhythm steeple. Strong horizontal rhythm might be suggested by landscape might be suggested by landscape vistas, or ocean seascapes. vistas, or ocean seascapes. Horizontals suggest peace and Horizontals suggest peace and repose.repose.

TransitionTransition Transition in composition:Transition in composition: Transition is a Transition is a

design effect which relates to contrast listed design effect which relates to contrast listed earlier. But in transition there is an attempt earlier. But in transition there is an attempt to gradually show steps or in-between to gradually show steps or in-between changes between two extremes of an changes between two extremes of an element. For example a transition between element. For example a transition between large and small would be "medium"; a large and small would be "medium"; a transition between black and white would be transition between black and white would be a middle tone; a transition between vertical a middle tone; a transition between vertical and horizontal line direction would be a and horizontal line direction would be a diagonal. Etc. diagonal. Etc.

Why use transition? Transition Why use transition? Transition is a harmonizing tool. It makes is a harmonizing tool. It makes "unlikes" look more "unlikes" look more harmonious. It also brings a harmonious. It also brings a quality of "rhythm" into the quality of "rhythm" into the composition. Rhythm is listed composition. Rhythm is listed below. below. 

UnityUnity

Unity is used to Unity is used to create a feeling create a feeling of of completeness completeness where where everything everything flows together. flows together. One must One must balance balance harmony and harmony and variety variety carefully. carefully.

All of the objects are round and the repetition in shape unifies the creation.

Arrangement or groupingArrangement or grouping Arrangement or grouping in Arrangement or grouping in

Composition:Composition: Generally Generally artists will form the main artists will form the main objects in the composition objects in the composition into a kind of group. If you into a kind of group. If you connect the main objects in connect the main objects in the composition with a line the composition with a line you will probably notice a you will probably notice a kind of "shape" made by the kind of "shape" made by the object. This is shape may be object. This is shape may be triangular (very popular triangular (very popular during the Renaissance) or during the Renaissance) or some other shape. If a person some other shape. If a person is not thinking about is not thinking about "grouping" the result will "grouping" the result will probably be "random" or probably be "random" or unplanned.unplanned.

TensionTension Tension in composition:Tension in composition:

Tension is a way of creating a Tension is a way of creating a visual "drama" within the visual "drama" within the groupings of lines and forms. groupings of lines and forms. Tension comes when Tension comes when elements are not visually elements are not visually comfortable with each other.  comfortable with each other.  Sometimes lines seem to be Sometimes lines seem to be interrupted in their paths or interrupted in their paths or seem to seem to collidecollide with other with other directions of movement. directions of movement. Tension also comes from Tension also comes from using certain kinds of using certain kinds of elements that produce a elements that produce a sense of energy. Like bright sense of energy. Like bright vibrating color harmonies. vibrating color harmonies. Some kind of lines such as Some kind of lines such as angular or jagged line.angular or jagged line.

Patterns add a decorative quality Patterns add a decorative quality to art.to art.

Pattern adds an element of beauty to an otherwise plain or drab - Pattern adds an element of beauty to an otherwise plain or drab - purely functional - form. Patterns are a basic part of art creation. purely functional - form. Patterns are a basic part of art creation. Patterns are key to making handicrafts. They play a large role in Patterns are key to making handicrafts. They play a large role in ethnic or native art. We can apply pattern to decorate various ethnic or native art. We can apply pattern to decorate various types of craft projects.  Our clay design projects will include types of craft projects.  Our clay design projects will include pattern.   pattern.  

Repeating an object or form is the basis of decorative  pattern

PatternPattern A slight variation is to alternate A slight variation is to alternate

two or more forms in a two or more forms in a systematic way  systematic way  

      Repeating either upside down, Repeating either upside down,

mirrored, or flipped is another mirrored, or flipped is another system     system     

Grouping objects or clustering Grouping objects or clustering objects objects 

Placing patterns and forms Placing patterns and forms inside of other forms      inside of other forms      

PatternPattern Arranging repeated Arranging repeated

objects to form a line objects to form a line The line can make a The line can make a border or have another border or have another useuse

Any family of forms can Any family of forms can be varied and produce be varied and produce slight differences in slight differences in patternpattern

ClarityClarity Clarity in composition:Clarity in composition: Clarity Clarity

results from having enough results from having enough focus, darkness, or other focus, darkness, or other emphasis of elements. The emphasis of elements. The result is that they can be result is that they can be viewed clearly from a viewed clearly from a distance. High contrast distance. High contrast extremes create very vivid extremes create very vivid images. Very low contrasts images. Very low contrasts create unclear images. At create unclear images. At times artists may intentionally times artists may intentionally choose to use a "high key" choose to use a "high key" effect in which all forms may effect in which all forms may be nearly the same color such be nearly the same color such as the white on white designs as the white on white designs sometimes seen in fashion sometimes seen in fashion photos.photos.

Example of ‘high key’ effect. (Usually used as ‘background’ and often termed ‘washed out’.)

BalanceBalance

Balance is the arrangement of elements so Balance is the arrangement of elements so that all is equalized. Visually all the weight is that all is equalized. Visually all the weight is equal and no part dominates completely. equal and no part dominates completely. Forms of Forms of symmetrysymmetry are often used to define are often used to define balance. There are three types of balance: balance. There are three types of balance: formal/symmetrical, informal/asymetrical, and formal/symmetrical, informal/asymetrical, and radial. Formal/symmetrical balance is where radial. Formal/symmetrical balance is where both sides of the work are the same or mirror both sides of the work are the same or mirror images. In informal/asymetrical balance the images. In informal/asymetrical balance the picture is equalized and there is the same picture is equalized and there is the same visual weight, but they are not mirror images. visual weight, but they are not mirror images. Radial balance is where everything grows from Radial balance is where everything grows from a central point. a central point.

BalanceBalance

Balance in composition:Balance in composition: Just Just as when two people ride a as when two people ride a teeter totter there is a sense teeter totter there is a sense of balancing weights, the of balancing weights, the distribution of objects in a distribution of objects in a picture follow a kind of picture follow a kind of system. system.

BALANCEBALANCE Symmetrical Symmetrical (or(or formal formal

balance)balance) approximates an approximates an even distribution on either even distribution on either side. (called Formal, side. (called Formal, common in Renaissance or common in Renaissance or Classic Greek images).Classic Greek images).

Asymmetrical Asymmetrical (or Informal (or Informal balance)balance) is general more is general more uneven with an area made uneven with an area made of many small forms to of many small forms to counter balance a single counter balance a single large form. Radial balance large form. Radial balance ties all of the elements ties all of the elements together by a system of together by a system of connection to a central connection to a central point.  point. 

Symmetrical Balance (Formal)

Asymmetrical Balance (Informal)

How many principles of art can you find in this painting?How many principles of art can you find in this painting?

ProportionProportion MovementMovement EmphasisEmphasis ContrastContrast Repetition / PatternRepetition / Pattern UnityUnity BalanceBalance

Your Assignment:Your Assignment: Create a work of Create a work of

art utilizing five art utilizing five (5) elements and (5) elements and four (4) principles four (4) principles of art.of art.

The subject The subject matter, style, matter, style, medium and medium and technique are technique are your own, your own, however you are however you are responsible to responsible to gather and gather and organize your organize your own reference own reference material (scrap) material (scrap) not on school not on school time. time.