Elements and Principles of Design

Elements:

Line

Shape

Form

Color

Value

Texture

Space

Principles:

Balance

Emphasis & Focal Point

Contrast

Movement

Variety

Pattern & Repetition

Unity

Harmony/Gestalt

LineA line is defined as a mark with length and direction, created by a

point that moves across a surface. A line can vary in length, width, direction, curvature, and color.

Contour, Diagonal, Broken, Curved, Outline, Implied, Vertical, zigzag, Horizontal, Wavy, Slanted, Continuous, Solid, Narrow, Bold

Jasper Johns, 0-9 (continuous line) Gesture drawing

line

Jackson Pollock, Autumn Rhythm

Andy Goldsworthy

LINE

Keith Haring

Shape Shape is an enclosed space defined by other

elements of art. Shape is 2-Dimensional

Shape can be:Geometric: Angular, man-made conceptOrganic: curvilinear - found in nature

Fernana Leger, The City Matisse, from the series “Jazz”

Picasso, Three Musicians

FORM3 Dimensional Shape. Volume

MC Escher, Self Portrait

Tamara de LempickaPortrait of Ira P. 1925

Vincent Van Gogh, Shoes

Value

An element of art that refers to luminance or luminosity – the lightness or darkness of a color.

Value is an especially important element in works of art when color is absent. This is particularly likely with

drawings, printmaking, and photographs

Kathe Kollwitz,Self portrait

Value

Chuck Close(made w/ thumbprints!)

Edward Weston, Pepper

(photograph)

TextureTexture refers to the surface quality or "feel" of an object,

such as roughness, smoothness, or softness. Actual texture can be felt while simulated textures are implied by the way the

artist renders the surface area

OppenheimFur-lined cup

Texture

Actual and Implied

Golsdworthy

Albrecht DurerRhinocerus

Color  Is an element of art with three properties1) Hue, the name of the color, e.g. red, yellow, etc. 2) Intensity or the purity and strength of the color 3) Value, or the lightness or darkness of the color

Delauney

Jasper Johns, Target

(primary colors)

Primary Colors

Piet Mondrian Wassily Kandinsky

Warm Colors

• Colors that are often described as being higher in temperature

• Reds, oranges, yellows

• Associated with fire and sun

• Optically, appear to advance

• Stimulating and passionate

Ex. Warm

Cool

• Colors that are often described as being lower in temperature

• Greens, Blues, and Violet

• Associated with water, sky, and spring

• Optically, they appear to recede

• Calming and depressing

Ex. Cool

Color and Mood

Picasso, the Old Guitarist

Van Gogh, the Night Cafe

SpaceSpace is the empty or open area between, around, above,

below, or within objects. Shapes and forms are made by the space around and within them. Space is often called three-

dimensional or two- dimensional.

MC Escher

SpacePositive space is filled by a shape or form. Negative space surrounds a shape or form.

Space/DepthMay be created by overlapping, change in scale,

perspective placement, color theory, or projection toward the viewer.

David HockneyPlace Furstenberg, Paris, August 7,8,9, 1985 -#11985

BalanceBalance is a sense of stability in the body of work.

Balance can be symmetrical (formal) or assymmetrical (informal)

Wayne Thiebaud, Around the Cake (formal balance)

Diane Arbus, Twins

Symmetrical/Formal Balance

Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper 1495-1498

Symmetrical Balance

Asymmetrical Balance

Edgar Degas (informal balance)

Asymmetrical Balance

VarietyWhen elements are changed in scale, color, or form.

Andy Warhol

Stuart Davis

MovementMovement adds excitement to your work by showing action and

directing the viewers eye throughout the picture plane.

Edward Munch, the Scream

Movement

Marcel Duchamp, Nude Descending StaircaseUmberto Boccioni,

Unique forms of continuity in space

Dominance & SubordinationThe part of a composition that is emphasized, has the greatest visual weight, the most important, powerful, or has the most influence.

Emphasis & Focal PointEmphasis - Any forcefulness that gives importance to some feature or

features of an artwork; something singled out, stressed, or drawn attention to by means of contrast, anomaly, or counterpoint

Focal Point = portion of an artwork's composition on which interest or attention centers

David Hockney

Emphasis & Focal Point

Barbara Kruger Rene Magritte

Pattern & RepetitionInvolves multiples of the same element. Repeated elements can vary in size, color, or axis placement. Repeated elements can create a pattern. The use of repetition may be applied to all Visual Elements. Motion can

be created by repetition.

William MorrisArts and Crafts Movement

Pattern & Repetition

Chuck Close, Self Portrait, detail

ContrastA large difference between two things,

such as light and shadow, color and black/white

Andy Warhol

Contrast

David, the Death of Marat

Economy

Unity & HarmonyThe quality of wholeness or oneness (Gestalt) that is achieved through

the effective use of the elements and principles of design.

Claude MonetHaystacks

Unity

Cezanne

Wayne Theibaud

Unity

Van Gogh “Starry Night”

What Elements and Principles stand out?

What Elements and Principles stand out?

Goya, “The 5th of May”

Gauguin

What Elements and Principles stand out?

What Elements and Principles stand out?