Elements of Design

Art has a language if you were to compare it to our own language

structure, principles of design are the sentence structures and elements of

design are the words. Just like with language in order for your message to get across you use more

than one word or element in a artwork

The elements line, shape, form, texture (and simulated texture), space (Perspective), Colour

Line – They can be two dimensional like those on sheet of loose leaf or three dimensional like tree branches.

Artist: Hiroshige

Title: Sudden Shower over

O-Hashi

Date:1800’s

Shape – They can only have two dimensions and can be either

geometric or organic.

Montenegro, Maya Women, 1926

The artist used shape as a dominant element in his design. Some shapes are

organic and some are geometric. The hard

edges and sharp breaks between values and

colours set off the various shapes.

Form – this is three-dimensional just like shape there are geometric forms (cubes, cones etc) and irregular (eggs,

bottles, horses).This element is very important to sculptors where as painters

usually use shading to create form.

Artist: Henry Moore Title of artwork:

Two Piece Reclining Figure - Points

Texture – a painting may simulate textures by using colour and value to make the surface seem textured. Or artists will actually give the painting a texture by using a technique

called impasto by putting the paint on bumpy or thick.

Klimt, The Park

Space (Perspective) – is when the illusion of depth is used to make a 2 dimensional surface

look three dimensional. There are two types Linear which is all parallel lines go to a

vanishing point and Aerial Perspective uses light and dark colours and sizes of things to

create a feeling of depth.

Canaletto, The square of St. Mark’s, 1730

Colour – is one phase of art that is also a science. There are three terms to use when talking about

colour, hue, value and intensity. Hue is the name of the colour, red

Value is the dark or light quality of colour, pink is light of red.

Intensity is the brightness of a colour.

Zurbaran, Still life with Lemons, Oranges and a Rose, 1633

Principles of Design

• The Principles of Design describe the general ways in which artists arrange the parts of their compositions.

• These organizers are balance, unity, emphasis, contrast, pattern, movement and rhythm.

Symmetrical Balance

• This is when there is an equal amount of information on either side of the painting

Symmetrical Balance

• This is when there is an equal amount of information on either side of the painting

Artist: Hiroshige

Title: Sudden Shower over O-Hashi

Date:1800’s

Asymmetrical Balance

• Asymmetrical Balance means that large masses on one side of the painting maybe balanced by small masses on the other side.

Degas, The star, or

Dancer on Stage,

1876-77

Unity

• This is when principles of design and the physical aspects of a painting combine to create a single, harmonious work.

Turner achieved unity in his dramatic

painting of London in three ways 1)the values are mostly

bright. 2)all forms are rendered abstractly.

The painting also has colour unity. Turner used a limited palette of yellow and oranges

so that all the hues are related.

Turner, Burning of the houses of Parliament,

1835

Emphasis

• It answers the question “What is the artist trying to say.” Artists may have one or more elements stand out.

Vermeer emphasizes light in his work. The natural light entering from the

open window floods the wall, girl and table.

Vermeer also depicts the various reflected lights

and different intensities of shadow

Vermeer, Officer and Laughing Girl, 1655-1660

Contrast

• It is when there is various differences between elements such as the various brightness of colour.

Villon, Portrait of Mlle, 1913

Villon’s use of contrasting art elements such as value with the

difference between light and dark, also there is a contrast between size

and shape.

Rhythm

• This is established in a work when elements of the composition, such as curves, angles, or vertical or horizontal lines are repeated.

Pattern

• Pattern can be produced by the repetiton of motifs, colours, shapes or lines.

Movement

• Movement can be conveyed in many ways. Movement in painting directs the eyes of the viewer to the centre of interest. Sculpture can come alive with the infusion of movement.

Caravaggio. Martyrdom of St. Matthew

Dell’Arca, The Lamentation