ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN ELEMENTS PRINCIPLES Line Balance Shape Movement Color Rhythm/Repetition Value Contrast Texture Emphasis/Dominance Form Pattern Space Unity ELEMENTS OF ART LINE Line can be divided into predominately two types; 1) straight 2) curved, with variation in thickness and length. Vincent VanGogh's paintings represent curved lines. There are basically three classifications of line. Blind Contour (a continuous line drawing achieved by never looking at your paper), Contour (a continuous line drawing), Gesture (a quick, loose drawing achieved by numerous lines), and Modeled (a more detailed line drawing representing value) The following are types of line: contour gestural calligraphic implied. SHAPE Shape is an area that is contained within an implied line, or is seen and identified because of color or value changes. Shapes have two-dimensions, unlike form, which has three dimensions. Shapes are either positive or negative. All shapes can be described as being either 1) geometric shapes (angular, with straight edges, also called rectilinear shapes; and 2) organic shapes (free-form, biomorphic, also called curvilinear shapes. Shapes varieties include: large, medium, and small shapes; flat and patterned shapes; dark and light valued shapes; geometric and organic shapes; positive and negative shapes; and, outlined and unoutlined shapes.
FORM Form describes volume and mass, or the three-dimensional aspects of objects that take up space. Forms can and should be viewed from many angles. Space is a strong element in establishing a sense of form. The following are examples of form: architectural forms geometric forms curvilinear forms organic forms natural forms abstract forms nonobjective forms realistic forms SPACE Actual space is a three-dimensional volume that can be empty or filled with objects. It has width, height, and depth. Space that appears three-dimensional in a painting, drawing or design, is an illusion that creates a feeling of actual depth. Various techniques can be used to show such visual depth or space. The following are illusions of space: linear perspective one-point perspective two-point perspective arial perspective VALUE Value refers to dark and light. Value contrasts help us to see and understand a two-dimensional work of art. A gray scale shows ten (10) values from light to dark. The farther apart values are on the scale, the more contrast. Values next to each other on the scale have the least contrast. COLOR Color can be divided into three properties: (1) HUE - the first and most obvious dimension which usually identifies a color by name. (2) Chroma or Intensity- the second dimension considered to be the brightness and dullness of a color. (3) Value - the third dimension that locates a color's approximate position in relation to White and Black. A light color such as yellow is high in value (closer to white) and a dark color such as violet or blue is low in value (closer to Black).
Values may be tinted by adding White, or, shaded by adding Black, both of which reduces the intensity of a color. BASIC COLORS AND GROUPINGS RED BLUE PRIMARY COLOR GROUP YELLOW (colors cannot be obtained by mixing colors) ORANGE GREEN VIOLET SECONDARY COLOR GROUP (colors obtained by mixing primary colors together) RED-ORANGE YELLOW-ORANGE YELLOW-GREEN BLUE-GREEN TERTIARY COLOR GROUP BLUE-VIOLET (the intermediate steps between the six basic hues) RED-VIOLET COLOR HARMONY The principles underlining color harmony are demonstrated by the color harmony wheel "Color Wheel". Colors that appear opposite from one another on the color wheel are referred to as complimentary colors, i.e., yellow-violet, red-green, and so on. Split complimentary colors would be a primary color and a tertiary color i.e., yellow and red-violet or blue violet. Analogous colors are those colors found next to one another on the color wheel, i.e., yellow and yellow-green, red and red-violet, etc. Warm and Cool Hues Colors associated with fire, sunlight, etc. are considered warm hues. Your Warm colors are reds, yellows and oranges. Colors suggesting water, ice, foliage, etc. are considered cool hues. Your cool colors are your blues, greens and violets. Warm colors appear warmer and cool colors appear cooler when contrasted with their opposites in temperature. Warm colors tend to come jump forward, while cool colors seem to recede on the painted surface. TEXTURE Texture refers to the surface quality, both simulated and actual, of artwork. Through the use of texture, one can create a sense of contrast, value, direction, and, shape.
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN CONTRAST Contrast refers to differences in values, colors, textures, shapes, and other elements. Items that are different from one another or opposite from each other are referred to as being in conflict or in contrast. Shapes may contrast each other, i.e., a circle and a square, a warm and cool color, a large shape contrasted with a small shape, a rough texture and a smooth texture, a vertical line compared to a horizontal line, etc. RHYTHM (repetition) Rhythm is the repetition of visual movement colors, shapes, or lines. To repeat elements with variety and alternation is known as repetition. A rectangle that repeats itself though varies its size, and, a shape that alternates from a circle to an oval is recognized as having rhythm. BALANCE There are basically two different types of balance associated with composition. Formal balance represents two equal parts. One side equals the other, also known as symmetrical. Informal balance represents unequal parts. One side may contain large shapes while the other is balanced with smaller items, also known as asymmetrical. EMPHASIS (dominance) Emphasis is used by artists to create dominance and focus in their work. Artists can emphasize color, value, shapes, or other art elements to achieve dominance. Various kinds of contrast can be used to emphasize a center of interest. Part of an illustration is said to be dominant when one of its groups is more important than the rest. An illustration that has several colors, but, only one that is emphasized, is typical of this principle. To emphasize part of an illustration, one may only need to make an object bigger, repeat it more often, make the color brighter, or, add more contrast, thus emphasizing a part of the illustration. MOVEMENT Visual movement is used by artists to direct viewers through their work, often to focal areas. Such movement can be directed along lines, edges, shapes, and colors within the works, but moves the eye most easily on paths of equal value.
PATTERN Pattern uses the art elements in planned or random repetitions to enhance surfaces of paintings, sculptures, and designs. Patterns often occur in nature and artists use similar repeated motifs to create pattern in their work. Pattern increases visual excitement by enriching surface interest. UNITY Unity is achieved when all the elements in a design work together harmoniously. These means that all parts seem to be related and are organized. This is usually done by using similar sizes, shapes, colors, or directions, or by overlapping elements to form a group. When all the elements in a work look as though they belong together, the artist has achieved unity. An illustration is said to be in unity, when one tears an illustration in four equal parts, and each part can be identified, though not exactly the same.