principles of design

Unity: This is the arrangement of one or more of the elements used to create a feeling of completeness. In other words, everything in the work seems to belong and contribute to the overall picture.

variety: an image that shows different kind of elements and principles to attract the eye.

Movement: Movement can be achieved through lines, repetition of shapes, or any of the elements. When your eye keeps looking around the composition you have movement.

Rhythm:Rhythm can be described as timed movement through space; an easy, connected path along which the eye follows a regular arrangement of objects.

Pattern: This is the repetition of certain elements (like color or line) in a work of art.

Repetition
Repetition is created when objects, shapes, space, light, direction, lines etc. are repeated in artwork.

Balance: Balance is the concept of visual equilibrium. It is a relationship of opposing forces in a composition that results in visual stability. Most successful compositions achieve balance in one of two ways: symmetrically or asymmetrically. When a composition is balanced both sides have equal weight. When it is unbalanced you tend to look more to one side of the composition.

Emphasis: Emphasis is also referred to as point of focus. When there is one thing that most strongly draws the viewer’s attention. A leading line, a high key value, and negative space can create emphasis.

Contrast: This is the use of opposites near or beside one another. For example: a light object next to a dark object or a rough texture next to a smooth texture. Complimentary colors also contrast. Contrast tends to add a certain amount of drama and energy to a work of art.

Elements of Design

Space: This is what we say when we are discussing the distance or area between, above, below, around or within things that appear in a work of art. Some space is two-dimensional, three-dimensional, positive (part of an object) or negative (the space around an object).

Form: Form is an element of art that refers to an object that has three dimensions

Value: Value is the variation of light and dark on the surface of an object that appears in a work of art. Think shadows, darkness, contrast, and light.

Color: Color is what the eyes see when light is reflected off an object. The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. The secondary colors are orange, violet & green.

Texture: This refers to the way things feel, or look as though they might feel, if they were touched. Sand looks rough ... a stuffed animal looks soft. Artists who played around with texture were concerned with the sensations of touch in a sculpture or the illusion of touch differences in a drawing or painting.

Shape: An enclosed space defined by other art elements of art. In painting or drawing, shapes may appear to be solid, three-dimensional objects even though they have only two dimensions (length and width). The two-dimensional characteristics of a shape, distinguish it from form, which has three dimensions (depth + length + width).

LINE: It's an identifiable path of a point moving in space. It can vary in width, direction, and length.

bouncing ball