Monday, January 25, 2010

Principles of Design

Unity – You use unity to make elements in a composition appear to belong together. This is achieved when it doesn’t look cluttered or confusing. To create unity, you repeat colors, shapes, values, textures, or lines that create a visual relationship .

Emphasis - Create a focal point by making one element of the design more prominent or eye-catching than the others.

Balance - A perfectly symmetrical piece may have no focal point because each element is equally emphasized. It generally draws the eye first to the central point in the design.

Proportion - the ratio of one part of the composition to another


Contrast - the occurrence of contrasting elements, such as color, value, size, etc.


Movement - The use of lines, colors, values, textures, forms and space to carry or direct the eye of the viewer from one part of the design or picture to other. Generally created by the arrangement of shapes.


Variety - The use of dissimilar elements, which creates interest and uniqueness.


Pattern – a design that is repeating with the same lines, colors and shapes.


Rhythm - the expression of visual harmony within a design.

Elements of Art

Line - The path of a moving point. It is longer than it is wider. Lines do have some width as well as length. Types of line refer to straight, curvy, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, and zigzag.

Shape - Shape is a two-dimensional area made by connecting lines that make an object. Ex. Square, circle, triangle, rectangle.

Form - The three dimensional projection of a shape, it has volume, dimension, appears to have mass. This element is frequently used in sculpture.


Value - The appearance of lights and darks found in a work of art. These range from black to white with numerous shades of gray in between.


Color - The character of a surface created by the response of vision to the wavelength of light reflections. It identifies objects, creates moods, and affects emotions.


Texture - The roughness or smoothness of a surface. Texture can be real, tactile (sandpaper), or illusion (looks soft, but not).


Space - Interval of measurable distance between points. Space can be limited or shallow, or extended or deep in design. Two-dimensional space has height and width. Three-dimensional space has height, width, volume, and time.

Colour Scheme - Complementary




Colour Scheme - Analogous




Colour Scheme - Monochromatic



Friday, January 22, 2010

Tuesday, January 19, 2010