The Elements and Principals of Design
The Elements of Design – What elements artists and designers use when creating.
These are - Line, Space: Shape & Volume, Light: Value & Color, Texture, Time &
Motion
Line - A visual element of length. It can be created by setting a point in motion.
Space – Illusion of space or use of an actual blank or empty area
Shape - A visually perceived area created either by an enclosing line or by color and
value changes defining the outer edges, often used to describe two-dimensional work.
Volume - The appearance of height, width, and depth in a form.
Light - The sensation of perceiving light
Value - A measure of relative lightness or darkness.
Color - The appearance of objects or light sources described in terms of the individual's
perception of them, involving hue, lightness, and saturation for objects and hue,
brightness, and saturation for light sources
Texture - The surface quality of objects that appeals to the tactile sense.
Motion – (unofficial element) Illusion of motion, the act or illusion of changing position
or place
Time - (unofficial element) A nonspatial continuum in which events occur in apparently
irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future.
The Principals of Design – How artists and designers use the elements to create a
lasting impact.
These are - Emphasis & Focal Point, Scale & Proportion, Repetition & Rhythm, Pattern,
Unity & Variety, and Balance
Focal point/Emphasis - A compositional device emphasizing a certain area or object to
draw attention to the piece and to encourage closer scrutiny of the work.
Scale – In visual art referring to the actual size of an object, image or work of art.
Proportion - Size measured against other elements or against a mental norm or standard.
Rhythm - An element of design based on the repetition of recurrent motifs.
Repetition – Using the same visual element over again within the same composition.
Pattern – The repetition of a visual element or module in a regular and anticipated
sequence.
Unity - The degree of agreement existing among the elements in a design.
Variety - The quality or condition of being various or varied; diversity.
Balance - The equilibrium of opposing or interacting forces in a pictorial composition.
Shape Project, 2D
Part 1: Research & Sketchbook Entries
Research different shapes (particularly silhouettes) that you could use for this project.
Example:
Define the following terms in your sketchbook (please use the internet:
SHAPE/FORM












internal & external variation
extension
superimposition
transfiguration
distortion
size variance
geometric & organic shape
active v. static balance
symmetrical v. asymmetrical balance
Dominance
Movement
Economy
Part 2: Project #1: create a design using positive and negative shapes using objects
that you gather as a visual source.
Supplies:
14x10” paper (or larger) Bristol, black ink, brush/sharpie -- project must be completely
black and white.
Examples of working artists whose work reflects this project:
Darren Waterston
Bestiary No. 06
2010
gouache on paper
10 x 14 inches
Kara Walker
DUE:End of Week 4


2 or more Sketchbook entries
Part2 as described