What is…
AP 2-D Design
(The core of visual thinking is)
“how an image is composed of
its parts” - Rudolf Arnheim
Sky and Water
MC Escher
The unifying idea for the portfolio is that the student
focuses on making decisions about how to use the
principles and elements of art to create works of art that
convey meaning.
The Survivors
Käthe Kollwitz
King Oliver Jazz Band
The orchestration of the Elements of Art
according to the Principles of Design is what is
evaluated in the 2-D design portfolio.
Line
Untitled
Cy Twombly
Shape
Formation I
Arthur Dove
Space
Carceri, Plate XI
Giovanni Battista Piranesi -
Color
New York Elevated
Stuart Davis
Value
The Unmade Bed
Imogen Cunningham
Texture
Night Shadows
Edward Hopper
principles of design
Balance
Tumbling Pig Hill
Nick Bantok
principles of design
Unity
Jerusalem
Anselm Kiefer
principles of design
Variety
La Musique
Henri Matisse
principles of design
Emphasis
editorial design
Richard Hart
principles of design
Rhythm
Rayograph 1926
Man Ray
principles of design
Proportion
Millions stand behind me
John Heartsfield
Unity = Law of Similarity & Law of Proximity
Law of Similarity
Law of Proximity
The mind groups similar*
elements into collective entities.
The mind sees elements that are
close together as being related.
*similar in color, form,
or brightness.
Who is the AntiSemite?
Paanat
Francisco Argumosa
Unity
Similar shapes close together become a group & unify the
composition
Lee Friedlander
Boy in Window, Baltimore
Unity
Similarity of textures promotes unity
Jerusalem
Anselm Kiefer
Unity
Repeated color harmonies promote unity
Fiesta
George Tooker
Unity
Repeated shapes promote unity
Lantern Bearers
Maxfield Parrish
Variety
Contrasting color, pattern and texture create visual interest
Law of Similarity
The mind groups similar*
elements into collective entities.
*similar in color, form, or
brightness for example
Law of Similarity - disrupted
Law of Common Fate
Elements with the same moving direction
are perceived as a collective or unit
La Musique
Henri Matisse
Law of Continuity
The mind continues visual,
auditory, and kinetic patterns.
Variety = Law of Similarity Disrupted
Cindy Sherman
Untitled Film Still #21
Focal point
created by contrast of
shape
Variety = Law of
Continuity disrupted
Spring Way
Romare Bearden
Focal point created by
isolating a shape
Focal point
created by color
contrast
editorial design
Richard Hart
Variety = Law of Common Fate & Law of
Continuity
Focal point
created by
“lines of force” elements direct
the eye toward
focal point
Sharkeys
George Bellows
Law of Common Fate
Elements with the same moving direction
are perceived as a collective or unit
Law of Continuity
The mind continues visual,
auditory, and kinetic patterns.
Shiva at Whistle Creek
Sally Mann
Rhythm = Law of Continuity
Law of Continuity
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick
Chris Van Allsburg
The mind continues visual,
auditory, and kinetic patterns.
Rhythm
visual elements repeat in such a way as to evoke a “beat”
“regular” rhythm
Rayograph 1926
Man Ray
Balance
Equal distribution of visual “weight” within a composition - symmetrical / asymmetrical
I want to understand
Tabor Photo-graphic
Balance - Visual Weight
Compositional “hot spots” - a reaction to the
experience of gravity upon the body, and the way
text is read.
Symmetrical
Balance
Identical twins
Diane Arbus
virtually identical
elements in
each half
of the composition
Asymmetrical Balance
Equal distribution of “visual weight” within quadrants of composition, but not identical elements
Railroad Ferry Hudson
River, New York
Andreas Feininger
Many small or complex elements can balance a
large simple one:
Model in Backlight
Pierre Bonnard
Small dark elements balance large light ones
Model in Backlight
Pierre Bonnard
Proportion
Size
relationships
within the
composition
Millions stand behind me
John Heartsfield
Proportion
Relative size
of elements
compared to
an
external
standard
What the water gave me
Frida Kahlo
Many different materials & processes can be
used to demonstrate understanding of 2-D
design.
Stop Nasal
Congestion,
1989
Creative
Medical
Communicat
ions
Photography
Untitled (Michael and Christopher)
Ralph Eugene Meatyard
Photography
Detroit
Harry Callahan
Painting
Interior Panel With Embryo
Gregory Gillespie
,
Painting
Window Garden
Jennifer O'Connell
Printmaking
The Great Wave at Kanagawa
Katsushika Hokusai
Printmaking
Benedictio
Corita Kent
Illustration
The Man with 10,000 Bird Songs in His Head
Popular Science design group
Illustration
Rasha al-Hakim
Digital
Bawdy House on Petticoat Lane
Tina Bell Vance
Digital
Untitled
Bruce Bayard
Graphic Design
Little Brown, & Co. design group
Graphic Design
Zachary Hobbs Design
Collage
Claudine Helmuth
Drawing
Under The Rug
Chris Van Allsburg
Drawing
She Always Hit The Nail on the
Head
Dana Boussard
Grading AP 2-D Design:
Jessica Scott
• Is understanding of the principles of
design evident in this work?
Robert Andres
• Were the elements created and
used in purposefully & imaginatively?
Madeline Pepper
• Are the principles used intelligently
and sensitively to contribute to
the meaning of the work?
Laura Haney
• How and what does the interaction of the
elements
and principles of design contribute to the
quality of the work?
Jessica Chiarella
2-D Design “Lens”
Evaluation of the
composition of the work:
• Is understanding of the principles of design
evident in this work?
• Were the elements created and used in
purposefully & imaginatively?
• Are the principles used intelligently and
sensitively to contribute to the meaning of the
work?
• How and what does the interaction of the
elements and principles of design contribute to
the quality of the work?