Design:
The process and result of
structuring the elements of
visual form; composition…
What???
Composition:
The bringing together of parts
or elements to form a whole;
the structure, organization or
total form of a work of art
Parts or Elements
=
Elements of Art
line, shape, form,
texture, color, value, space
** What makes up a work of art
Structure or Organization =
Principles of Design
proportion, balance, emphasis,
pattern/repetition,
rhythm/movement, contrast,
variety, harmony/unity
** What you do with the elements of art
to create a successful composition
Unity/Harmony: An agreement that exists among
the elements in a design; they look as though some visual
connection beyond mere chance has caused them to
come together
Ways to achieve unity:
• Proximity
• Repetition
• Continuation
• Proximity
simply putting the
elements close
together
Wayne Thiebaud.
Paint Cans. 1990.
• Repetition
Something
that repeats
in various
parts of the
design
to relate the
parts to each
other.
Edgar Degas. The Millinery Shop. 1890.
• Continuation Something “continues”
usually a line or an edge. The viewer’s eye is
carried smoothly from one element to the next.
Balthus.
The Living Room.
1943.
Emphasis (focal point): Any forcefulness
that gives importance or dominance (weight) to some feature
or features of an artwork; something singled out, stressed,
or drawn attention to. Often, emphasized elements are used
to direct and focus attention on the most important parts of
a composition — its focal point.
Ways to achieve emphasis:
• Contrast
• Isolation
• Placement
• Contrast
Whatever interrupts an overall feeling or pa
automatically attracts the eye by its difference
Ex: Color, size, shape etc.
• Isolation
By simply offsetting
one element of a
composition, it grabs
the viewers attention.
The element
doesn’t need to be
different from the other
elements in
the work just placed
in a different spot.
• Placement
If many elements point
to one item,
our attention is
directed there,
and a focal point
results
Jan Vermeer.
The Music Lesson. 1664
Balance: the arrangement of elements to create
a sense of visual stability in a work of art
Three types of balance :
• Symmetrical
• Asymmetrical
• Radial
• Symmetrical the organization of parts of a
composition so that one side mirrors, or duplicates the other.
With the two sides being so much alike, there is an obvious
visual visual importance to whatever element is placed on
the center axis.
Symmetrical balance is rarer in painting than
in architecture. In fact, relatively few paintings
would fit a strict definition of symmetry.
• Asymmetrical
the organization of parts of a
composition so that one side does not
duplicate the other. Balance is achieved
with dissimilar objects that have equal
weight or equal eye attraction. A large,
simple shape is balanced by a smaller,
complicated shape.
• Radial all the elements circle out from a common
central point. A radially balanced design is also symmetrically
balanced.
Rhythm: refers to a regular repetition of elements of
art (shape, color, line, form) to produce the look and feel of
movement. It is often achieved through the careful placement
of repeated components which invite the viewer's eye to jump
rapidly or glide smoothly from one to the next.
Ways to achieve rhythm:
• Repetition
• Repetition Something
that repeats in various parts of the
design to relate the parts to each
other. Rhythm involves a clear
repetition of elements that are the
same or only slightly modified.
Piet Mondrian. Broadway Boogie Woogie. 1943.
Bridget Riley. Drift No.2. 1966.
Proportion: refers to the relative size—size measured
against other elements or against some standard.
Proportion is closely tied to emphasis.
• Large and Small Scale Together
• Unexpected or
Exaggerated Scale
Find at least 2 Principles of Design that you feel are
clearly illustrated in the artwork below and describe how
they are achieved?
Winslow Homer. Snap the Whip. 1872.
Contrast/Variety:
incorporating differences in
elements to enhance the interest in a work of art. Variety creates
visual excitement and acts to counter unity.The sameness of too
much unity is boring, and the diversity of uncontrolled variety is
chaotic, but a balance between unity and variety creates “life” in
a work of art.
Jacob Lawrence. Going Home. 1946.
Pattern/Repetition:
the repetition of elements
or combinations of elements in a recognizable organization.
Types of Pattern :
• Regular/Planned
• Irregular/Random
• Regular Pattern
the parts are repeated
accurately.
• Irregular Pattern
the parts are repeated, but
do not seem planned.
Claude Monet. Water Lillies. 1906.
Gustav Klimt. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I.
1907.