The Elements of Design
The elements of design are the building blocks of art. Without these elements art would not exist. The elements of design can be thought of as the things that make up a painting, drawing, etc. They are:
line
shape
space
form
color
texture
- line: an outline or boundary of a figure or space. Artists almost always begin their works with lines. Lines can convey moods and feeling, express ideas like action, joy, anger; divide areas or suggest peace; vertical lines indicate growth; diagonal lines indicate change, excitement and movement; horizontal is quiet. Line quality is its thinness or thickness, roughness or smoothness.
- shape: an area which stands out from the space next to or around because of a defined boundary (line) or because of a difference of value, color or texture. Two-dimensional shapes exist only in a drawing or painting since the artist draws or paints on the surface only.
- space: the element that "surrounds" us. Form has substance and occupies space. The occupied space is called positive space. The unoccupied space is called negative space. A sculpture or three-dimensional object is a form.
- color: has 3 attributes - (1) hue: another word for color; (2) intensity: the brightness or dullness of a color; and (3) value: the lightness or darkness of a color.
Primary Colors are RED YELLOW and BLUE. They cannot be mixed by mixing any other colors.
Secondary Colors are colors mixed from two primary colors. (Orange, green, purple)
Intermediate Colors are made by mixing a primary and secondary together. (for example, yellow-green).
Complimentary Colors are the opposite on the color wheel and contrast with each other. (for example, orange is the opposite of blue).
We can change the value of a color by adding black or white. When white is added, the result is called a tint. When black is added, the result is called a shade. We can change the intensity of a color by adding its opposite, or compliment.
Colors are grouped into warm and cool families. Warm remind us of warm things - red, yellow, orange. Cool colors remind us of cool things - blue, green, violet.
- texture is the surface quality of a work of art - smooth, rough, dull, glossy. Texture can be observed visually with our sense of sight as well as our sense of touch.
The Principles of Design
The principles of design describe how the elements of design come together to create a work of art. They are:
balance
movement/rhythm
repetition
emphasis
unity
- balance is a sense of stability when applied to visual forces. Symmetrical - a design divided in half so that one side of a center line is identical to the opposite side. Asymmetrical - there is no center line. Radial balance - the design elements radiate from a center point as in the spokes of a wheel.
- movement/rhythm - motion may be slow or swift, flowing or jerky, ascending or descending, or it may have other qualities. We call this movement rhythm. By arranging the design elements, the artist controls the movement of our eyes and our attention is drawn to the area of greatest interest and then around and through the rest of the work.
- repetition occurs when elements (lines, shapes, colors) are repeated regularly or irregularly. Sometimes it creates rhythm; it can also help unify and create balance.
- emphasis calls attention to an important area or areas of a design and subdues other elements in the piece. By placing emphasis on certain areas, an artist creates a center of interest and causes our eye to return again and again.
- unity means oneness, consistency or integration. Unity happens when all the elements of design work together harmoniously.
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