Helpful Webistes:

1. www.artlex.com

2. http://www.brigantine.atlnet.org/GigapaletteGALLERY/websites/ARTiculationFinal/MainPages/PrinciplesMain.htm

Elements of Design

     The components used by an artist when producing a work of art. They are the literal qualities found in any artwork.

Line

      A mark with length and direction. Types of line include: vertical,

      horizontal, diagonal, straight or ruled, curved, bent, angular, thin,

      thick or wide, interrupted, blurred or fuzzy, controlled, freehand,

      parallel, hatching, meandering, and spiraling.

 

Color

      An element of art with three properties: (1) hue or tint, the color

      name, ex., red, yellow, blue, etc.: (2) intensity, the purity and

      strength of a color, ex., bright red or dull red; and (3) value, the

      lightness or darkness of a color.

   

Value

      Refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. Value is an especially

      important element in works of art when color is absent.

   

Form

      An element of art that depicts the illusion of 3-D objects through

      volume in a 2 dimensional drawing. Sculpture, (3 Dimensional art) shows

      form in it’s mass/volume.

   

Texture

      Texture is the surface quality or "feel" of an object, its smoothness,

      roughness, softness, etc. Textures may be actual or simulated. Actual

      textures can be felt with the fingers, while simulated textures are

      suggested by an artist.

 

Shape

An element of art that refers to the area of the object in a 2

     dimensional or 3 dimensional art work. Also considered the positive

     space in an artwork.

Space

      An element of art that refers to the distance or area between, around,

      above, below, or within things in a 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional

      artwork. It can also be described as negative space.

Principles of Design

The literal concepts used to organize or arrange the elements of design.

Balance

      Balance is the concept of visual equilibrium, and relates to our

      physical sense of balance. Most successful compositions achieve balance

      in one of two ways: symmetrically or asymmetrically .

Contrast

      Contrast occurs when two elements (proportion, color, value, etc.) are

      different. the greater the difference the greater the contrast.

Rhythm

Rhythm can be described as timed movement through space; a

      connected path along which the eye follows an arrangement of

      elements. The presence of rhythm creates predictability and order in a

      composition allowing the viewer to see the work as a whole.

   

Movement

     Movement is the path along which your eyes move through the art piece. Normally, your eye will catch the Rhythm and be pulled through the work.

   

Emphasis

   

      Emphasis is also referred to as point of focus , or interruption . It

      marks the locations in a composition which most strongly draw the

      viewers attention.

   

Pattern

      Pattern refers to the same element repeated through a piece of art in

      planned or random repetition.

Unity

      Unity refers to the coherence of the whole , the sense that all of the

      parts are working together to achieve a common result; a harmony of all

      the parts.