Design Elements and Principles

Elements

"The elements and principles of design are the building blocks used to create a work of art. The elements of design can be thought of as the things that make up a painting, drawing, design etc. Good or bad - all paintings will contain most of if not all." (Lovett 1999)

 The design elements are as follows:

• Line
• Colour (Hue)
• Value (Tone)
• Shape
• Texture
• Space

Line is the fundamental marks used in drawing or the edge created when two shapes meet.

Colour (Hue) plays a large role in the elements of design, making use of the 'colour wheel' with colour theory underpinning a practical guidance on the impact of specific colour combinations.

The colour wheel (figure 1.0) is a simple visual reference for looking at colour combinations and complementary colours.

Figure 1.0

Value (Tone) 

Simply the lightness or darkness of a colour, or set of colours. 

Shape  

"A self contained defined area of geometric or organic form. A positive shape in a painting automatically creates a negative shape."

Texture  

"The surface quality of a shape - rough, smooth, soft hard glossy etc. Texture can be physical (tactile) or visual.

• Physical Texture is the texture you can actually feel with your hand. The build up of paint, slipperiness of soft pastel, layering of collage - all the things that change the nature of the papers surface.
• Visual Texture is the illusion of physical texture, created with the materials you use. Paint can be manipulated to give the impression of texture, while the paper surface remains smooth and flat."

Figure 2.0   This detail shows the use of visual texture. The surface appears fractured and broken but this is an illusion created with the paint. The paper in this area of the work is smooth and flat. Figure 3.0       In this detail patches of Japanese rice paper,       gesso and thick swipes of soft pastel add a       strong three dimensional physical texture. Space  "Space is concerned with the area deep within the moment of designated design, the design will take place on. For a two-dimensional design space concerns creating the illusion of a third dimension on a flat surface." Principles "The Principles of design can be thought of as what we do to the elements of design. How we apply the Principles of design determines how successful we are in creating a work of art." (Lovett 1999)   Above are the design elements that I have been using as the criteria when looking at the works of others in order to recreate it, and then combine elements from each. However, in order to create my own visual style, it is essential that I create my own design framework, to which I can follow in the creation of an image. In order to do this, the elements of design alone are not strong enough. We must look at the core principles which are as follows: Balance Rhythm Proportion (Scale) Unity  Emphasis Directional Force (Movement) Scale Contrast Variety Balance "The distribution of the visual weight of objects, colours, texture, and space to achieve a state of equilibrium. In symmetrical balance, the elements used on one side of the design are similar to those on the other side; in asymmetrical balance, the sides are different but still look balanced. In radial balance, the elements are arranged around a central point and may be similar." Figure 4.0 Figure 5.0 Rhythm/ Repetition "Rhythm is created when one or more elements of design are used repeatedly to create a feeling of organized movement. Rhythm creates a mood like music or dancing. To keep rhythm exciting and active, variety is essential.   Repetition works with pattern to make the work of art seem active. The repetition of elements of design creates unity within the work of art." Figure 6.0 Proportion  "Proportion is the feeling of unity created when all parts (sizes, amounts, or number) relate well with each other. When drawing the human figure, proportion can refer to the size of the head compared to the rest of the body." Figure 7.0 Unity  "Unity is the feeling of harmony between all parts of the work of art, which creates a sense of completeness." Figure 8.0 Emphasis  "Emphasis is the part of the design that catches the viewer’s attention. Usually the artist will make one area stand out by contrasting it with other areas. The area could be different in size, color, texture, shape, etc." Figure 9.0 Directional Force (Movement) "Movement is the path the viewer’s eye takes through the work of art, often to focal areas. Such movement can be directed along lines, edges, shape, and color within the work of art." Figure 10.0 Scale "The real, apparent size of an object seen in relation to other objects, people, its environment, or the proportions of the picture plane." Figure 11.0 Contrast "Interaction of contradictory elements. Expresses the duality seen in opposites." Figure 12.0 Figure 13.0 Variety "Variety is the use of several elements of design to hold the viewer’s attention and to guide the viewer’s eye through and around the work of art." (Getty 2011) References: http://www.johnlovett.com/test.htm http://www.fuelyourcreativity.com/the-lost-principles-of-design/  http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/principles_design.pdf http://char.txa.cornell.edu/language/principl/principl.htm http://www.digital-web.com/articles/principles_of_design/ Images: Figure 1.0 - http://www.cfsd16.org/teachers/Franzen/Aug20GDClass2.html Figures 2.0 and 3.0 - http://www.johnlovett.com/texture.htm Figures 4.0 - 13.0 - http://www.fuelyourcreativity.com/the-lost-principles-of-design/