The Principles of Art
The Principles of Art are the ways that artists organize the elements of art into a composition for an artwork. The artist uses the elements to create certain effects that the viewer senses or perceives when observing the artwork.
Unity
- The arrangement of elements and principles of art to create a feeling of completeness, wholeness, and/or a sense of belonging together.
- Without unity, an artwork looks chaotic
Emphasis
- The focus or main idea.
- The part of the artwork that the artist leads your eye toward.
- The part of the artwork that grabs and holds your attention.
- The importance given to certain objects or areas in an artwork.
- Without an emphasis, your eye will wander.
- Color, texture, shape, space, placement, and size can be used to create dominance, contrast, or a focal point.
- The element in the artwork that the viewer notices first is called the dominant element. The other elements are called subordinate.
Movement
- Visual movement is the way artist moves the viewer’s eye around an artwork, often toward the emphasis.
Contrast
- An arrangement of the elements using opposites or differences to create interest.
- High contrast is a big difference (like black vs. white).
- Low contrast is a minor difference (like two shades of gray).
- Without contrast, the art might look uninteresting and too much the same.
Pattern
- Repetition of any of the elements of art, or a combination of elements in a motif (design)
- There are two types
- Planned - When the element or motif is repeated with accuracy
- Unplanned - When the element is repeated with similarity, but not accuracy
Rhythm
- Created by repetition of one or more visual elements to create a sense of motion or action
- There are three types:
- Regular - When the elements are repeated in the same (or nearly the same) sequence
- Irregular - When the elements are repeated, but not with exact duplication
- Progressive - When the elements are repeated, but something increases or decreases as the rhythm progresses
Balance
- The distribution of the visual weight in an artwork.
- This principle of design concerned with equalizing visual forces or elements in a work of art.
- When an artwork is visually balanced, there a sense of equilibrium or harmony. The artwork seems satisfying.
- When an artwork is not visually balanced (or is imbalanced - does not look balanced), the viewer feels that the arrangement of the elements needs to be changed. The effect can be unsettling or disturbing.
- Three types of balance
- Symmetrical/Formal/Classical - The content on one side of the design is similar to that on the other side
- Asymmetrical/Informal - The sides are different, but equally weighted and still appear balanced.
- Radial - The portions of the design radiate out from a central point and may be similar.