THE ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

The elements and principles of design are the building blocks used to create a
work of art. The elements can be thought of as the things that make us a painting,
drawing, design, etc. The principles can be thought of as what we do to those
elements.

Elements of Design

Line
The linear marks made with a pen or brush, or, the edge created when two shapes
meet.

Shape (2D)
A self contained defined area of geometric or organic form.

Form (3D)
The works shape, including volume or perceived volume.

Color
When light strikes an object and is reflected back to the eye. The color has
intensity, meaning how colorful or vivid it is.

Texture
The surface quality of a shape. Soft, hard, rough, smooth, glossy, etc.

Depth
The apparent distance from front to back or near to far. Techniques of perspective
are used to create the illusion of depth in paintings or artwork.

Light
A particular expression of the eye that makes things visible or affords illumination.

Direction
The line along which anything lies, faces, moves, etc., with reference to the point
or region toward which it is directed, or pointed.

Mass
A three dimensional solid with identifiable boundaries.

Tone
The degree of lightness and darkness.

Value
The lightness or darkness of tones or colors. White is the lightest and black is the
darkest. The value in between these two extremes is called middle grey.

Space
An area that an artist provides for a
particular purpose. It includes the
background, foreground, and middle
ground. It refers to the area around,
within, and between things. There is
positive and negative space.

Principles of Design

Balance
In symmetrical balance both sides are exactly the same and balanced if a line
were drawn through the middle. Asymmetrical balance is when the sides differ but
there is still a sense of balance.

Emphasis
An area or object that draws attention and becomes a focal point.

Proportion
The relationship between objects in size (usually humans and another object).

Repetition
One object or shape being repeated. A pattern is a combination of elements or
shapes being repeated in a recurring and regular arrangement. Rhythm is a
combination of elements being repeated, but with variation.

Unity
The relationship among elements of a visual that helps all the elements function
together. It gives a sense of oneness to an image.

Contrast
The arrangement of opposite elements. Such as, light vs dark, rough vs smooth,
large vs small, etc.

Harmony
All parts of the visual image relate to and compliment each other. It pulls the
pieces of the image together and can be accomplished by using rhythm and
repetition.

Proximity
Objects near each other are seen as a unit. This is something that we see
everyday and dont think much of.

Variety
A way of combining visual elements to achieve intricate and complex relationships
to increase the visual interest.