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The Principles of Design
ORGANIZE
the Elements of Design
Line Emphasis
Shape Contrast
Form Good Rhythm
Value Design! Pattern
Color Movement
Texture Unity/Varity
Space Balance
 Elements and Principles Worksheets
!
Principles of Design

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Create
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 Emphasis
Marc Chagall Jean-Honore Fragonard
The Sun of Paris The Swing
Emphasis
A principle of
design in which one
element, or a
combination of
elements, create
more attention than
anything else in a
composition. Adolph Gottlieb, Dialogue I
Ways to Create Emphasis
Converging Elements
Other elements in the
composition point or direct the
eye to the emphasis.

Contrast
Create a large difference in
value, color, texture, line, or
any other element.

Grouping
Place similar items together to
create attention to a particular
area. Rembrandt van Rijn,
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp
Isolation
Make the subject the only thing
in the image.
 Balance
Jean Delville
Mysteriosa Georgia O’Keefe
(or Portrait of Mrs. Stuart Merrill) Pink Moon and Blue Lines
Balance
A principle of design
referring to the
arrangement of visual
elements to create
stability in an artwork.

Jean Delville, Parsifal

Types of Balance

Kenneth Noland, Joan Miró, M.C. Escher

Jazz Danger Circle Limit IV

Symmetrical Asymmetrical Radial

Elements are The artwork is Elements are balanced
equally distributed visually balanced by radiating outward
on either side of a but different on from a central point.
central axis. either side.
 Contrast
Mark Rothko Theo van Rysselberghe
Earth and Green Portrait of Marguerite van Mons
Contrast
A principle of design
that refers to
differences between
elements such as color,
texture, value, and
shape.

John Bauer, She kissed the bear on the nose

Ways to Create Contrast
Line
Color
Value

Texture
Shape
 Rhythm
Charles Demuth Guariento di Arpo
The Figure 5 in Gold Army of Angels
Rhythm
A principle of
design that refers to
ways of combining
elements to
produce the
appearance of
movement in an
artwork. Jackson Pollock
Blue Poles Number 11
 Types of Rhythm
Andy Warhol Paul Ranson Jasper Johns
Marilyn Dyptich The Clearing Three Flags

Regular Irregular Progressive

Elements repeat in a Elements repeat in a Elements get bigger or
predictable manner. unpredictable manner. smaller (like louder or
softer).
 Pattern
Mary Cassatt Aubrey Beardsley
The Letter The Peacock Skirt
Pattern
A principle of design
that refers to the
repetition of elements
(motif) or
combinations of
elements in a
recognizable
organization.

Rene Magritte, Goldconda

Types of Patterns
William Morris, Brer Rabbit Moroccan Tile

Half-
Grid
Drop
Pattern
Pattern

M.C. Escher, Smaller and Smaller Vassily Kandinsky, Several Circles

Radial Random
Pattern Pattern
 Movement
Georgia O’Keefe Erik Demaine
St. Christopher Curved Crease Sculpture
Movement
A principle of design
referring to the
arrangement of parts
in an artwork to create
a sense of motion to
the viewer’s eye
through the work.

Paul Ranson
Nabi Landscape
Ways to Create Movement
Repeating the Same Element
Such as a shape or figure with little or no variation

Repeating Two or More Elements

in an alternating basis.

Progression
An element gradually changes shape, size, position
or color.
Utagawa Kuniyoshi,
Ayus Swimming Upstream with Hagi Branch
 Unity and Variety
Red Dust Ceramics Maxfield Parrish
Flowerhead The Latern Barrers
Unity and
Variety
A principle of design
related to the sense of
wholeness that results
from the successful
combination of the
elements within in a
work of art.

Jasper Johns, Map

Ways to Create Unity
Proximity
Overlap, touch, or place object
close together
Similarity
Create similar colors, textures,
shapes, etc.
Continuation
Create a flow of vision directed Piet Mondrian, Trees
by the arrangement of elements.
Repetition
Repeat the same elements
through the work.