ART110 Module 3 Notes

Topic: Principles of Design

Principles of Design

 Art is a visual language! The “tools” the artist uses to create his/her work are called the
elements of art and the principles of design.

The elements are like the words (the building blocks) and the principles of design, the grammar
(the construction).

 The elements include: line, shape, value, texture, color (see page 6 of notes)

 The principles of design include: *___Space (Illusion of depth) _______

( ___Unity______ ), *_________,

*_Balance____________, *__Emphasis_____________, *__Rhythm____________,

*_Proportion _/scale_________________.
Space
 positive space – The area of an artwork that is the primary subject or object. It
defines the subject’s outline. Positive space is _active____________________.

 negative space - The space around an object. Negative space is _not____

___active_________.

 In the Western world, positive space is more emphasized and is generally, considered more
important.

Implied Space – Contributes to the illusion of depth in a two dimensional work.

 Position – objects that are ___higher_____________ in the picture plane seem farther
away.

 Relative size – things that are supposed to be ___closer____________ to the viewer are
larger; and things more _____distant________________ are smaller.

 Overlapping – when an object is covered partially by another object it is perceived to be

____farther____________ ___away____________.

 Atmospheric perspective – artist attempt to duplicate the effect the atmosphere has on
objects. Objects farther away appear __lighter and less
distict_____________________________________. Often cooler less intense colors.

 Linear Perspective
 (A) One-point perspective – parallel lines converge at a single vanishing point on the
horizon.
(B) Two-point perspective – two sets of parallel lines converge at separate vanishing
points on the horizon.
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ART110 Module 3 Notes
Topic: Principles of Design

Implied Space (con’t)

 Chiaroscuro – ____implied light and

shadow_________________________________________________.

 Foreshortening – When an object is viewed from a particular vantage point, it appears to

be__shorter_______________________.

Unity
 Unity and Variety exist in most every work of art. _Unity________ gets our attention
by repetition and familiarity;_Variety______ keeps our attention and makes the work
interesting.

 Unity is achieved in many ways using the elements and principles of art (line, color,
etc.) as well as, symbols, images and subject matter.

 The simplest way to recognize unity in a work is through

_repitition_____________________. The more repetition, the more unity.

Balance/Symmetry – refers to the similarity of form or arrangement of a composition.

 Approximate Symmetry - everything on one side of the work generally balances

everything on the other side (not a mirror image)

 Bilateral (pure) Symmetry – everything on one side of the work is a

_mirror______________ image of everything on the other side.

 Asymmetrical – an apparent ___imbalance________________ within the work from

side to side.

 Pyramidal Design – the objects in a composition are arranged in a

_____triangle___________.

 Radial Design – a central point exists and everything in the composition points to it.
Emphasis – how an artist __focuses_________________ __our________
_attention________________________.

 Focal point – where the emphasis is more _specific_______________________.

 Afocal – works ___without___________ a focal point (often abstract or nonobjective

works).

 Vantage point –the place the artist puts us when viewing the work.

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ART110 Module 3 Notes
Topic: Principles of Design

Rhythm – irregular or regular repetition of an element that creates movement and contributes to the

unity_______________________ and _____continuity_________________ of a work.

 Movement – visual works ___suggest________________ movement rather than actually

move. (diagonal lines, swirling repeated curving lines, etc.)

 Pattern – when a rhythm has changes within it, but is repeated at regular intervals.

 Kinetic – sculptures that actually move. (George Rickey and Alexander Caldor)

 Movement in Architecture – occurs as the participant walks through the structure rather
than the building actually moving. Also, ornamentation or fenestration that moves your
eye.

 Fenestration – the placement of doors and windows on the outside of a building.

 Colonnade - a row of ___columns_______________________ in architecture.

 Arcade – a row of _________arches____________________ in architecture.

Proportion – The relationship of ____one part_____________ of something to its

___whole__________________.

 Canon of proportions – a set of rules about body parts and their dimensions relative to one
another that became the standard for creating the ideal figure. Used extensively by the
ancient Greeks.
  Golden Section (mean or ratio) – A proportional concept of mathematical perfection used
as a basis for architecture and painting. The concept is best expressed as a ratio:  a is to
a+b  as b is to a. This ratio was thought to be most pleasing to the eye.

  Examples can be found in the Pyramids at Giza, the Parthenon, and Leonardo's Last
Supper.

Scale - Describes the dimensions of an art object in relation to the original______________

object______________ that it depicts or in relation to the objects around it.

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