Art Elements and Design Principles

The Developmental and Grade Level Expectations contain references to the Art Elements and Design Principles. They are listed and defined as follows:

Art Elements
Design Principles
  1. Line
  1. Unity
  1. Shape
  1. Variety
  1. Form
  1. Balance
  1. Space
  1. Emphasis
  1. Time and Motion
  1. Movement
  1. Color
  1. Contrast
  1. Value
  1. Repetition (Rhythm, Pattern)
  1. Texture
  1. Scale and Proportion

Definitions:
(adapted from Preble, Preble, and Frank. Artforms, 6th ed. Addison, Wesley, Longman, Inc. 1999

Elements:

Line

  • Linear forms in which length dominates over width. Types of line include: Actual, implied, vertical, horizontal, diagonal, contour.

Shape

  • A two-dimensional or implied two-dimensional area defined by line or changes in value and/or color. Shapes are classified as: geometric and organic.

Form

  • Three-dimensional form having physical bulk. Also, the illusion of such a form on a two-dimensional surface.

Space

  • 1. Forms organized in a three-dimensional space; 2. The illusion of space on a two-dimensional surface. Such an illusion relies upon concepts such as depth, overlapping, placement, and linear perspective.

Time and Motion

  • The experience of time often depends on our movement in space and vice versa. Time and motion become major elements in visual media such as film, video, and kinetic (moving) sculpture.

Color

  • A component of light; When light illuminates an object, some of the light is absorbed by the surface of the object and the color we see is reflected. Major concepts defining color include: color wheel, primary, secondary, hue, color schemes.

Value

  • The lightness or darkness of tones or color. White is the lightest value; black is the darkest.

Texture

  • The tactile quality of a surface or the representation or invention of the appearance of such a surface quality (actual and simulated texture).

Principles:

Unity

  • The appearance of similarity, consistency, or oneness. Interrelational factors that cause various elements to appear as part of a single complete form.

Variety

  • Acts as a counterbalance to extreme unity; variety provides diversity in a work of art.

Balance

  • An arrangement of parts achieving a state of equilibrium between opposing forces or influence. Types of balance are symmetrical and asymmetrical.

Emphasis

  • Is used to draw attention to an area or areas of a work of art (focal point).

Movement

  • "Paths" for the eye to follow provided by actual or implied lines in a work of art.

Contrast

  • The juxtaposition of strongly dissimilar elements. Contrast can be described as high or low. Contrast can be achieved through use of elements such as value (light against dark), shape (large against small, geometric against organic).

Repetition/Pattern/Rhythm

  • The repeating of art elements within a composition
  • The regular or ordered repetition or dominant and subordinate elements or units within a design.

Scale/Proportion

  • The size or apparent size of an object seen in relation to other objects, people, its environment or format. Also used to refer to the quality or monumentality of form in some objects regardless of their size. In architectural drawings, the ratio of the measurements in the drawing to the measurements in the building.
  • The size relationship of parts to a whole and to one another.

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