Principles of Art · The principles of design are as follows: Balance, Rhythm, Movement, Variety,...
Transcript of Principles of Art · The principles of design are as follows: Balance, Rhythm, Movement, Variety,...
Principles of Design:
Photography Edition
Directions: Copy the notes in red.
The principles of design are as follows:
Balance, Rhythm, Movement, Variety,
Emphasis, Proportion, Harmony & Unity
The principles of design a set of 8 ways to
organize the elements of art in the creation of artwork.
Balance
• Balance refers to the visual weight in a picture and how it is divided.
• A composition works when the elements are equalized.
• How are the soldiers in the photograph by Elliot Erwitt arranged? Is it balanced?
Balance may be
symmetrical (formal),
asymmetrical (informal) or
radial (circular)
Symmetrical Balance symmetrical=same
• This photograph by Jerry
Uelsmann is symmetrically
balanced.
• The right and left sides of
the composition are nearly
identical.
• Would you describe this
composition as still or
energetic?
Asymmetrical Balance
• This photograph by Gary Winogrand is arranged
asymmetrically. The right and left sides, as well as the top
and bottom are different.
• Does the picture still feel balanced to you? Why?
Radial Balance
Karl Blossfeldt
Laserpitum silver
Laserwort
Part of a fertilizing cluster magnified four times
• This photo by Karl Blssfeldt
demonstrates radial balance.
Radial balance is where all
elements radiate out from a center
point in a circular fashion. It is
very easy to maintain a focal point
in radial balance, since all the
elements lead your eye toward the
center
• Does the picture still feel balanced
to you? Why?
Rhythm • Rhythm involves the repetition of
identical or nearly similar elements (such as shape or colour) to create a sensation of movement. Alternating lights and darks also give a sense of rhythm.
• Just as in music, visual rhythm can be connecting and flowing, or abrupt and dynamic
• Various types of rhythm include simple, alternating, and progressive
• What rhythms and patterns can you find in this photograph by Olivia Parker?
• Does this make the picture more visually striking? Explain.
• How is rhythm created in
this *abstract photograph?
• Abstract (AKA non-
representational, non-
objective) A type of artwork
that is not meant to be
realistic.
• Movement is a principle of
design related to rhythm: How
is the movement created in this
series of photographs?
• Describe the movement of
your eyes when looking at
these photographs.
• Do you think the images work
better individually or as a
group? Why?
Movement
Variety • VARIETY in art refers
to the use of contrasting
or different types of
Elements in a work of
art.
• Variety is necessary to
keep your unified design
from creating visual
boredom. Shapes may be
repeated, but perhaps in
different sizes; colours
could vary slightly in
value.
•CONTRAST emphasizes
differences between
elements (long / short
lines, black / white, light /
dark, smooth / rough,
near / far, big / small).
•Variety and contrast can
refer to nearly every
component in a work of
art including tone or color,
subject matter and size.
Variety & Contrast
Emphasis
• EMPHASIS is a focal point
or centre of interest that
attracts attention and
encourages one to look
further.
• The strongest focal point is
the centre of the composition
- this is a simple solution.
• EMPAHSIS can be created
through: contrast (size,
colour, shape), isolation,
placement.
• Who or what is given Emphasis in this photograph?
• Can you identify examples of variety and difference?
Proportion • The word "Proportion"
means one part in relation
to another.
• All people have a sense of
proportion concerning
themselves as compared to
others. "My nose is too long
for my face". "She has long
legs".
• All of these comments
reinforce the idea that we see
and have opinions about the
relationships between one
thing compared to another.
• The proportion between the structure and figure
is dramatically different.
• What do you think is the subject? Why?
Harmony • "Harmony" in music results in
pleasing tones to the ears.
• "Harmony" in art results from a combination of related (but often different) Elements of Art creating a pleasing work for the eye.
• HARMONY of design suggests an agreement or congruity that exists among the elements (line, shape, colour, texture, value, space) of a composition. They look as though they belong together.
• In music, harmony
can be described as
different tones that
are pleasing when
blended.
• What differences and
similarities
(harmonies) are seen
in this image of an
ear on a beach?
Unity • "Unity" infers that
the work of art is presented as a " whole".
• When a work of art has "Unity", the viewer sees the work as a whole, not in separate sections. To be unified, the composition must be stronger than the individual parts.
• UNITY can be achieved by proximity, repetition, and/or continuation.
The End