Elements and Principles of Art & Design –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Learning Goals Today, I will… Gain an understanding of the elements of art and the principles of design Apply my understanding of the elements of art and the principles of design using text & images

The Elements & Principles Elements The basic building blocks; The things inside, that make up a piece of art Most art will contain several of the elements (Think of as the ingredients) Principles What we do with the building blocks (elements) (Think of as your chef’s technique and preparation of a dish)

Elements of Art & Design ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– The basic building blocks (ingredients) of a composition.

Line Directs the eye – horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curvy, zig-zag, etc. Has greater length than width Can be a mark made by a moving point Can be actual obvious lines or the borders or edges of shapes

Shape/Form A contained area. Can be GEOMETRIC (man-made) ex. Square, triangle, circle, etc. Can be ORGANIC (natural) ex. Leaves, humans, puddles, etc. Used to create a sense of space and substance.

Shape/Form Shape Shapes are 2-Dimensional and flat; created when a line is enclosed Can be measured in width x height For example, a circle Form Form encloses volume; 3-Dimensional Can be measured in width x height x depth For example, sphere

Space The area used or unused in a composition; can contribute to balance within a composition Use of space can create dimension for the viewer; the area around, within, or between objects/subjects in an image create perspective; positive and negative space. Positive space – the area the objects/subject takes up. Negative space – the area around, under, through and between. Foreground (closest), Middle ground, and Background (farthest). Can define importance and lead the eye to focal point.

Value Tue black, pure white and all the greys in- between The darkness or lightness of a color; adding white to a color makes it a tint; adding black to a color makes it a shade Can add drama and impact to composition

Color Color can alter the overall mood/ feeling. Hue (refers to the name; i.e. red) Saturation (intensity or amount) Temperature (cool, warm; measured in Kelvin) Related to value.

Color

Texture The appearance of how a surface feels Rough, smooth, bumpy, gooey, sharp, etc. Adds interest - sense of sight and sense of touch involved.

Principles of Art & Design –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Principles of Art & Design: What you do with/how you arrange the basic building blocks (elements) to create artistic, interesting, more visually powerful photographs. Just like elements, photographs can utilize multiple principles.

Principles What you do with the basic building blocks (elements) Emphasis Balance Unity / Harmony Contrast Movement / Rhythm Pattern / Repetition

Emphasis Creating a focal point; Emphasis in a composition refers to creating points of interest to pull the viewer's eye to important parts of the body of the work

Balance Balance is the impression of stability or equality in a composition. Balance is often referred to as symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial.

Unity / Harmony Unity is achieved when the components of a work of art are perceived as harmonious, giving the work a sense of completion How things are linked, similar, common - when all the parts equal a whole.

Contrast Contrast refers to the opposites in the composition. You can achieve contrast by using different shapes, textures, colors and values in your work. For example, something light against something dark, rough against smooth textures, etc.

Movement/Rhythm Rhythm or movement refers to the suggestion of motion through the use of various elements. The way elements are arranged to lead the eye to or from the focal area.

Pattern/Repetition An element that occurs over and over again in a composition Can repeat the element in a consistent or varying pattern