Image Composition:

Principals of Design
• Balance
• Emphasis/contrast
• Movement
• Pawern/repellon
• Proporlon
• Rhythm
• Variety
• Unity/Harmony
Balance
• The distribulon of the VISUAL weight of elements such as colors,
objects, textures, space, etc. Balance can be symmetrical,
asymmetrical, or radial (arranged around a central point)
Emphasis/ Contrast:
The part of the design that catches the viewers attention; artists can
emphasize an area or make it stand out by contrasting it with other
areas.
Pattern/Repetition:
These two work together, repeating of an object or symbol throughout
the work (working towards creating unity and rhythm)
Movement:
• Crealng the feeling of aclon, and guiding the viewer through the
image, crealng a path of sorts through lines, color shapes etc.
Propor:on:
The way in which elements of the image (sizes, amounts) relate to the
whole and to one another.
Rhythm:
• Rhythm works together with elements like repetition and pattern,
using variety, rhythm creates a mood, or visual tempo.
Variety:
This element has to do with contrast and diversity by using variations
such as different shapes, colors, sizes etc. Essentially using several
different elements of design in order to hold a viewers attention and
guide the eye through the work.
Unity / Harmony:
Unity is the sense of completeness, a all parts are working together to
create harmony. Unity and variety compliment one another.
 Examples
Look through this colleclon of painlngs and think about the elements
discussed. Can you idenlfy some of them?
Piet Mondrian, Composition with Red Blue and Yellow, 1930
Edward Degas, the Dance Class, 1874
Paul Klee, Around the Fish, 1926
Kazimir Malevich Painterly Realism of a Boy with a Knapsack -Color Masses in the Fourth Dimension, 1915
Paul Klee, Actor's Mask, 1924
Andy Warhol, Self Portrait, 1966
Massachio, San Giovenale Triptych or Cascia Altarpiece, 1422
Andy Warhol Flowers, 1964
MC Escher, Swans, 1956
Gillian Carnegie Hanser, 2010
Martin Creed Work No. 1105, 2011
Wayne Thiebald, Cakes, 1963
Kizi Spielmann Rose, Sun and a Tide Pool, 2017
Damien Hirst Monument to the Living and the Dead, 2006
Michael Kidner Dissolving Yellow, 2001
Vincent Van Gogh, Starry Night, 1889
Hieronymus Bosch, The Garden of Earthly Delights, c.1500
Ambera Wellmann, Temper Ripened, 2017
Kazimir Malevich Suprematist Composition Airplane Flying, 1915
Edward Ruscha, BLVD.-AVE.-ST. 2006
Laura Payne, Enneadec II, 2017
Paul Winstanley TV Room V, 1997
Christopher Wool UnTtled, 1997
Lee Ufan From Winds 1982
André Fougeron The Cock Fighters 1950
S.-Davidson, the garden at night, 2018
Barnett Newman Adam, 1951
Frank Stella, Title not Known, 1967
Joan Miro, Bleu,
Wayne Thiebald, Around the Cakes, 1962
Wayne Theibaud, For Nan, 1997/2001
Joan Miró, Plate (folio 30) from Le Lézard aux plumes d'or (The
Lizard with Golden Feathers), 1971
Joani Tremblay, The Lure of the Local Senses of Place in a
MulTcentered Society, 2017
Dorothea Tanning Some Roses and Their Phantoms 1952
David Hockney, A Bigger Splash, 1967
Georgio DeChirico
Georgio DeChirico
Frida Khalo
Giorgio Morandi
Veronika Pausova, Typography, 2017
Jean-Michel Basquiat UnTtled, 1985
Giorgio Morandi