PRINCIPLES

OF DESIGN
By: The One And Only
Gladion
 BALANCE
is the placement of visual
weights. It creates a
feeling of steadiness and
of things looking as if
they belong where they
are. Balance can be
formal (symmetrical)
like your portraits or
informal (asymmetrical)
like the Picasso Artist: Frida Kahlo,
portraits–sides are Self-Portrait, 1940
different, but looks
balanced).
 Rhythm
is organized movement.
It allows the eyes to move
from one part of a design
to another. It can be
achieved through
repeating, graduating,
and alternating.
Artist: Gino
Severini, Dynamic
Hieroglyphic of the
Bal Tabarin, 1912
 Emphasis
is making a center of
interest in your design. It
is the part of the design
which catches your eye
first.

Artist: Jonathan
Borofsky, Walking
to the Sky, 2004
Unity or Harmony
is the feeling that all
parts belong together.
The cohesiveness of an
artwork—how whole,
consistent, and complete
it appears. Unity in art is
not necessarily just a
repetition of the same
element over and over Artist: Wassily
again, but it is the Kandinsky, Circles
pleasing combination of in a Circle, 1923
elements to create a
harmonious
composition.
 Contrast
As a principle of art,
contrast refers to the
arrangement of opposite
elements and effects. For
example, light and dark
colors, smooth and rough
textures, large and small
shapes. Contrast can be
used to create variety, Artist: Caravaggio,
visual interest, and Crucifixion of St.
drama in an artwork. Peter, 1601
Pattern or Repetition
refers to one object or
shape repeated; pattern
is a combination of
elements or shapes
repeated in a recurring
and regular
arrangement; rhythm--is
a combination of
elements repeated, but Artist: René
with variations. Magritte, Golconde
1953
 Movement
can be thought of in two
ways – the first refers to
how an artist depicts
movement using the
elements and principles
of art. The second way
refers to the visual flow
of an artwork, indicated
by the path a viewer’s Artist: Vincent van
eyes take as they look at Gogh, The Starry
the artwork. Night, 1889
 Proportion
is the size relationship
between the various
parts of an artwork.
Artists can use the scale
and proportion to create
sensations such as depth,
realism, disorientation,
and drama.
Artist: Caravaggio,
Still Life with Fruit
on a Stone Ledge,
1605-1610
 Variety
is the size relationship
between the various
parts of an artwork.
Artists can use the scale
and proportion to create
sensations such as depth,
realism, disorientation,
and drama.
Artist: Tom
Thomson, Opulent
October, Winter,
1915