ELEMENTS OF ART IN

DESIGNING
 Any design, whether this is in the architecture of
a house, an object, or a dress, contain these basic
elements namely line, form, color and texture.
These elements are inseparable to one another, be
it in an object or a design on paper. It is the
characteristics of these elements that determine
the quality and beauty of any object or furnishing
Line
A line is an elongation of a point. Where that
elongation leads to show the direction of that line.
The significance of lines in art is the suggestion and
illusion they create to an object, a place, or a
design.
Vertical lines - carry the eyes on an up and down direction
- suggest height, dignity, and strength

Horizontal lines - carry the eye movements sideward.

- suggest width, rest, and quiet.

Curved lines - act as transition lines that break the rigidity of a

vertical or horizontal line.
 This means that
the shape of an
Form - This refers to the mass or substance enclosed object should fit
by the lines. It is the configuration of a design the use or
resulting to a shape. In creating any design, purpose it is
whether this is a dress, a dining table, or a vase, intended for. The
well-fitted
the creator must remember the motto of the dress of a
modern art which is “ form follows function". woman brings
out the shape of
the figure of
that woman.
 A silky smooth
blouse paired
Texture - This refers to the surface arrangement with a velvety
of an object resulting to its fineness or and feathery
roughness. It is beautiful to create skirt makes a
combinations of smooth, moderately beautiful
rough, or rough textures as these create
interest and variation to the eyes. expensive-
looking
combination.
Color -The use of color is one of the most interesting
and exciting elements in a design. Color gives
life to a dress to a room, to a flower
arrangement, or to wall decors in the house. The
appeal of color is universal and the ability to use
color properly is one of the greatest enjoyments
in architecture, in interior designing, and in creating
various furnishings for the house.
Properties or Dimensions of
Color
There are three properties or dimensions of color. These are:
Hue - This is another name given to color. It refers to
the warmth or coolness of a color. Green is a hue and
the difference between green and red is their
difference in hue. The colors that appear in the
rainbow come from light. When light is allowed to
pass through a glass prism, this light breaks into
normal colors which are violet, indigo, blue, green,
yellow, orange, and red.
White is therefore, a combination of all colors in light
while black results from the absence of color or of
light. Gray is neutral resulting from a mixture of
pigments. Warm colors such as red and orange seem
to be advancing while cool colors like blue and green
seem to be receding.
 High values
Value - This refers to the lightness or darkness of a seem to
color or hue. White is the lightest of all colors and has
the highest value while black is the darkest of all increase the size
colors and has the lowest value. As a color moves of a person
towards white it becomes lighter and as it moves wearing white
toward black, it becomes darker, A value lighter than while dark
the normal color is called a tint and a value darker values seem to
than the normal color is its shade decrease the
size of that
person wearing
black.
Study the nine-step value chart which can be used as guide in choosing combination of two or more values in choosing fabrics for a garment.
Intensity - Refers to the brightness or dullness of a
color. Dull colors tend to be quiet while bright colors
are restless. The effect of dull colors in dress with a
bright accents or accessories makes the dress
interesting and colorful yet it conveys a quiet and
soothing effect despite the use of a variety of colors
The intensity of color has a forceful effect; that is why bright
colors should be carefully used. A safe guide though is to follow
the Law of Areas which states that the larger the area to be
covered the less intense the color should be and the smaller the
area, the more intense the color can be.
Prang Color Wheel

A guide in choosing good color

combination is the Prang Color
System. This is a color system
represented in a color wheel
consisting of twelve colors-the
primary colors (red, yellow, blue), the
secondary colors (violet, green,
orange), and the intermediate colors
(yellow green, blue green, blue
violet, red violet, red orange and
yellow orange). Study how these
classes of colors are arranged in the
wheel.
Red, yellow, and blue are primary colors. They are basic
colors because mixing them can produce other colors. On the
other hand, they cannot be produced by mixing other colors.
The secondary colors are a mixture of two primary colors
adjacent to each other in the color wheel. These are violet
(red and blue), orange (yellow and red), and green (blue and
yellow). The intermediate colors are produced by mixing one
primary color and one secondary color. These are red orange
(red and orange), yellow green (yellow and green), blue green
(blue and green), red violet (red and violet), and blue violet
(blue and violet)
Other classes of colors which are not found in the
color wheel are tertiary colors which result from a
mixture of two secondary colors (smoky yellow, slate
blue, and old red brick, etc.). There are quaternary
colors which result from a mixture of two tertiary
colors (olive, prune, and buff). These classes of colors
are neutralizing; that is, their brilliance has been
removed. Today, they are popularly used in fabrics
and houses. Many people prefer colors that are
neutralized because they are restful.
 Principles of Art in Dress and Related Crafts
To achieve order and beauty, one has to follow the principles
of design. These principles are as follows:
1. Harmony - This is the principle which pans impression of unity or
oneness. This can be achieved by selecting and arranging objects and
ideas that are consistent with one another. Consistency means there is
a family resemblance between and among these objects or ideas.
And when these objects are arranged, they create a simple orderly
line which follows the shape of these objects or of the design in
general.
Harmony has six aspects. These are harmony of (a) lines, (b) form,
(c) size, (d) texture, (e) color, and (f) idea.
Harmony of idea provides the theme around which objects are to be
selected and arranged so that a predominant atmosphere pervades as a
result of that arrangement.
2. Balance - This is the principle that produces impression of rest or
stability. The easiest way of acquiring balance in an arrangement is to
put similar or identical objects on both sides of the arrangement so
that what one sees on one side is the same on the other side. However,
if the objects to be arranged are not identical, one must study the
attraction powers of the objects so that one would have to equalize
the attraction powers on both sides to achieve balance
3. Rhythm - This principle refers to related movement that is
organized and easy so that the eyes are easily carried from one
part of the arrangement to the other. To obtain rhythmic
movement in any design, one can do any of the following:
a) repetition of shapes
b) b) progression of sizes
c) c) continuous line movement
4. Emphasis - This is the principle in which the eye is carried first to
the most important thing in an arrangement and from that point to
every other detail in the order of its importance. Whenever any object
is selected and arranged with reference to its appearance, its success
depends on: a) what to emphasize b) how to emphasize c. how much
to emphasize d) where to place emphasis

It is well to remember that the amount of emphasis in any

arrangement should always be restrained. "Keep it simple" should
be the rule. What to emphasize can best be attained by: a grouping
the objects b) using contrasting colors c) using decorations d)
having sufficient plain background space e) making use of unusual
lines, shapes, or sizes
5. Proportion - This principle relates to beautiful space relationships.
When two or more things are put together, proportion, whether good or
bad, is established. This art principle is concerned with good spacing.
The best method in creating good spacing is to adopt a standard. For
centuries, the ancient Greeks have used the oblong as a basis for space
division. This Greek oblong is measured approximately two units on
one side and three units on the long side. The Greek Parthenon is an
example of this. The human body is also a good example of this ratio
of 2:3.
Tips To Consider in Making Beautiful Dress Designs by Combining
Lines, Shapes, Colors, Textures, and Dress Materials

Teenagers are more concerned about their clothes than other age
groups. Dressing well as well as wearing clothes in fashion is
their objective. However, the most important value that students
should know is how their clothing will fit to their type of
personality, their skin tone, their body build, and their height.
Sometimes, there are unattractive parts of the body that should be
hidden. The dress design should enhance the attractive parts of
the body.
The following tips will help you select your own styles using the effects of lines, shapes, color,
textures, and fabric materials.

A. Short but rounded figure

1. Use vertical lines to appear tall.
2. Choose dark or neutral shades to make your body look slimmer.
3. Use one color only to appear slimmer.
4. Wear a fitted skirt that is not too loose of a blouse to appear
slimmer.
5. Wear a blouse with figure length or up to the first hips only to
appear taller
B. Tall and thin or petite figure
1. Wear garments with horizontal lines to appear shorter in height.
Choose bright colors in large amounts to make your body look
larger.
2. Wear an outfit with contrasting colors like yellow and blue to
make your appearance larger.
3. Wear clothing with puffed sleeves, loose blouse to appear stouter,
shearing or pleated skirts to add bulkiness.
C. Figures with broad and rounded shoulders
1. Avoid using shoulder pads. To make shoulders appear smaller,
use extended sleeves on blouses like kimono and raglan sleeves,
2. Use one color on the blouse to appear smaller.

D. Figures with narrow shoulders

1. Use bigger shoulder pads on tailored sleeves or extended sleeves
Use puff sleeves to add bulkiness on the shoulders.
2. Use bright colors in large amounts to make the shoulders look
larger
E. Figures with short necks
Use square, boat, open, round, heart-shaped, shawl, V-
shaped, and U-shaped necklines to make the neck appear longer

F. Figures with long necks

Use blouse with collars such as mandarin or Chinese
collars, trubenized open, or collarless. Use a scarf or wide
chokers to cover the neck.
 Basic Hand Stitches Guidelines for Hand Sewing

1. Use a needle with the right size for your fabric. For woven fabrics,
use a regular needle. For knitted fabrics use, a ball point needle.
2. Use a single or double thread, depending on the needs with 46-61 cm
(18 to 24 inches) long. Thread that is too long tangles easily.
3. Tie a knot at the end of the thread. For basting, a knot is not needed.
4. Wear a thimble on the middle finger of the hand you sew with.
5. Keep stitches loose to avoid puckering of the fabric.
6. To secure the thread in the fabric when you begin, make a few small
stitches in one place or make a knot.

To end stitching, make several stitches in one place or make

knot. This keeps stitches from pulling out.
 Temporary Hand Stitches

There are two temporary stitches, the basting and the easing or
gathering stitches.

Basting Stitch
The basting stitch is a basic stitch for hand sewing. Its purpose is
to hold garment pieces or parts together until they are stitched
permanently. You might hand baste a collar to a shirt or blouse, lace
to a garment, or attach cuff or waistband or sleeve into a garment.
Hand basting helps you to be more accurate when you stitch garment
parts together permanently by machine or by hand. Basting stitches
are removed after permanent stitching is complete.
To make basting stitches:
1. If you are right-handed, work from right to left. If you are
left-handed, work from left to right.
2. Make stitches about 6 mm or 1/4 inch long on lightweight
fabrics. Make longer stitches on heavier fabrics. The stitches
should be firm and it should neither be too loose nor too tight
3. Make stitches of the same length on both sides of the fabric.
Easing or Gathering Stitch
The easing or gathering stitch is used when one garment part
must be either eased or gathered to make it fit against another
garment part.

To make the easing or gathering stitch, do basting stitches except

that the stitches are shorter, 3 mm to 6 mm (1/8 to ¼ in)- Leave
about 5 cm (2 in) of thread at both ends.
 Permanent Hand Stitches

There are many different permanent hand stitches. Each has a

different purpose. For example, some are used for sewing hems in
place. Others are used to hold garment pieces flat, to sew fabric pieces
together, or to finish raw fabric edges.

Read the descriptions with the directions for each of the permanent
hand stitches illustrated here. This information will help you decide
when to use each stitch.

a. Overcast Stitch
The overcast stitch is used to finish raw edges of fabric to prevent
raveling.
b. Buttonhole Stitch
The buttonhole stitch is used when making hand-finished
buttonholes. For this purpose, the stitches must be placed very close
together. If this stitch is for decoration, it can be stitched farther apart.

To do this:
1. Work from right to left (if right-handed) or left to right (if left-
handed).
2. Keep stitches evenly spaced and of the same depth.

3. Make stitches about 6 mm (1/4in) deep on lightweight fabrics.

Take deeper stitches in heavier fabrics or on fabrics that ravel easily
 C. Hemming Stitch
This is used to attach a hem edge to the garment. It is easy to do, but
it is not very durable. A lot of thread is exposed which is subject to
wear and catching on heels, jewelry, or other things.
 Remember These!!!

1. The four elements of art are line, form, color, and texture.
2. The dimensions of color are hue, value, and intensity. 2.
3. The Prang Color Wheel is a guide in choosing good color
combination.
4. The principles of art applied in sewing are harmony, balance,
proportion, rhythm, and emphasis.
5. There are basic hand stitches to learn for beginning sewing.
Please Study
Thank You and God Bless!