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::ELEMENTS
This tutorial will demonstrate the elements and principles of design which
are normally taught to early art students in order to understand various
properties used in art making. This is not an exhaustive list, so please add,
subtract, and combine to make this tutorial more comprehensive.
Elements
Principles
Color
Line
Shape
Space
Texture
Value
Size
Balance
Contrast
Emphasis
Proportion
Pattern
Gradation
Composition
Overview
Elements of Design
The following elements are the building blocks of design.
Line
A line is defined as a mark with length and direction, created by a point
that moves across a surface. A line can vary in length, width, direction,
curvature, and color. Line can be two-dimensional (a pencil line on
paper), or implied three-dimensional.
Shape
A flat figure, shape is created when actual or implied lines meet to
surround a space. A change in color or shading can define a shape.
Shapes can be divided into several types: geometric (square, triangle,
circle) and organic (irregular in outline).
Size
This refers to variations in the proportions of objects, lines or shapes.
There is a variation of sizes in objects either real or imagined.
BIG
small
Space
Space is the empty or open area between, around, above, below, or
within objects. Shapes and forms are made by the space around and
within them. Space is often called three-dimensional or two-
dimensional. Positive space is filled by a shape or form. Negative
space surrounds a shape or form.
Color
Color is the perceived character of a surface according to the
wavelength of light reflected from it. Color has three dimensions: HUE
(another word for color, indicated by its name such as red or yellow),
VALUE (its lightness or darkness), INTENSITY (its brightness or
dullness).
Texture
Texture is the way a surface feels (actual texture) or how it may look
(implied texture). Textures are described by word such as rough, silky,
or pebbly.
Value
Value is how dark or how light something looks. We achieve value
changes in color by adding black or white to the color. Chiaroscuro
uses value in drawing by dramatically contrasting lights and darks
in a composition.
Principles of Design
The principles use the elements of design to create a composition.
Balance
Balance is a feeling of visual equality in shape, form, value, color, etc.
Balance can be symmetrical or evenly balanced or asymmetrical and
un-evenly balanced. Objects, values, colors, textures, shapes, forms,
etc., can be used in creating a balance in a composition.
Contrast
Contrast is the juxtaposition of opposing elements
Emphasis
Emphasis is used to make certain parts of their artwork stand out
and grab your attention. The center of interest or focal point is the
place a work draws your eye to first.
Proportion
Proportion describes the size, location or amount of one thing compared
to another.
Random Ant & 4WD
SVG Image Created by Andrew FitzsimonCourtesy of Open Clip Art Libraryhttp://www.openclipart.org/
Pattern
Pattern is created by repeating an element (line, shape or color) over
and over again.
Gradation
Gradation of size and direction produce linear perspective. Gradation
of color from warm to cool and tone from dark to light produce aerial
perspective. Gradation can add interest and movement to a shape. A
gradation from dark to light will cause the eye to move along a shape.
Composition
The combining of distinct elements to form a whole.
Bibliography
This is a partial bibliography used to build this document.
http://sanford-artedventures.com/study/study.html
http://www.makart.com/resources/artclass/EPlist.html
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/Files/elements2.htm
http://oswego.org/staff/bpeterso/web/elements_and_principles.htm
http://www.johnlovett.com/test.htm
http://digital-web.com/articles/elements_of_design/
http://digital-web.com/articles/principles_of_design/
Special thanks to Linda Kim (http://www.redlucite.org) for helping
me (http://www.rejon.org/) with this tutorial. Also, thanks to the
Open Clip Art Library (http://www.openclipart.org/) and the graphics
people have submitted to that project.
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