Elements & Principles of Design
The works must be conceived with fire in the soul but executed with clinical coolness. Joan Miró
Elements of Design
Line -Linear marks made of objects appear as line. Line can be horizontal or vertical. Example: A stem of a flower can create line.
Shape - A shape is self-contained area and can be geometric or organic. Example: Leaf is organic and stop sign is geometric.
Direction: All lines have direction and the direction can create movement in your image. Example: A road will lead us to the background.
Proportion - The relationship between the size of objects. Example: If you have a hand in the foreground and a person in the distance, the person will appear to
be smaller than the hand in the foreground.
Texture - Texture is the surface quality of a shape and can be rough, smooth, soft, hard, or shiny. Example: Tree bark has more texture than a leaf.
Value: The lightness or darkness of a color. Value is also called tone. Example: A picture of the trees will have a black shadow, gray leaves and white sky and all the gray values in between. A sunny day will work better than a cloudy day because the sun will create more shadows.
Color: Use primary, secondary, and tertiary color schemes to create emphasis. You can also get more complicated feel by using complementary colors. Color is a great way to create emotional impact.
Principles of Design
Repetition creates Pattern
Contrast - The state of being strikingly different from something else, typically something in juxtaposition or close association. Contrast creates Emphasis
Balance - Symmetrical or A-Symmetrical Balance
Contrast - Changes in value can create ariel perspective. Far away mountains are lighter and get darker as you approach them.
Movement - Repetition of similar shapes can make the eye move through the image.
Harmony - Similar shapes or values can create a sense of harmony, and can help move the viewers eye throughout the image.
Variety - Different shapes or values can create contrast or break up the static feel of an image.
Focal Point - A focal point such as the eyes on a face are the place where the viewer will look first, and the focal point is usually related to the theme or concept of the image.
Unity - The elements in the image that are related and cause the elements to work together.
The works must be conceived with fire in the soul but executed with clinical coolness. Joan Miró
Elements of Design
Line -Linear marks made of objects appear as line. Line can be horizontal or vertical. Example: A stem of a flower can create line.
Shape - A shape is self-contained area and can be geometric or organic. Example: Leaf is organic and stop sign is geometric.
Direction: All lines have direction and the direction can create movement in your image. Example: A road will lead us to the background.
Proportion - The relationship between the size of objects. Example: If you have a hand in the foreground and a person in the distance, the person will appear to
be smaller than the hand in the foreground.
Texture - Texture is the surface quality of a shape and can be rough, smooth, soft, hard, or shiny. Example: Tree bark has more texture than a leaf.
Value: The lightness or darkness of a color. Value is also called tone. Example: A picture of the trees will have a black shadow, gray leaves and white sky and all the gray values in between. A sunny day will work better than a cloudy day because the sun will create more shadows.
Color: Use primary, secondary, and tertiary color schemes to create emphasis. You can also get more complicated feel by using complementary colors. Color is a great way to create emotional impact.
Principles of Design
Repetition creates Pattern
Contrast - The state of being strikingly different from something else, typically something in juxtaposition or close association. Contrast creates Emphasis
Balance - Symmetrical or A-Symmetrical Balance
Contrast - Changes in value can create ariel perspective. Far away mountains are lighter and get darker as you approach them.
Movement - Repetition of similar shapes can make the eye move through the image.
Harmony - Similar shapes or values can create a sense of harmony, and can help move the viewers eye throughout the image.
Variety - Different shapes or values can create contrast or break up the static feel of an image.
Focal Point - A focal point such as the eyes on a face are the place where the viewer will look first, and the focal point is usually related to the theme or concept of the image.
Unity - The elements in the image that are related and cause the elements to work together.