Natomas High School Design Department, Graphic Design - Elements and Principles of Visual Design (information seems somewhat less accurate and often oversimplified)
The website of Inglemoor High School's art teacher, Rob Flye (info seems more thoughtful and well reasoned)
And combining them with those written by Matt Kohr in his video series that we looked at previously in order to create a somewhat concise list.
Elements of design - the ingredients we use seperately or combined to create art. "Their use produces the visual language of art".
- Line -
- Shape - 2D shape on canvas
- Form - 3D form depicted
- Value -
- Color -
- Texture - simulated (purely visual) or actual (tactile) texture on a work of art
- Space -
Principles of Design - concepts that determine how we use the elements in a composition
- Balance
- Rhythm
- Pattern
- Scale
- Movement
- Contrast
- Emphasis
- Unity
Line can be created
- explicit (an actual distinct line)
- implied (by the edge of a form)
- Outline (diagrammatic, contours)
- Shade and show form (hatching, cross hatching, structural lines)
- Decorate
- Express emotion
- Direct viewer's eye
Lines can be
- Horizontal
- Vertical
- Diagonal
- Curved
- Zigzag
Lines can look
- A constant thickness - descriptive, analytical, objective, showing little of the action used to create them
- Varied in thickness - flowing, calligraphic, lyrical, showing something of the gesture used to make them
Expressive, gestural lines how force, speed, emotion of their making. Swoop, slash, scar, skip, skid, stutter, whisper across the surface. More confident lines that build up as artist attempts to capture the subject can display character, process of imagination, interest.
Shape is the term used to talk about 2D shapes on a plane rather than 3D forms.
Shapes are enclosed spaces that are defined by line or by contrast to surroundings.
Shapes can be
- Geometric
- Organic
Form is the term used to talk about 3D shapes - defined volumes in space.
Forms can be
- Geometric
- Organic
Space is the term used to talk about
- the distance around an element or between multiple elements
- the illusion of depth created on the picture plane
Space between elements can emphasise the distance between the elements - used often in film to show emotional separation between two characters.
As space between elements decreases, the space between them more distinctly defined, emphasising the shape/volume of the space, which can create interest. Visual tension builds as they come close to touching. Can be more interesting than if they do contact.
Don't quite understand this bit - further research.
Regarding space and the frame
- An object's gaze or motion - if towards a nearby frame edge can draw attention to interaction between object and frame. Gazing or moving off the frame.
- Above can be used to draw attention to what is outside the frame
- As can external elements reaching into frame - can imply a wider world
- But obviously also potential to lead the eye out of the frame compositionally
Positive and Negative Space
- Positive space is the subject or areas of detail or physical mass of the art
- Negative space is the area around these bits, the background or space around the art.
- Also known as figure and ground
- A figure-ground reversal is when a light figure is on a dark ground - subverts the norm of having dark figure on light ground.
Perspective and Depth
- Overlapping objects - order of distance from viewer shown by overlapping objects with other objects
- Size - relative sizes of objects - mountains vs trees, etc - to create depth
- Level of detail/focus - percieve less detail on distant objects. Detail closer to us can sometimes help create depth
- Atmospheric Perspective - levels of contrast increase when closer
- Color - GENERALLY, warm colours appear nearer, cool colours appear more distant
- Linear and Curvilinear Perspective - 1, 2, 3 pt = linear, 4, 5, 6 pt = curvelinear, fisheye
Balance is the distribution of interest or visual weight throughout a work.
- If all visual weight in one place and off-center, then work is off balance
- also viewer's gaze stuck in one spot, ignoring the rest of the image
- A balanced image will have art elements arranged so that different areas draw the eye around the piece
- 3D work has both visual balance and physical balance of mass. The presence of one doesn't guarantee the other.
Symmertric/Formal Balance
- When one side of the piece mirrors the other side to create an evenly balanced and symmetrical image
- Less dynamic than asymmetry
- More stable and orderly than asymmetry
A scale between symmetry and asymmetry. Near-symmetry occurs in nature and often in art, where it's not exactly symmetrical - there are small differences to create more visual interest, liveliness and less rigidity.
Larger yet balanced differences create:
Asymmetric/Informal Balance
- A heavy weight can be balanced by several lighter weights, or one lighter weight far from the fulcrum
The page lists the following balances
- A large common shape balanced by a small irregular one
- A dominant element of dull colour balanced by a patch of something bright (saturated?)
- A small area of texture/detail might balacne a larger smoother area or less varied area
Don't quite understand these exactly - look at research on visual weight
Radial Balance
- Parts distributed evenly in a radial manner around the centrepoint
Further links on negative space
http://designmodo.com/negative-space/
Further links on design principles
http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~yilin/IE7315_2010/Paper%20Review%20Schedule/Design%20aesthetics%20principles%20of%20pleasure%20in%20design.pdf
Further links on design principles
http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~yilin/IE7315_2010/Paper%20Review%20Schedule/Design%20aesthetics%20principles%20of%20pleasure%20in%20design.pdf
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