Principles of Art

• Balance

  • evenly distributed visual weight in any artwork

  
• Three Types of Balance

  1. Symmetry - two side are identical
  2. Asymmetry - two sides are opposites
  3. Radial - where the design will spread from the center
• Contrast

  • refers to the difference visible between the different elements being used, which include changing the size or value, color or any other separating factor.

  
• Emphasis

  • a key component in a composition to lead the eyes into a particular area, center point or key interest details in the artwork

  
• Movement

  • will lead the viewers' eyes in the desired direction to follow, usually towards the focal point of the composition

  
• Rhythm

  • consists of repeated elements in an artwork which can include all forms of shapes and lines

  
• Unity

  • consists of all the elements in the artwork suiting each other and looking in a pleasing visual result of completeness

  
• Variety

  • key of continuous interest within a composition, to achieve variety use of different elements including color, shapes, lines and patterns

  
• Harmony

  • emphasizes the resemblances between separate yet related elements in an artwork

  
• Pattern

  • can be placed onto any element
  • can be achieved by using repeated decoration of shapes or color

  
• Proportion

  • -and scale relate to the relation of elements in size in comparison to the rest of the objects or elements in an artwork
  • The values of this are also determined by the position, angle or distance of the object in order to correctly judge its proportion and scale in comparison to the rest of the elements