Principles of Design Composition in Artwork

1. 2-D Design IMrs. IgnagniChapter 8Principles of DesignComposition refers to the way art elements (line, shape and form, color and value,space, and texture) are arranged in an artwork.A good composition results in different effects called the principles of design.

2. UnityThe sense of wholeness that results from the successful combinationof the component elements of an artwork • An artwork without unity appears to be a collection of • individual components • An artwork with unity makes you aware of the whole form • before looking at individual parts • Unity can be achieved with proximity (things that appear • overlapping, touching or grouped • Unity can be achieved with similarity in color, value, texture, • shape, or form • Unity can be achieved with continuation; the flow of vision • directed by lines, edges of shapes, and the arrangement of • elements

3. Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks shows unity throughproximity, similarity, and continuation

4. VarietyThe inclusion of differences in the elementsof a composition to offset unity and addinterest to an artwork • Can be achieved by using different materials in the work • Can be achieved by using different forms of the same thing • (colors, values, textures, shapes, forms, and lines)

5. Faith Ringgold’s Tar Beach is a great example of variety in artwork • Different patterns appear on each of the four border strips • A wide variety of shapes and objects and human figures engaged in varied activities are included inside the framing border • Some objects appear flat, and others imply depth • There are contrasting and related colors

6. EmphasisOne element or combination of elements create moreattention than anything else in a composition. • This is the place we tend to look at first • A shape or form may be made dominant by placement in that everything radiates from it in a circular or linear fashion • Contrast of elements such as line, shape, size, color, value, or texture • Contrast in direction (vertical among many horizontals) • Addition of detail in one area

7. The preacher and young woman are the point of emphasis in this painting entitled Baptism in Kansas. Baptism in Kansas by John Steuart Curry

8. Rhythm and MovementRhythm – refers to ways of combining elements to produce the appearance of movement. • Repeating the same element such as a shape or figure with little or no variation • Repeating two or more elements on an alternating basis (circle/square, circle/square). • Progression in which an element gradually changes shape, size, position, or color

9. Edvard Munch’s The Scream shows rhythm of twisting lines that direct the eye from the upper left to the figure. Shapes in the bridge become progressively smaller directing eye back to upper left corner

10. Movement- refers to the arrangement of parts in an artwork to create a sense of motion. • Sequence – the following of one event or image after another in logical ordering (comics) Charles Schulz, Peanuts, is a good example of sequence.

11. Implied Movement – the appearance of movement in a static artwork resulting from an artist’s use of elements. Paul Cezanne’s Still Life with Peppermint Bottle is a good example if implied movement.

12. Optical Movement – an illusion of movement or implied movement, caused by response of the eye to lines, shapes, and colors arranged in artworks Bridget Riley’s Current is a good example of optical movement.

13. Actual Movement in art (kinetic art) is created by construction that contains moving elements that can be set in motion by the action of gravity, air currents, motors, springs, or magnets. Amos Robinson’s Forever, is an example of kinetic art.

14. BalanceThe arrangement of visual elements to create stability in an artwork. • Asymmetrical balance – the visual units on either side of a vertical axis are actually different but are placed in the composition to create a “felt” balance of the total artwork. Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks is an example of asymmetrical balance.

15. Approximate symmetry – the use of forms that are similar yet different, on either side of the vertical axis. Mae West by Salvador Dali is an example of approximate symmetry

16. Radial Balance – the repetitive placement of two or more identical or very similar elements branching or radiating out from a central point. Rosette is an Islamic design that shows radial balance.

17. PatternThe repetition of an element or combination of elements in a recognizable organization over the surface of an area or form. • The repeated element is called a motif. • Creates a visual rhythm that encourages our perception of the whole pattern. • Usually two-dimensional and decorative. • May contribute to unity of parts, variety, and visual interest, and lead the eye from one area to another.

18. Pattern in art… Stone City, Iowa by Grant Wood The Kiss by Gustav Klimt

19. ProportionReflects the size relationship of parts to one another and to a whole. • Ancient Greeks developed the Golden Ratio, a mathematical equation that can be applied to architecture – decorative components relate proportionally to the sized of the structure. • Artists must consider the size relationship of the parts of an artwork to one another. • Can be used to show emphasis, distance in space, and balance. • Scale – the size of an object in relation to size of another object.

20. The Lincoln Memorial shows scale relationship

21. Andrew Wyeth’s Christina’s World uses proportion to indicate spatial distance.

22. The principles of design help artists organize compositions to communicate effectively.