Principles of art design

Concepts:
Perception of an art is governed by different principles of art design
Principles guide artist in making his art more beautiful and interesting to the observers

Artist can give observers new varied and satisfying experience - through combination of
lines, colors, and forms

Design - overall organizational visual structure of formal elements in work of art

Harmony - quality which produces an impression of unity through the
arrangement of consistent objects or ideas. Every orderly arrangement results
in harmony
Balance- quality of art which gives a feeling of rest, repose, equilibrium, or
stability
Proportion - quality of an art which shows pleasing relationship between a
whole and its parts and among the parts themselves
Rhythm - regular, uniform or related movement made through the repetition of
a unit or motif
Emphasis - quality of art which tends to carry the eyes from the center of
interest or dominant part of any composition to the less important or
subordinate parts

Introduction

Principle of art design

Design
 It is the proper arrangement of different art elements in order to produce something
beautiful
 It makes objects differ from one perception to another
 Good design is the result of careful and correct application of principles of design
Important factor for an artist to remember - to execute these principles in order to achieve
beauty and better perception

Elements of art vs. Perception of art design

Elements of art - parts of a whole
Perception of art design - rules or guides to help one put these elements together

Principles of art design - harmony, rhythm, balance proportion and emphasis

i. Harmony
 Is the principle which produces an impression of unity through selection and
arrangement of consistent objects or ideas
 It is the quality which unifies every part of an arrangement
 If there is harmony, there is order. Every orderly arrangement is harmonious
5 aspects of harmony
a. Harmony of lines and shapes
Lines are made harmonious by either repeating the shape of lines or by
connection transitional lines to contrasting lines.
 Transitional line to merely transition - usually curved, graceful line
which connects two opposing or contrasting lines
Latter - straight lines which intersects each other and form angles:
this manner is called contrasting or opposing lines
Contradiction - form of transition, but because it is not harmonious, it
may be classified under the lines in contrast. It is a straight line
connecting two opposing line diagonally
b. Harmony in size - refers to good proportion
c. Harmony in color
Means using two or more colors in decorating an article or object. Does
not mean mixing of the color
a. Harmony in texture
Character of texture - determined by feeling the object. Coarse textures
should not be combined with fine textures
e. harmony of idea
Ex. Combining antique and modern furniture in the same room does not
show harmony of idea
ii. Balance
 Balance is a condition or quality which gives felling of rest, repose, equilibrium. Or
stability
 It is the visual weights of lines, forms, values, textures and colors that we balance
= visual weight is the quality which gains and holds attention; the power of attraction
of each of the elements of art
a. Formal or symmetrical balance - balance of equal visual weights placed at
equal distances from the axis. Classical painting and designs are mostly formal
Classified into 2:
 Bisymmetrical, absolute in perfect balance and symmetrical
 Balance of identical objects (identical in form, value, size, texture
and color) placed on each side of central axis and equally distant
from the center
 Bisymmetrical balances are obvious or apparent balance, but not all
obvious are bisymmetrical
 Apparent or obvious balance
 Uninteresting pictorially
 Reason why informal arrangements figure in well-designed posters
and advertisement
b. Informal or asymmetrical - balance or unequal visual weights. Objects can be
balanced formally by changing their distances from the center and by
increasing or decreasing visual eight of one of them.
 Occult balance and free balance - heavier one being nearer the axis and
the lighter one farther
 Slant or diagonal balance - form of informal balance in which objects are
balanced on diagonal axis
 Informal symmetry - difficult to recognize and to use than formal one
iii. Proportion
 Art principle which shows pleasing relationship between a whole and its parts and
between the parts themselves
 Achieved through proper arrangement of space divisions
 Generally expressed in terms of ratios
 Greek oblong or rectangle - standard Greek proportion for two dimensional or flat
surfaces. Whose ration is two is to three (2:3)
 Three aspects of proportion, proportion in grouping of objects; proportion in
space division and scales

Other Art Principles

The other art principles which are of equal importance to the ones previously discussed are:
1. Novelty or Newness
- A new style of dress appears more attractive and interesting than ordinary dress design.
2. Variety or variation.
A set of furniture which is arranged in a certain way and remained as it is for long periods
of time appears to be monotonous. Variation in the arrangement or style of furniture makes the
space the furniture occupies more interesting and or attractive.
3. Utility, Adaptability, or Function
A work of art must not only possess beauty but also utility. The object must be adaptable to
the purpose for which it is made. This is especially true to all practical arts. In designing modern
structures, function is now the first consideration.
4. Contrast
This art principle is synonymous to opposition or contradiction. It has some relationships with
balance and emphasis. Two contrasting lines or colors may balance each other. The center of
interest in a composition is in contrast with the subordinating parts in the same composition.
Nature provides many examples of contrasting objects. For instance, the colors of flowers
contrast the color of leaves.