The Principles of Composition & Design

	The Principles of Composition & Design

The Principles
of Composition & Design

(Seeing the Forest Around the Trees)

The Whole Is Greater
Than The Sum
Of Its Parts

The Principles of Composition:

UNITY

BALANCE

MOVEMENT

RHYTHM

FOCUS
(Emphasis)

CONTRAST

PATTERN

PROPORTION

ARTiculation:

The Principles of Design

The ARTIST'S TOOLKIT

The Alphabet of Art

Visual Perception

Daniel Chandler

The Principles of
Composition & Design

are the rules of grammar

of the Visual Language

The Principles

organize the Visual Elements

into a

pleasing and comprehensible

WHOLE.

This organization is called

Composition

Our first

response

to a composition

is to perceive it as a

WHOLE.

This response is

SUBJECTIVE.

Composition

reflects

intention.

THE PRINCIPLES

UNITY

UNITY is the quality of cohesion that makes an artwork feel complete and finished. Artists achieve unity by using consistent methods and concepts to reveal the meaning, purpose, and/or the intention of their artwork.

Distinctive ways of creating unity are often identified as artistic styles.

Unity

Unity
(Visual Thinking)

ARTiculation's
on line "Review" exercise

Gestalt Principles of Visual Organization,

The Principle of "Pragnanz" (Good Form)
Daniel Chandler

BALANCE

BALANCE refers to the distribution of visual weight in a work of art. "Empty" areas should not appear to be unfinished. Instead, they should represent void, or negative space.

Likewise, positive shapes and forms should not appear to be too crowded, heavy, or "busy." Balanced art may suggest motion, but it should not appear to be so unstable as if to suggest it is about to fall over or hang crookedly.

Balance

Balance
(Visual Thinking)

Symmetrical & Asymmetrical Balance | Watch

Symmetrical & Asymmetrical Balance | Create

ARTiculation's
on line "Balance" exercise

MOVEMENT

MOVEMENT Visual movement is used by artists to direct the scanning behavior of the eye along a circuit or path within an artwork. This circuit leads the viewer to areas of visual interest, focus, and/or emphasis.

Motion is suggested by the Action Line of the subject in a picture. The action line moves in the apparent direction that the subject is moving or looking.

Movement

Motion
(Visual Literacy)

Direction
(Visual Literacy)

Movement
(Visual Thinking)

Motion Perception

Kinetics Links

RHYTHM

RHYTHM is the sequencing or repetition of visual movement presented by the composition of visual elements: colors, shapes, lines, values, forms, spaces, and textures. Variation and contrast keep rhythm interesting and dynamic.

Rhythm

Rhythm
(Visual Thinking)

Visual Rhythm | Watch

Visual Rhythm | Find

FOCUS

FOCUS is the emphasized form or area which draws attention and reveals the subject, central idea, or theme of an image. Emphasis is often achieved by using rhythm and movement to lead the eye to an element that is unique, or has a contrasting value, shapes, sizes, or colors.

Focus and contrast are the same principles as emphasis and variety. In photography, selective focus can be optically achieved with a lens.

Emphasis

see Emphasis
(Visual Thinking)

ARTiculation's
on line "Emphasis" exercise

CONTRAST

CONTRAST is the organized interplay of visual differences which provides variety and stimulates visual movement. Contrast refreshes the eye and enables the viewer to better perceive and evaluate the relationships between the visual elements.

Variety

Dichotomies

PATTERN

PATTERN is a system of elements which creates a recognizable sequence of repetition. Pattern may also be thought of as the underlying structure, concept, or plan, that organizes the artwork. Patterns may be natural or artificial.

Harmony

Pattern
(Visual Thinking)

Repetition Creates Pattern | Watch

Repetition Creates Pattern | Find

Searching for Patterns

(D. Chandler)

Proportion

Proportion refers to relationships of size and form between the WHOLE and it's parts. Although proportion can often be mathematically measured and described, it can also be compared to one's expectations of natural or ideal form. Proportion is usually related to size and scale. Proportion often influences the emphasis of an image, and our sense of space.

Proportion

Beautiful Proportions

The Golden Ratio

Sacred Geometry

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Updated: July 22, 2004