Principles of Design
Balance: The arrangement of the parts of an artwork to give an overall sense of
equality in visual weight. Balance can be symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial.
Emphasis: The visual accent, stress, or sense of importance created in an artwork by the color, size, shape, and placement of an object or area; the area or object to
which the viewer's attention is drawn.
Pattern: The regular repetition of colors, lines, shapes, or forms in an artwork.
Proportion: The relationship between the size, placement, or amount of one part of an artwork and that of another part of the whole. For example, an artist drawing a
head will keep in mind the size relationship of the nose to the face.
Rhythm: A sense of movement achieved by the repetition of one or more elements of art, such as colors, lines, shapes, or forms in an artwork.
Unity: The quality that occurs when all parts of an artwork combine to create a sense
of wholeness and completion.
Variety: The use of different elements of art to add interest to an artwork.
Composition: The arrangement of elements of art such as line, shape, and color
to create a balanced, unified artwork.
Design: The creative, organized and methodical arrangement of lines, spaces,
colors, shapes, textures, and other elements in an artwork. Also, the act of
planning and arranging the parts of an artwork
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