Principles and Elements of Design

The elements and principles of design are the building blocks. The elements of design are the things that make up a drawing or design while the principles of design are what we do to those elements. There are 6 types of design elements which are line, shape, direction, tone, texture and perspective.

Design elements:

1. Line: According to John Lovett, line is the linear marks made with a pen or the edge created when two shapes meet.

2. Shape: A shape is a self contained defined area of geometric or organic form. A positive shape in painting automatically creates a negative shape.
3. Direction: Lines have direction such as horizontal, vertical and oblique. Direction can influence the mood of an artwork.
4. Tone: It means the lightness or darkness of a colour.
5.Texture: The surface quality of a shape - rough, smooth, soft hard glossy and etc. It can be physical or visual.

Physical texture
Source: http://www.johnlovett.com/texture.htm

The image above is an example of physical texture. This painting is done by using Japanese rice paper,
gesso and thick swipes of soft pastel which add a strong three dimensional physical texture.

6. Perspective: Perspective is the appearance of objects in space, and their relationship with each other, and the viewer(Michael Freedom, ‘The Photographer’s Eye’, p52). According to Ian Wright, linear perspective is most common which introduces visual tension and a sense of movement. 

Design Principles:
1.Balance: Balance in design is similar to balance in physic. For examples according to John Lovett, a large shape closes to the center can be balanced by a small shape close to the edge in the image of left hand side.

While for the image on the right hand side,a large light toned shape will be balanced by a small dark toned shape (the darker the shape the heavier it appears to be).

Source: http://www.johnlovett.com/test.htm

2. Proximity: Proximity creates the relationship between elements and provides a focal point. Elements does not have to be put together but they are visually connected in someway.
3. Alignment: It allows us to create order and organisation
4. Repetition: It strengthens on repeating a design of individual elements and it also creates association and consistency.
5. Unity: It relates the design elements to the the idea being expressed in a painting. For an example, an artwork with an active aggressive subject would work better with a dominant oblique direction, rough texture, angular lines etc. whereas a quiet passive subject would benefit from horizontal lines, soft texture and less tonal contrast ( John Lovett, 1999).


References
6 principles of design. Retrieved from  http://www.j6design.com.au/ClientArea/6fundamentalprincipleofdesign

John Lovett. (1999). Retrieved from http://www.johnlovett.com/test.htm