The Language of Design



Works of art consist of unique arrangements of the obvious and the not-so-obvious. In order to understand any art object, you must be willing to go beyond the obvious and examine the not-so-obvious as well. To do this, you need to know what to look for. Art uses a language of its own—words that refer to the visual elements (or basic parts) and the principles (the guidelines for putting the parts together).

One of the most important things to look for in works of art is the way those works have been designed or planned. To do this, you must know what the elements and principles of art are and how they are used to create art objects.

The elements of art are the basic components, or building blocks. They consist of color, value, line, texture, shape, form, and space. Artists use the elements of art to express their ideas. We are not referring to the media the artist uses, such as paint or clay or stone, but to the visual vocabulary used by the artist.

Below is a basic definition of each term:

Line - A continuous mark made on some surface by a moving point.

Color - Color is an element made up of three distinct qualities: hue, intensity, and value. Hue refers to the name of a color. Intensity is the brightness and purity of the color.

Value - The lightness or darkness of the color. Shape - An area clearly set off by one or more of the visual elements such as color, value, line, texture, and space.

Form - An object with three dimensions.

Texture - The element of art that refers to the way things feel, or look as if they might feel if touched.

Space - The distance or area between, around, above, below or within things.

If the elements of art are what artists use to express their ideas, what are the principles of art? The principles of art are the different ways the elements can be used in a work of art. The principles of art consist of balance, emphasis, harmony, variety, gradation, movement, rhythm, and proportion.

Working with the Elements

typically, artists are faced with the challenge of considering several elements with each step they take in creating a work of art. They cannot, for example, work effectively with color without considering other elements. They must realize that the selection and application of one hue (color) in one part of a painting will have an impact upon the hues, shapes, lines, and textures used in other parts of the work. Some artists respond to this challenge in a deliberate, thoughtful manner, while others are more spontaneous and intuitive. It will be important for you to understand and appreciate the different ways in which different artists respond to this challenge. To do this, you will need to be familiar with the elements of art and understand how the principles of design are used.

The Principles of Design

principles of design describe the different ways artists can use each element. When artists add the element of shape to their painting, for example, they deliberately or instinctively decide how this element will be used. The placement of certain shapes in the right places might help balance the picture, or a combination of large and small, light and dark shapes could be used to add variety to a composition. Some shapes might also be repeated in a way that suggests movement or rhythm in the picture. A decision might be made to include a series of shapes that change gradually, or in a gradation, from round to angular. An angular shape might be placed in the midst of many round shapes, a contrast which would create emphasis. The difference in proportion between a large, important shape and smaller, less important shapes helps to highlight that importance. When working with shape or any other element, artists seek variety without chaos, harmony without monotony. The elements must fit together and work together to make a complete and unified whole.

In order to understand works of art, you will need to know how the principles of design are used. You will use this knowledge whether you are examining works created by artists who deliberately use a variety of art principles, or by artists who create by instinct. Learning the principles will help you recognize and enjoy one of the most fascinating things about works of art: how they are put together.

The following brief definitions of the principles should help you determine how the elements of art can be used to produce art. Remember, each of these principles describes a unique way of combining or joining elements to achieve different effects.

Balance - A way of combining elements to add a feeling of equilibrium or stability to a work of art. Balance can be of three kinds: symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial.

Emphasis - A way of combining elements to stress the differences between those elements. Often, contrasting elements are used to direct and focus the viewer’s attention on the most important parts of a design.

Harmony - A way of combining similar elements to accent their similarities in an artwork. This is accomplished through the use of repetition and subtle, gradual changes.

Variety - A way of combining elements in involved ways to create intricate and complicated relationships. Variety is achieved through diversity and change. Artists turn to this principle when they want to increase the visual interest of their works.

Gradation - A way of combining elements by using a series of gradual changes in those elements. For example, a gradual change from a small shape to a large shape, or from a dark hue to a light hue, would be gradation.

Movement and Rhythm - The principle of design used to create the illusion and feeling of action and to guide the viewer’s eye throughout the work of art.

Proportion - The principle of design concerned with the relationship of certain elements to the whole and to each other. Often, proportion is closely allied to emphasis.