ARTS
1A, E. Bresnan (Rev.10/08)
Text:
Sayre, Henry: A World of Art, Part 2, Chapters 5-9.
FORMAL ELEMENTS & PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
A FORMAL
ANALYSIS IS ALL ABOUT FORM AND ONLY ABOUT FORM
A Formal
Analysis is not the subject, content or context. It is only about the
composition itself.
The Formal
Elements and Principles of Design apply to all visual compositions: everything
from vehicle design to advertising, interior design, architecture,
clothing/fabric design, product
packaging,
company logos, landscape design, stagecraft and costume, to film, fine art,
sculpture, painting and photographyÉand lots more.
See also:
CD packaged with new textbooks:
-reinforce
your understanding
-experiment
with effects of variations in Formal Elements & Principles of Design.
1
KNOW THE
FORMAL ELEMENTS: THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF A COMPOSITION
1 Line
2 Shape- 2-D,
figure vs. ground
3 Mass or
Form: 3-D, may be real or illusion real ireal: sculpture or illusion: in a
painting)
4* Space- may
be real (i.e. sculpture) or illusion (i.e. painting)
5*
Light/Value- always relative to what is around them
6* Color- also
relative to what is around it
7 Texture
& Pattern: may be real (i.e. sculpture) or illusion (i.e. photo)
8 Time and
Motion: may be real or illusion
RECOGNIZE
THE PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN: ARRANGEMENT OF BUILDING BLOCKS
1 Balance:
symmetrical, asymmetrical, radial
2 Focal Point
& Emphasis
3 Scale &
Proportion
4 Repetition
& Rhythm
5 Unity &
Variety
Vocabulary:
appropriate
use of art vocabulary in discussion or writing.
2
MORE ABOUT
SPACE
How to create
the illusion of 3-D space on the 2-D surface/picture plane?
A Overlap
B Scale
C Linear
perspective: Western art convention
Parallel lines
recede to vanishing point on the horizon.
One point
perspective w/ 1 vanishing point= tunnel effect.
Two-point
perspective has multiple vanishing pts= more dynamic.
Vanishing
point can be outside the edge of the composition.
Perceived by
ancients, but refined, perfected during Renaissance.
Adjustments
may be required to correct distortions of scale.
Foreshortening:
adjustments to parts of object closest to viewer, to
eliminate
distortion/exaggeration of size.
SOME
ALTERNATIVES TO LINEAR PERSPECTIVE
D
Axonometric perspective: Used for architecture and engineering
Parallel lines
remain parallel, do not recede to common vanishing point.
Eliminates
distortions of scale that you see in linear perspective.
E Oblique
projection: Asian art convention
Distant
objects located at top of composition and close objects at bottom.
Distant
objects become smaller.
F
Atmospheric or Aerial Perspective (See LIGHT)
In western art
tradition, generally used in combination with linear perspective.
3
MORE ABOUT
LIGHT
Atmospheric
or Aerial perspective: effects of earth's atmosphere
-Close objects
are sharper, Distant objects are fuzzier.
-Close objects
are brighter, Distant objects are duller, toned down.
-Distant
objects are bluer or at least cooler color.
Chiaroscuro:
light dark transition, skillful use of this transition
Modeling-
manipulating lights and darks to create illusion of 3-D object
Imitates the
effect of light striking a 3-D object.
Light
Source or direction of light determines locations of highlights and
shadows.
Hatching
and cross-hatching: Techniques for creating light/dark.
Value:
gray scale: Value is always relative to surrounding objects (i.e. lighter or
darker).
4
MORE ABOUT
COLOR
Hue- synonym
for color
Intensity or
saturation- pure bright color vs. dulled/muted with complement or gray
Neutrals:
black white gray
Palette
COLOR WHEEL:
Primary, secondary colors: Identify them, draw color wheel
Color
temperature: warmest (orange) to coolest (blue)
Color
Harmonies: analogous, complementary, monochromatic
Tints: Color
with white added
Shades: Color
with black added
Tone: Color with
gray added or with complementary color added becomes muted.
Local color vs.
arbitrary, subjective or symbolic use of color
Emotional impact
of colors:
associated with
natural world (or not), influenced by culture and experience, chosen by
personal preferences or desired results!