
{"id":1958,"date":"2026-08-11T15:48:35","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T15:48:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/chapter\/elements-of-art-principles-of-design\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T03:52:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T03:52:44","slug":"elements-of-art-principles-of-design","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/chapter\/elements-of-art-principles-of-design\/","title":{"raw":"Elements of Art &amp; Principles of Design","rendered":"Elements of Art &amp; Principles of Design"},"content":{"raw":"<h2 id=\"introduction-1\">Introduction<\/h2>\r\nEvery lower-division Studio Art and Art History course begins with an overview of the elements of art and principles of design. The terminology is the essential language we use when we speak about art formally. In this context, \u201cformally\u201d refers to the discussion of an artwork\u2019s elements and principles, rather than its subject matter, iconography, or historical context.\r\n\r\nOnce you can comfortably use these terms to discuss existing artworks, they will begin to frame your own creative process. There is no doubt that you are already using these concepts in your practice. However, you can become more intentional with their use when they become part of your vocabulary and conscious thought.\r\n\r\nIf we consider art as a visual language, then the elements of art are the letters of the alphabet, while the principles of art are the words and sentences composed together to create meaning. In this chapter, the term <strong>composition<\/strong> will be used frequently. Composition refers to how the elements and principles are used together; it refers to the whole of the artwork, i.e., the result of the combination of different parts.\r\n<h2 id=\"elements-of-art\">Elements of Art<\/h2>\r\n<h3 id=\"line\">Line<\/h3>\r\nA <strong>line<\/strong> is defined as a point moving in space. This definition is wildly abstract. So, instead of focusing on that, let\u2019s discuss the types of lines that you will practice in your development as an artist.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1938\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"322\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1938\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image14.png\" alt=\"Diagram comparing two shading techniques, hatching and cross-hatching, using spheres to demonstrate effects. Hatching features parallel lines creating shading, while cross-hatching uses intersecting lines for a denser texture, with each technique labeled and color-coded in blue and green boxes.\" width=\"322\" height=\"450\" \/> <strong>Examples of Hatching and Cross-hatching. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kuraplan.com\/free-images\/shading_techniques--153fb413-ff8f-47b2-ad10-426b0e29d0aa\"><u>Image by Kuraplan<\/u><\/a>. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/\"><u>CC BY-NC 4.0<\/u><\/a>. Cropped by Elaine Wilson.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Hatch lines<\/strong> are closely spaced parallel lines, added to a form to create value and texture.\r\n\r\n<strong>Crosshatching<\/strong> is shown in the image above and is used in techniques such as drawing and printmaking to create variations in value and texture. These variations in value and texture are achieved by placing multiple layers of parallel lines on top of each other.\r\n\r\n<strong>Contour lines<\/strong> define the edges of a shape or form.\r\n\r\n<strong>Actual lines vs. Implied lines:<\/strong> Actual lines are objectively present in an image. Implied lines are those that can be followed by the viewer\u2019s eye, even though they are not explicitly drawn on the page. An artist creates an implied line by arranging the composition in a way that connects one or more parts together. A common way to create an implied line is through a figure looking towards something, also known as a <strong>line of sight.<\/strong> However, a figure can also point towards something to create an implied line.\r\n\r\n<strong>Classic lines,<\/strong> also known as \u201cstraight lines,\u201d move vertically, horizontally, or diagonally across the composition to provide a sense of structure. Vertical and horizontal lines create a sense of stability, while diagonal lines give the viewer the sense that the image is moving or unstable.\r\n\r\n<strong>Expressive lines<\/strong> are the curvy and organic lines that can make a work feel dynamic and add emotional expression to the composition.\r\n<h3 id=\"shape\">Shape<\/h3>\r\n<strong>Shape<\/strong> is an element consisting only of height and width; it is flat or two-dimensional (2D). Shapes can be defined by contour lines or simply by a change in color or value.\r\n\r\n<strong>Geometric shapes<\/strong> are taught in geometry class: circles, squares, triangles, etc. They have a sense of symmetry and clear structure.\r\n\r\n<strong>Organic shapes<\/strong> are the other shapes that are not geometric; they are more free-form and irregular, such as trees and clouds. The human form is an organic shape that is often broken up into smaller, geometric shapes to create ease in the drawing process. Organic shapes occur naturally in the world and lack the formal, symmetrical structure of geometric shapes.\r\n<h3 id=\"form\">Form<\/h3>\r\n<strong>Form<\/strong> is best defined as a shape with depth, or an illusion of depth in 2D works. Forms can also be classified, like shapes, as organic or geometric.\r\n<h3 id=\"space\">Space<\/h3>\r\n<strong>Space<\/strong>, sometimes referred to as ground or negative space, generally refers to the area surrounding components or objects in an artwork.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1939\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"372\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1939\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image15.jpg\" alt=\"A black and white silhouette illustration of a tulip with a long, curved stem and two large leaves. The design features bold, flowing shapes creating a striking contrast between white floral elements and a solid black background.\" width=\"372\" height=\"551\" \/> <strong>Positive and Negative Space Drawing Example, Source: <u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rawpixel.com\/image\/25867982\/tulip-philipp-otto-runge-digitally-enhanced-rawpixel\">Tulip by Philipp Otto Runge on Raw Pixe<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rawpixel.com\/search\/floral%20monochrome?page=1&amp;path=1522%7C%24createart%7Csearch_filter-%24photos&amp;sort=curated\">l<\/a><\/u>, License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/deed.en\"><u>CC0 1.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n\r\nP<strong>ositive space<\/strong> is the subject or figure of an artwork, while <strong>negative space<\/strong> is the ground, background, or environment that surrounds the subject. Positive and negative space are compositional elements of art, also known as figure-ground.\r\n\r\nIn the work above, the white area of the composition is positive space, also referred to as the subject. The positive space is in the shape of a tulip\u2019s flower, stem, and leaves; notice how the white is consistent without any breaks or interruptions. This occurs because the artwork follows the positive and negative technique, in which, when a positive space overlaps a positive space, they combine into one seamless shape. In the image above, the negative space is represented in black, also known as the ground.\r\n\r\n<strong>Pictorial space<\/strong> is the term used to describe the three-dimensional (3D) depth in a two-dimensional (2D) work. It is created through various illusions that appear to stretch back into space beyond the <strong>picture plane<\/strong> of a 2D work. If you think of a 2D artwork as a view out of a window, the <strong>picture plane<\/strong> is the glass of the window.\r\n\r\n<strong>Linear perspective<\/strong> is a technique invented by the Ancient Romans and rediscovered during the Italian Renaissance that creates an illusion of 3D space on a 2D surface through the use of lines. You\u2019ll learn more about linear perspective in the Perspective Chapter.\r\n\r\n<strong>Atmospheric\/aerial perspective<\/strong> is another technique artists use to create an illusion of 3D space on a 2D surface. This technique involves the artist making objects in the distance appear further away. Some ways to achieve this effect include portraying subjects with less detail, lower contrast, softer edges, and cooler colors as they move back in space. This is discussed further in the discussion of Color below.\r\n\r\n<strong>Foreshortening<\/strong> uses perspective to contract an object to make it appear as if it recedes in space. This concept is best understood with a visual example, so refer to the image below. Notice how the middle finger is positioned in a way that blocks its own full view? It\u2019s collapsed to give the illusion of receding into space \/ advancing towards the viewer.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1940\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"417\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1940\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image16.png\" alt=\"A digital sketch of a human arm bent at the elbow with a hand positioned above it, fingers slightly curled. The drawing uses light and dark shading to emphasize muscle structure and form against a plain gray background.\" width=\"417\" height=\"334\" \/> <strong>Foreshortening Example, Foreshortening Example, Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deviantart.com\/charcoaldiver\/gallery\"><u>CharcoalDiver<\/u><\/a> via<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.deviantart.com\/charcoaldiver\/art\/Foreshortening-Studies-Stylized-619277434\"><u>DeviantArt<\/u><\/a>, License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\"><u>CC BY-NC-SA 3.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n<h3 id=\"color\">Color<\/h3>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1941\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1941\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image17.jpg\" alt=\"Color wheel diagram displaying twelve evenly divided segments arranged in a circular pattern. Each segment features a distinct color transitioning smoothly through the spectrum, including shades of green, blue, purple, red, orange, and yellow, illustrating color relationships and harmony.\" width=\"614\" height=\"629\" \/> <strong>Color Wheel, Briana Miyoko Stanley,<\/strong> <strong>gouache on Bristol board, License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/deed.en\"><u>CC BY NC 4.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Color<\/strong> is another element with a rather abstract definition: the quality of an object that light reflects. Following this abstract definition, we can move on to discuss its technical importance to image-making by discussing the following color terms. Understanding the following concepts can help an artist move beyond the replication of reality into more expressive uses of color.\r\n\r\n<strong>Saturation<\/strong> is the level of intensity or brightness of color.\r\n\r\n<strong>Hue<\/strong> refers to colors, such as red, blue, and yellow, at their full saturation.\r\n\r\n<strong>Tint<\/strong> is a hue mixed with white.\r\n\r\n<strong>Tone<\/strong> is a hue mixed with gray.\r\n\r\n<strong>Shade<\/strong> is a hue mixed with black.\r\n\r\n<strong>Primary colors<\/strong> are the three basic colors, from which all other colors are made. They are red, yellow, and blue.\r\n\r\n<strong>Secondary colors<\/strong> are made when two primary colors are mixed together. They are orange, green, and violet.\r\n\r\n<strong>Tertiary colors<\/strong> are created when a primary and a secondary color are mixed together. An example is red-violet.\r\n\r\n<strong>Complementary colors<\/strong> are colors across the color wheel from each other. When placed next to one another, they create high contrast. When combined, they create browns or grays.\r\n\r\n<strong>Analogous colors<\/strong> are next to each other on the color wheel. Typically, this scheme will include three neighboring colors such as red, red-violet, and violet.\r\n\r\n<strong>Warm colors<\/strong> are shown on the right half of the color wheel above. They include yellow, yellow-orange, orange, red-orange, red, and red-violet. An easy way to remember these colors is to think of a fire or a hot piece of metal.\r\n\r\n<strong>Cool colors<\/strong> are shown on the left half of the color wheel above. They include violet, blue-violet, blue, blue-green, green, and yellow-green. An easy way to remember these colors is to think of water.\r\n\r\nArtists use warm and cool colors for various compositional and expressive effects in their works. For example, using warm colors in the foreground and cool colors in the background creates an illusion of depth in a 2D work. This happens because of the way the viewer\u2019s eye processes color; our brains know that views at a distance (when outside) often have a layer of atmosphere between our eyes and the distant object, making it appear more cool. This is part of a technique called <strong>atmospheric perspective,<\/strong> in which artists make distant objects cooler and less detailed to create an illusion of 3D depth on a 2D surface.\r\n<h3 id=\"value\">Value<\/h3>\r\nThis is the lightness or darkness of a color. Value helps present how objects occupy space in a drawing, appearing to advance towards or recede from the viewer.\r\n\r\n<strong>High-value contrast<\/strong> is the extreme difference between the lightest and darkest values used in a drawing, ex: a black and white drawing.\r\n\r\n<strong>Low-value contrast<\/strong> drawings feature a smaller difference between the lightest and darkest values used, ex: light gray and medium gray.\r\n\r\nIn the Value Chapter of this textbook, you\u2019ll learn how to understand the predictable nature of light to manipulate value and create realistic shadows in your drawings.\r\n<h3 id=\"texture\">Texture<\/h3>\r\nTexture is a quality that can be physically felt or implied.\r\n\r\n<strong>Actual texture<\/strong> or <strong>real texture<\/strong> are terms for a texture you can physically feel.\r\n\r\n<strong>Implied texture<\/strong> is created through visual illusion.\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--key-takeaways\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<h2 class=\"textbox__title\">Master Artist: Albrecht D\u00fcrer and Implied Texture<\/h2>\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nWith drawings, artists tend to focus on implied texture rather than actual texture. A notable example from Art History of an artist who clearly mastered this skill is Albrecht D\u00fcrer. In his artwork below of a rabbit, one can distinguish many different textures. The rabbit appears to have glossy, wet eyes. Its coat has areas of rougher, longer hair on its body and shorter, more velvety-looking fuzz on its ears.\r\n\r\nAlthough famous for his prints made from woodcuts and engravings, Albrecht D\u00fcrer succeeded in many different media. His painstaking attention to detail and objective drawing skill translate from printmaking to watercolor and gouache (as below) and even to oil painting.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1942\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"757\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1942\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image18.jpg\" alt=\"A detailed colored drawing of a resting hare with long ears and textured fur, created in 1502. The artwork features subtle shading and fine lines, emphasizing realistic fur patterns and natural posture.\" width=\"757\" height=\"833\" \/> <strong>A Young Hare, Albrecht D\u00fcrer, Watercolor &amp; Gouache on paper, 1502, 25.1 cm \u00d7 22.6 cm (9.9 in \u00d7 8.9 in), Source:<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=User:Albertina_pressoffice&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1\"><u>Albertina pressoffice<\/u><\/a> via<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Albrecht_D%C3%BCrer_-_Feldhase,_1502.jpg\"><u>Wikimedia<\/u><\/a>,<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\"><strong><u>CC BY-SA 4.0<\/u><\/strong><\/a>[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>\u201cMaster Artist: Texture.\u201d Written by Elaine Wilson. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/deed.en\">CC BY<\/a><\/strong>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2 id=\"principles-of-design\">Principles of Design<\/h2>\r\nThe principles of design govern how the formal elements are arranged in a composition and how they are used together to create visual effects.\r\n<h3 id=\"pattern\">Pattern<\/h3>\r\n<strong>Pattern<\/strong> is the repetition of an image multiple times throughout an artwork.\r\n\r\nNigerian artist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.njidekaakunyilicrosby.com\/selected-works\"><u>Njideka Akunyili Crosby<\/u><\/a> uses pattern to great effect in her work. Her work is not visually included in this text for copyright reasons, but you are encouraged to click on the link and explore it. She uses <strong>uniform patterns<\/strong>, which consist of symmetrical, repeated imagery, across many of her compositions. Crosby\u2019s works also make use of <strong>geometric patterns,<\/strong> which feature repeated geometric shapes.\r\n\r\nHowever, what makes her work so unique is that Crosby creates a sense of pattern through her specific technique of photomontage. The images she sources: magazines, album covers, and family photographs, are used to decorate surfaces in her artworks such as carpets, clothing, bedspreads, and wallpaper.[footnote]Studio Museum in Harlem, \u201cNjideka Akunyili Crosby, <em>Nwantinti<\/em>, 2012,\u201d accessed June 25, 2026, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.studiomuseum.org\/artworks\/nwantinti-2?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">https:\/\/www.studiomuseum.org\/artworks\/nwantinti<\/a>.[\/footnote] This imagery is transformed into a pattern through her placement techniques. The unique forms are made to look like a pattern from afar through their similar scale and color palette.\r\n\r\nThese combinations create <strong>pattern variety<\/strong> throughout each of Crosby\u2019s works. Pattern variety is a form of contrast and keeps the image from being too uniform.\r\n<h3 id=\"emphasis\">Emphasis<\/h3>\r\n<strong>Emphasis<\/strong> refers to the region of the artwork that the viewer\u2019s eye is most drawn to. Artists can create emphasis by employing the various elements and principles in visually striking ways.\r\n\r\nAn example of emphasis in a work can be seen below in Fragonard\u2019s Rococo painting, <em>The Swing.<\/em> The viewer\u2019s eye is immediately directed towards the woman on the swing because the lighting in the forest highlights her brightly colored dress and she is placed in the center of the composition.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1943\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"497\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1943\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image19.jpg\" alt=\"Rococo painting depicting a young woman in a pink dress swinging joyfully from a tree branch in a lush, overgrown garden. The scene features intricate details like a statue, two men observing from below, and vibrant foliage illuminated by soft, diffused light.\" width=\"497\" height=\"637\" \/> <strong>Jean-Honor\u00e9 Fragonard, The Swing, c. 1768,<\/strong> <strong>oil on canvas. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/picryl.com\/media\/joean-honore-fragonard-the-swing-5fb954?__cf_chl_f_tk=dQCIyncOZx6Egm1OXamCnbCCCNR_BT2hP6vAAP2OvKA-1783115171-1.0.1.1-ljKYKREihQvqkhmQUoqt6WQpluJwfaUHeYU196zZ2PU\"><u>Picryl<\/u><\/a>, License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"><u>Public Domain CC0 1.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n<h3 id=\"contrast\">Contrast<\/h3>\r\nPut simply, <strong>contrast<\/strong> refers to difference. You can create a difference between any of the formal elements, for example:\r\n\r\n<strong>Texture contrast<\/strong>: smooth vs. textured\r\n\r\n<strong>Shape contrast:<\/strong> rectilinear vs. curvilinear\r\n\r\n<strong>Color contrast:<\/strong> light vs. dark\r\n<h3 id=\"harmony\">Harmony<\/h3>\r\n<strong>Harmony<\/strong> creates artworks that are peaceful or have some visually pleasing effect.\r\n\r\nA common way to create harmony is through <strong>color harmony,<\/strong> as in the work below, which uses <strong>analogous colors<\/strong> in its color palette.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"548\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1944\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image20.jpg\" alt=\"Impressionist painting depicting a serene pond with numerous water lilies floating on the surface. Soft pastel colors of blue, green, yellow, and pink create a tranquil atmosphere, highlighting reflections and delicate floral details.\" width=\"548\" height=\"703\" \/> <strong>Claude Monet, Water Lilies, 1908, oil on canvas, Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=User:SeekingStillness8&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1\"><u>SeekingStillness8<\/u><\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/b\/b6\/Monet_w1726.jpg\"><u>Wikimedia<\/u><\/a>, License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"><u>Public Domain CC0 1.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n<h3 id=\"variety\">Variety<\/h3>\r\n<strong>Variety<\/strong> is used to break up monotony; it involves the use of different elements to create visual interest.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.moma.org\/collection\/works\/79170\"><u>Chuck Close\u2019s 1997<\/u> <em><u>Self-Portrait<\/u><\/em><\/a> appears naturalistic at a glance, yet if you look closely, you can see the great variety of shapes and colors he uses to create an extra level of intrigue in the work. Close uses the grid method to break down his reference photograph into manageable sections to work from when transferring the image to the large canvas. In this example, instead of working in the Photorealism style he\u2019s famous for, he creates the overall image from seemingly abstract puzzle pieces that, when viewed up close, appear visually unrelated to one another, but when viewed from a distance, knit together to create a recognizable portrait.\r\n<h3 id=\"unity\">Unity<\/h3>\r\n<strong>Unity<\/strong> is a concept that can be expressed in many different ways, but generally, it refers to when there are visual links throughout a composition. A lack of unity may leave an artwork feeling random or confusing.\r\n\r\nFor example, see the Delacroix below.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1945\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"656\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1945\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image21.jpg\" alt=\"Painting depicts a woman personifying Liberty leading a diverse group of revolutionaries over barricades during a battle, holding a French tricolor flag and a musket. The scene features fallen soldiers, smoke-filled sky, and dynamic poses symbolizing struggle and uprising in a historical revolutionary context.\" width=\"656\" height=\"525\" \/> <strong>Eug\u00e8ne Delacroix, Liberty Leading the People, 1830, oil on canvas, (260 \u00d7 325 cm). License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"><u>Public Domain CC0 1.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n\r\nDelacroix creates unity throughout the above composition through color. He repeats the colors of the French flag (blue, white, and red) throughout the composition. This unity helps draw the viewer\u2019s eye around and also unifies the image around the central theme of the work: patriotism.\r\n<h3 id=\"balance\">Balance<\/h3>\r\nThere are many ways to create balance (or imbalance) in a composition. <strong>Balance<\/strong> is concerned with the placement of visual weight across an artwork. <strong>Visual weight<\/strong> is made up of a mixture of elements and principles, and is best explained with a visual example, as shown below.\r\n\r\nMatisse\u2019s work, <em>The Red Studio,<\/em> is not symmetrical, yet it has a sense of balance because the artist has placed the visual weight intentionally. There is a vase on the left side of the composition, which feels heavy in visual weight due to its dark color and rounded bottom, yet its tapered top and height result in less visual weight towards the top of the composition. To balance out this weight on the right of the composition, there are several rounded shapes of medium green that flow towards the lower right side. Matisse uses color, scale, and placement to create a sense of balanced visual weight. Neither side of the composition feels significantly heavier or lighter than the other. Rather than placing two of the same vases side by side to create perfect symmetry, this is more complex and therefore more visually interesting.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1946\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"705\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1946\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image22.jpg\" alt=\"Painting of a still life scene featuring a dark bottle, an orange sculpture, and a trailing plant with green leaves on a red surface. Background includes a pink wall with blue floral patterns and framed artwork with abstract shapes.\" width=\"705\" height=\"498\" \/> <strong>Henri Matisse, The Red Studio, 1911, oil on canvas, 181 x 219.1 cm. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"><u>Public Domain CC0 1.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Symmetry<\/strong> may come to mind when considering how to balance an image. <strong>Bilateral symmetry<\/strong> mirrors two halves of an image, as seen below in the work of Ruth Asawa.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1947\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"534\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1947\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image23.jpg\" alt=\"Photograph of a tall, vertically hanging wire sculpture composed of interconnected bulbous shapes with a dark color, suspended in front of large window panes. Background shows a body of water and distant buildings under a partly cloudy sky.\" width=\"534\" height=\"801\" \/> <strong>Ruth Asawa, Untitled (S.270, Hanging Six-Lobed, Complex Interlocking Continuous Form within a Form with Two Interior Spheres), 1955, refabricated 1957\u20131958, brass and steel wire, Overall: 63 7\/8 \u00d7 14 15\/16 \u00d7 14 15\/16 in. (162.2 \u00d7 37.9 \u00d7 37.9 cm), Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/38315261@N00\"><u>Sharon Mollerus<\/u><\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Ruth_Asawa_Number_1-_1955,_1954_1_15_18_-whitneymuseum_%2840528958572%29.jpg\"><u>Wikimedia Commons<\/u><\/a>. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/deed.en\"><u>CC BY 2.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n\r\nAnother type of balance is <strong>radial symmetry.<\/strong> This happens when an artwork is balanced in orientation towards a central point, as seen in the diagram below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2339\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"574\"]<img class=\"wp-image-2339 \" src=\"http:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-18-at-1.04.08-PM-1024x851.png\" alt=\"Diagram illustrating two types of symmetry: bilateral and radial, using examples of a fruit fly and a flower. Each example is overlaid with red lines indicating symmetry axes, highlighting one axis for bilateral and multiple axes for radial.\" width=\"574\" height=\"477\" \/> <strong>Diagram comparing Bilateral and Radial Symmetry. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/User:Charl_Hutchings\"><u>Charl Hutchings<\/u><\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Diagram_comparing_bilateral,_radial,_and_spherical_symmetry.jpg\"><u>Wikimedia Commons<\/u><\/a>. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/deed.en\"><u>CC BY 4.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n\r\nOn the other hand, an artist can deliberately make their composition <strong>asymmetrical<\/strong>. This would involve a deliberate imbalance to perhaps create a sense of uneasiness or to imply movement.\r\n\r\nSome artists subscribe to a composition organizational principle known as <strong>The Rule of Thirds.<\/strong> To apply the Rule of Thirds to balance one\u2019s artwork, one would imagine a grid of 9 boxes over the artwork, as seen below:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1949\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"593\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1949\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image25.png\" alt=\"Diagram of a 3x3 grid with solid vertical lines and dashed horizontal lines dividing the space into nine equal rectangles. The grid structure highlights the contrast between line styles for vertical and horizontal separations.\" width=\"593\" height=\"423\" \/> <strong>Rule of Thirds Grid, Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deviantart.com\/songwind\/gallery\">Songwind<\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deviantart.com\/songwind\/art\/MyPaint-Bordered-Template-Pack-197089054\"><u>DeviantArt<\/u><\/a>, License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\"><u>CC BY 3.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n\r\nThe artist would then place areas of emphasis over grid intersections. This approach creates opportunities for more dynamic compositions when compared to placing a focal point in the center of a composition.\r\n\r\n<strong>The Golden Ratio<\/strong> is another way to organize and create balance in a composition; it\u2019s a method based on mathematical calculations. Essentially, it consists of arranging one\u2019s composition based on the spiral shown below:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1950\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"602\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1950\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image26.png\" alt=\"Diagram of a black and white golden spiral composed of connected quarter circles within squares of decreasing size arranged in a rectangular grid. The spiral illustrates the Fibonacci sequence and golden ratio through progressively smaller squares and arcs forming a continuous curve.\" width=\"602\" height=\"379\" \/> <strong>Fibonacci Spiral, Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/openclipart.org\/artist\/Creaz\"><u>Creaz<\/u><\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/openclipart.org\/detail\/339085\/fibonacci-spiral\"><u>OpenClipArt<\/u><\/a>, License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"><u>CC0 1.0<\/u><\/a> (Public Domain)<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n\r\nOne\u2019s subject would be placed in the center of the spiral, then the spiraling tail would ideally line up with other important areas in the composition. The spiral would draw the viewer\u2019s eye outwards via an <strong>implied line<\/strong> across the composition.\r\n<h3 id=\"movement\">Movement<\/h3>\r\nYour drawing will not move (unless you\u2019re interested in pursuing <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kinetic_art\"><u>kinetic art<\/u><\/a>), but you can imply a sense of movement with how you organize your composition.\r\n\r\nEthiopian American artist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mariangoodman.com\/artists\/51-julie-mehretu\/\"><u>Julie Mehretu<\/u><\/a> is famous for her incredibly dynamic 2D artworks. In the artwork below, Julie Mehretu uses radiating and swirling lines to create a sense of spinning and turning in her composition.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1951\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"924\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1951\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image27.jpg\" alt=\"Photograph of an art gallery interior showing visitors walking past two large abstract paintings mounted on white walls. One painting features a chaotic explosion of lines and colors radiating from a central point, while the other displays darker, more concentrated abstract forms.\" width=\"924\" height=\"693\" \/> <strong>Museum Visitors Walking in front of Empirical Construction (2003) by Julie Mehretu. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/thatgirl\/\"><u>Susan S<\/u><\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/thatgirl\/3335706\"><u>Flikr<\/u><\/a>. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/2.0\/deed.en\"><u>CC BY NC 2.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n\r\nAnother common way to create a sense of movement is with a diagonal axis line. In his painting <em>Venus and Adonis<\/em> (see below), Titian uses a <strong>diagonal axis line<\/strong> to create a sense of <strong>compositional imbalance<\/strong> and imply movement. The result is akin to a film still; the viewer expects Adonis to run off any moment, and for Venus to fall backwards as he moves away.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1952\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"618\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1952\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image28.png\" alt=\"Painting features a clothed male and a nude female set within an outdoor landscape next to two dogs and other figures. A white diagonal axis line is layered on top of the image to show compositional imbalance. \" width=\"618\" height=\"501\" \/> <strong>Titian, Venus and Adonis, 1550s, oil on canvas, Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/art\/collection\/search\/437826\"><u>THE MET<\/u><\/a>, Licence: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"><u>Public Domain<\/u><\/a>. White axis line added by Elaine Wilson.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n<h3 id=\"proportion-scale\">Proportion &amp; Scale<\/h3>\r\nThese concepts both relate to size, yet in different ways. <strong>Proportion<\/strong> refers to the size difference of parts in relation to a whole. A common example of proportion is the comparison of the size of a body part to the size of the whole body. Another example of a proportion relationship would be the size of a part of the artwork in comparison to the size of the entire composition.\r\n\r\nIn the artwork below, Michelangelo was extremely deliberate with how he proportioned the human form. He worked during the High Renaissance, when Greco-Roman beauty ideals were in fashion, so he greatly exaggerated the proportions of his forms. The bodies are extremely muscular to an unachievable degree. Some Art Historians consider this artwork, specifically, to be a part of the Mannerist art style period because of the extreme distortion of human proportion, which goes beyond typical Renaissance body ideals.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1953\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"745\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1953\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image29.jpg\" alt=\"Michelangelo, Last Judgment, Sistine Chapel, altar wall fresco painting depicting the Last Judgment with Christ at the center surrounded by angels, saints, and resurrected souls ascending or descending. The composition features vibrant colors, dynamic poses, and a dramatic contrast between saved figures on the right and damned souls on the left, illustrating themes of salvation and damnation.\" width=\"745\" height=\"561\" \/> <strong>Michelangelo, The Last Judgement (detail), 1535-41, Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/snarfel\/\"><u>Frans Vandewalle<\/u><\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/snarfel\/3133441682\"><u>Flickr<\/u><\/a>. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/2.0\/\"><u>CC BY NC 2.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Scale<\/strong> refers to the size relationship between two distinct forms.\r\n\r\nThe above artwork has a great example of a common use of scale, to create an illusion of space in an artwork through the <strong>diminution of scale.<\/strong> As the composition recedes into space, the human forms diminish in scale (get smaller). The forms that are meant to appear closest to the viewer are the largest in scale.\r\n\r\nAnother common use of scale that can be seen as far back as Ancient Egypt is to show importance with <strong>hierarchy of scale<\/strong>. This occurs when the most important person is depicted with the largest scale, as in the image below.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1954\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"665\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1954\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image30.jpg\" alt=\"Ancient Egyptian wall painting depicting a man in traditional attire standing on a wooden platform surrounded by various birds and fish, with a woman and child nearby. The artwork features hieroglyphic inscriptions, vibrant colors, and detailed natural elements, illustrating a scene of hunting or fishing in a marsh environment.\" width=\"665\" height=\"620\" \/> <strong>Nebamun Hunting Birds in the Marshes Using Cats, Tomb-Chapel, Thebes, Egypt, c. 1350 BCE. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"><u>Public Domain CC0 1.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n<h2 id=\"conclusion-1\">Conclusion<\/h2>\r\nElements and principles are the essential building blocks of art. They are the vital ingredients to create visual content and organize visually pleasing, enticing, or even surprising compositions. As mentioned at the start of this chapter, the elements are the letters, the principles are the words, and the composition is the sentence of the visual language. Together, they tell visual stories ranging from realistic to abstract, created by artists from the ancient past to the present day.\r\n<h2 id=\"licensing-and-attributions-2\">Licensing and Attributions<\/h2>\r\n<strong>\u201cElements of Art &amp; Principles of Design.\u201d Written by Elaine Wilson. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/deed.en\">CC BY<\/a><\/strong>\r\n<h2 id=\"bri--please-edit-the-headings-level-for-this-learning-activity.completeelements-principles-activity\">Elements &amp; Principles Activity<\/h2>\r\n<h3 id=\"title-clutter-drawing\"><strong>Title:<\/strong> <em>Clutter Drawing<\/em><\/h3>\r\n<h4 id=\"description-1\">Description<\/h4>\r\nThis project is an opportunity to display your understanding of the elements and principles of art and your current drawing experience. There are two steps to this exercise. The first is to construct a still life, and the second is to use your supplies to draw the still life as accurately as possible.\r\n<h4 id=\"project-parameters-1\">Project Parameters<\/h4>\r\n<h5 id=\"duration-1\">Duration<\/h5>\r\n2 Hours\r\n<h5 id=\"size-1\">Size<\/h5>\r\n8.5x11\u201d Paper Size\r\n<h5 id=\"subject-1\">Subject<\/h5>\r\nA still-life composed of a variety of objects (at least ten)\r\n<h5 id=\"technique\">Technique<\/h5>\r\nDirect Observation - draw the still-life object as it is seen\r\n<h5 id=\"materials-1\">Materials<\/h5>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>8.5x11\u201d Printer or Drawing Paper<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Pencils - Graphite and Prismacolor Col-Erase Colored Pencils<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Erasers - kneaded, rubber, and mono zero<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Objects - choose at least ten items of different sizes and textures<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h4 id=\"goals\">Goals<\/h4>\r\nThe goal of this project is to apply the elements and principles of art in an observation drawing.\r\n<h4 id=\"objectives\">Objectives<\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Create a complex and full still life - lots of objects and clutter<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Observe the referenced still life more than the drawing. Avoid drawing from memory or what you think the objects should look like. Instead, draw what you see!<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Use descriptive, confident lines, value, and colors to record detail and attempt to show light, shadow, and implied surface texture.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Keep the drawing in pristine condition - clean and neat<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h4 id=\"method-1\">Method<\/h4>\r\n<h5 id=\"still-life-setup\">Still-Life Setup<\/h5>\r\n<ol type=\"1\">\r\n \t<li>Find at least ten three-dimensional objects with different surface textures, heights, widths, etc.\r\n<ol type=\"a\">\r\n \t<li>Avoid objects with complex patterns, text, etc.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Include a lot of objects (at least ten)<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Arrange the objects so they sit at different heights and overlap.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1955\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"753\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1955\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image31.jpg\" alt=\"Photograph of a tabletop arrangement featuring a green glass pitcher, an orange candle in a wooden holder, a green cup, a potted plant in a white vase, a butternut squash, a small ceramic container, a mini grater, and a cork coaster holding a jalape\u00f1o and three seashells. Warm lighting highlights natural textures and earthy tones, creating a cozy and eclectic still life composition.\" width=\"753\" height=\"632\" \/> <strong>Clutter Drawing Still Life Reference, Briana Miyoko Stanley, digital photo, License: CC BY NC 4.0<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n<h5 id=\"drawing-process\">Drawing Process<\/h5>\r\n<ol start=\"3\" type=\"1\">\r\n \t<li>Prepare to draw by using a ruler and pencil to measure and draw a .5\u201d border on all sides of the paper.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Then, use pencils to draw the still life to the best of your ability from observation.\r\n<ol type=\"a\">\r\n \t<li>Avoid drawing too small; instead, aim to fill the page with the drawing.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Do not use a photo reference when drawing. Instead, look at the physical objects and attempt to translate the three-dimensional forms into a two-dimensional drawing.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1956\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"763\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1956\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image32.jpg\" alt=\"Photograph of a hand holding a pencil sketch replicating a still life arrangement on a wooden table, featuring a green pitcher, orange candle, potted plant, butternut squash, small grater, and various containers. Sketch outlines key objects and composition, capturing shapes and placement while omitting colors and fine details present in the original scene.\" width=\"763\" height=\"997\" \/> <strong>Clutter Drawing Still Life Reference and Drawing Example, Briana Miyoko Stanley, digital photo, License: CC BY NC 4.0<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n<h5 id=\"tips-1\">Tips<\/h5>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Don\u2019t despair if you do not have any drawing experience; if this is you, even better that you are here to learn. If you have previous experience, this is your chance to show off what you can do.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>The best way to create an accurate drawing is to continually look at the reference\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Only draw from direct observation; do not use a photo reference<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Draw lightly and use your eraser as needed to clean up and revise throughout the drawing process<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Think of this assignment as a great opportunity to draw what you are interested in by designing your still life with your interest in mind.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h4 id=\"result-1\">Result<\/h4>\r\nThe result will be your first attempt to create a direct-observation drawing. Be patient with yourself and use this drawing as an opportunity to record your current drawing ability. Then, refer to it throughout the semester to determine how much you improve.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1957\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"766\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1957\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image33.jpg\" alt=\"A pencil sketch of a still life composition featuring a pitcher, a candle on a holder, a bowl, a potted plant, a fruit, a small box, and a plate with rolled items. The drawing emphasizes outlines and shapes without shading or color.\" width=\"766\" height=\"604\" \/> <strong>Clutter Drawing Example, Briana Miyoko Stanley, digital photo, License: CC BY NC 4.0<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n\r\n\u2014--------------------\r\n<h2 id=\"licensing-and-attributions-3\">Licensing and Attributions<\/h2>\r\n<strong>\u201cElements &amp; Principles Activity.\u201d Written by Briana Miyoko Stanley. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/deed.en\">CC BY<\/a><\/strong>","rendered":"<h2 id=\"introduction-1\">Introduction<\/h2>\n<p>Every lower-division Studio Art and Art History course begins with an overview of the elements of art and principles of design. The terminology is the essential language we use when we speak about art formally. In this context, \u201cformally\u201d refers to the discussion of an artwork\u2019s elements and principles, rather than its subject matter, iconography, or historical context.<\/p>\n<p>Once you can comfortably use these terms to discuss existing artworks, they will begin to frame your own creative process. There is no doubt that you are already using these concepts in your practice. However, you can become more intentional with their use when they become part of your vocabulary and conscious thought.<\/p>\n<p>If we consider art as a visual language, then the elements of art are the letters of the alphabet, while the principles of art are the words and sentences composed together to create meaning. In this chapter, the term <strong>composition<\/strong> will be used frequently. Composition refers to how the elements and principles are used together; it refers to the whole of the artwork, i.e., the result of the combination of different parts.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"elements-of-art\">Elements of Art<\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"line\">Line<\/h3>\n<p>A <strong>line<\/strong> is defined as a point moving in space. This definition is wildly abstract. So, instead of focusing on that, let\u2019s discuss the types of lines that you will practice in your development as an artist.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1938\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1938\" style=\"width: 322px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1938\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image14.png\" alt=\"Diagram comparing two shading techniques, hatching and cross-hatching, using spheres to demonstrate effects. Hatching features parallel lines creating shading, while cross-hatching uses intersecting lines for a denser texture, with each technique labeled and color-coded in blue and green boxes.\" width=\"322\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image14.png 548w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image14-215x300.png 215w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image14-65x91.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image14-225x315.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image14-350x489.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 322px) 100vw, 322px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1938\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Examples of Hatching and Cross-hatching. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kuraplan.com\/free-images\/shading_techniques--153fb413-ff8f-47b2-ad10-426b0e29d0aa\"><u>Image by Kuraplan<\/u><\/a>. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/\"><u>CC BY-NC 4.0<\/u><\/a>. Cropped by Elaine Wilson.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Hatch lines<\/strong> are closely spaced parallel lines, added to a form to create value and texture.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Crosshatching<\/strong> is shown in the image above and is used in techniques such as drawing and printmaking to create variations in value and texture. These variations in value and texture are achieved by placing multiple layers of parallel lines on top of each other.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Contour lines<\/strong> define the edges of a shape or form.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Actual lines vs. Implied lines:<\/strong> Actual lines are objectively present in an image. Implied lines are those that can be followed by the viewer\u2019s eye, even though they are not explicitly drawn on the page. An artist creates an implied line by arranging the composition in a way that connects one or more parts together. A common way to create an implied line is through a figure looking towards something, also known as a <strong>line of sight.<\/strong> However, a figure can also point towards something to create an implied line.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Classic lines,<\/strong> also known as \u201cstraight lines,\u201d move vertically, horizontally, or diagonally across the composition to provide a sense of structure. Vertical and horizontal lines create a sense of stability, while diagonal lines give the viewer the sense that the image is moving or unstable.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Expressive lines<\/strong> are the curvy and organic lines that can make a work feel dynamic and add emotional expression to the composition.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"shape\">Shape<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Shape<\/strong> is an element consisting only of height and width; it is flat or two-dimensional (2D). Shapes can be defined by contour lines or simply by a change in color or value.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Geometric shapes<\/strong> are taught in geometry class: circles, squares, triangles, etc. They have a sense of symmetry and clear structure.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Organic shapes<\/strong> are the other shapes that are not geometric; they are more free-form and irregular, such as trees and clouds. The human form is an organic shape that is often broken up into smaller, geometric shapes to create ease in the drawing process. Organic shapes occur naturally in the world and lack the formal, symmetrical structure of geometric shapes.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"form\">Form<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Form<\/strong> is best defined as a shape with depth, or an illusion of depth in 2D works. Forms can also be classified, like shapes, as organic or geometric.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"space\">Space<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Space<\/strong>, sometimes referred to as ground or negative space, generally refers to the area surrounding components or objects in an artwork.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1939\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1939\" style=\"width: 372px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1939\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image15.jpg\" alt=\"A black and white silhouette illustration of a tulip with a long, curved stem and two large leaves. The design features bold, flowing shapes creating a striking contrast between white floral elements and a solid black background.\" width=\"372\" height=\"551\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image15.jpg 800w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image15-203x300.jpg 203w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image15-691x1024.jpg 691w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image15-768x1138.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image15-65x96.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image15-225x333.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image15-350x518.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 372px) 100vw, 372px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1939\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Positive and Negative Space Drawing Example, Source: <u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rawpixel.com\/image\/25867982\/tulip-philipp-otto-runge-digitally-enhanced-rawpixel\">Tulip by Philipp Otto Runge on Raw Pixe<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rawpixel.com\/search\/floral%20monochrome?page=1&amp;path=1522%7C%24createart%7Csearch_filter-%24photos&amp;sort=curated\">l<\/a><\/u>, License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/deed.en\"><u>CC0 1.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>P<strong>ositive space<\/strong> is the subject or figure of an artwork, while <strong>negative space<\/strong> is the ground, background, or environment that surrounds the subject. Positive and negative space are compositional elements of art, also known as figure-ground.<\/p>\n<p>In the work above, the white area of the composition is positive space, also referred to as the subject. The positive space is in the shape of a tulip\u2019s flower, stem, and leaves; notice how the white is consistent without any breaks or interruptions. This occurs because the artwork follows the positive and negative technique, in which, when a positive space overlaps a positive space, they combine into one seamless shape. In the image above, the negative space is represented in black, also known as the ground.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pictorial space<\/strong> is the term used to describe the three-dimensional (3D) depth in a two-dimensional (2D) work. It is created through various illusions that appear to stretch back into space beyond the <strong>picture plane<\/strong> of a 2D work. If you think of a 2D artwork as a view out of a window, the <strong>picture plane<\/strong> is the glass of the window.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Linear perspective<\/strong> is a technique invented by the Ancient Romans and rediscovered during the Italian Renaissance that creates an illusion of 3D space on a 2D surface through the use of lines. You\u2019ll learn more about linear perspective in the Perspective Chapter.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Atmospheric\/aerial perspective<\/strong> is another technique artists use to create an illusion of 3D space on a 2D surface. This technique involves the artist making objects in the distance appear further away. Some ways to achieve this effect include portraying subjects with less detail, lower contrast, softer edges, and cooler colors as they move back in space. This is discussed further in the discussion of Color below.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Foreshortening<\/strong> uses perspective to contract an object to make it appear as if it recedes in space. This concept is best understood with a visual example, so refer to the image below. Notice how the middle finger is positioned in a way that blocks its own full view? It\u2019s collapsed to give the illusion of receding into space \/ advancing towards the viewer.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1940\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1940\" style=\"width: 417px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1940\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image16.png\" alt=\"A digital sketch of a human arm bent at the elbow with a hand positioned above it, fingers slightly curled. The drawing uses light and dark shading to emphasize muscle structure and form against a plain gray background.\" width=\"417\" height=\"334\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image16.png 462w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image16-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image16-65x52.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image16-225x180.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image16-350x280.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 417px) 100vw, 417px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1940\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Foreshortening Example, Foreshortening Example, Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deviantart.com\/charcoaldiver\/gallery\"><u>CharcoalDiver<\/u><\/a> via<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.deviantart.com\/charcoaldiver\/art\/Foreshortening-Studies-Stylized-619277434\"><u>DeviantArt<\/u><\/a>, License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\"><u>CC BY-NC-SA 3.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"color\">Color<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1941\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1941\" style=\"width: 614px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1941\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image17.jpg\" alt=\"Color wheel diagram displaying twelve evenly divided segments arranged in a circular pattern. Each segment features a distinct color transitioning smoothly through the spectrum, including shades of green, blue, purple, red, orange, and yellow, illustrating color relationships and harmony.\" width=\"614\" height=\"629\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image17.jpg 2001w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image17-293x300.jpg 293w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image17-1001x1024.jpg 1001w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image17-768x786.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image17-1501x1536.jpg 1501w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image17-65x67.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image17-225x230.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image17-350x358.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1941\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Color Wheel, Briana Miyoko Stanley,<\/strong> <strong>gouache on Bristol board, License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/deed.en\"><u>CC BY NC 4.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Color<\/strong> is another element with a rather abstract definition: the quality of an object that light reflects. Following this abstract definition, we can move on to discuss its technical importance to image-making by discussing the following color terms. Understanding the following concepts can help an artist move beyond the replication of reality into more expressive uses of color.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Saturation<\/strong> is the level of intensity or brightness of color.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hue<\/strong> refers to colors, such as red, blue, and yellow, at their full saturation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tint<\/strong> is a hue mixed with white.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tone<\/strong> is a hue mixed with gray.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Shade<\/strong> is a hue mixed with black.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Primary colors<\/strong> are the three basic colors, from which all other colors are made. They are red, yellow, and blue.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Secondary colors<\/strong> are made when two primary colors are mixed together. They are orange, green, and violet.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tertiary colors<\/strong> are created when a primary and a secondary color are mixed together. An example is red-violet.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Complementary colors<\/strong> are colors across the color wheel from each other. When placed next to one another, they create high contrast. When combined, they create browns or grays.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Analogous colors<\/strong> are next to each other on the color wheel. Typically, this scheme will include three neighboring colors such as red, red-violet, and violet.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Warm colors<\/strong> are shown on the right half of the color wheel above. They include yellow, yellow-orange, orange, red-orange, red, and red-violet. An easy way to remember these colors is to think of a fire or a hot piece of metal.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cool colors<\/strong> are shown on the left half of the color wheel above. They include violet, blue-violet, blue, blue-green, green, and yellow-green. An easy way to remember these colors is to think of water.<\/p>\n<p>Artists use warm and cool colors for various compositional and expressive effects in their works. For example, using warm colors in the foreground and cool colors in the background creates an illusion of depth in a 2D work. This happens because of the way the viewer\u2019s eye processes color; our brains know that views at a distance (when outside) often have a layer of atmosphere between our eyes and the distant object, making it appear more cool. This is part of a technique called <strong>atmospheric perspective,<\/strong> in which artists make distant objects cooler and less detailed to create an illusion of 3D depth on a 2D surface.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"value\">Value<\/h3>\n<p>This is the lightness or darkness of a color. Value helps present how objects occupy space in a drawing, appearing to advance towards or recede from the viewer.<\/p>\n<p><strong>High-value contrast<\/strong> is the extreme difference between the lightest and darkest values used in a drawing, ex: a black and white drawing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Low-value contrast<\/strong> drawings feature a smaller difference between the lightest and darkest values used, ex: light gray and medium gray.<\/p>\n<p>In the Value Chapter of this textbook, you\u2019ll learn how to understand the predictable nature of light to manipulate value and create realistic shadows in your drawings.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"texture\">Texture<\/h3>\n<p>Texture is a quality that can be physically felt or implied.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Actual texture<\/strong> or <strong>real texture<\/strong> are terms for a texture you can physically feel.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Implied texture<\/strong> is created through visual illusion.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--key-takeaways\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<h2 class=\"textbox__title\">Master Artist: Albrecht D\u00fcrer and Implied Texture<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>With drawings, artists tend to focus on implied texture rather than actual texture. A notable example from Art History of an artist who clearly mastered this skill is Albrecht D\u00fcrer. In his artwork below of a rabbit, one can distinguish many different textures. The rabbit appears to have glossy, wet eyes. Its coat has areas of rougher, longer hair on its body and shorter, more velvety-looking fuzz on its ears.<\/p>\n<p>Although famous for his prints made from woodcuts and engravings, Albrecht D\u00fcrer succeeded in many different media. His painstaking attention to detail and objective drawing skill translate from printmaking to watercolor and gouache (as below) and even to oil painting.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1942\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1942\" style=\"width: 757px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1942\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image18.jpg\" alt=\"A detailed colored drawing of a resting hare with long ears and textured fur, created in 1502. The artwork features subtle shading and fine lines, emphasizing realistic fur patterns and natural posture.\" width=\"757\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image18.jpg 1714w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image18-273x300.jpg 273w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image18-931x1024.jpg 931w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image18-768x845.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image18-1396x1536.jpg 1396w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image18-65x72.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image18-225x248.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image18-350x385.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 757px) 100vw, 757px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1942\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>A Young Hare, Albrecht D\u00fcrer, Watercolor &amp; Gouache on paper, 1502, 25.1 cm \u00d7 22.6 cm (9.9 in \u00d7 8.9 in), Source:<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=User:Albertina_pressoffice&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1\"><u>Albertina pressoffice<\/u><\/a> via<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Albrecht_D%C3%BCrer_-_Feldhase,_1502.jpg\"><u>Wikimedia<\/u><\/a>,<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\"><strong><u>CC BY-SA 4.0<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>\u201cMaster Artist: Texture.\u201d Written by Elaine Wilson. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/deed.en\">CC BY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"principles-of-design\">Principles of Design<\/h2>\n<p>The principles of design govern how the formal elements are arranged in a composition and how they are used together to create visual effects.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"pattern\">Pattern<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Pattern<\/strong> is the repetition of an image multiple times throughout an artwork.<\/p>\n<p>Nigerian artist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.njidekaakunyilicrosby.com\/selected-works\"><u>Njideka Akunyili Crosby<\/u><\/a> uses pattern to great effect in her work. Her work is not visually included in this text for copyright reasons, but you are encouraged to click on the link and explore it. She uses <strong>uniform patterns<\/strong>, which consist of symmetrical, repeated imagery, across many of her compositions. Crosby\u2019s works also make use of <strong>geometric patterns,<\/strong> which feature repeated geometric shapes.<\/p>\n<p>However, what makes her work so unique is that Crosby creates a sense of pattern through her specific technique of photomontage. The images she sources: magazines, album covers, and family photographs, are used to decorate surfaces in her artworks such as carpets, clothing, bedspreads, and wallpaper.<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"Studio Museum in Harlem, \u201cNjideka Akunyili Crosby, Nwantinti, 2012,\u201d accessed June 25, 2026, https:\/\/www.studiomuseum.org\/artworks\/nwantinti.\" id=\"return-footnote-1958-1\" href=\"#footnote-1958-1\" aria-label=\"Footnote 1\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[1]<\/sup><\/a> This imagery is transformed into a pattern through her placement techniques. The unique forms are made to look like a pattern from afar through their similar scale and color palette.<\/p>\n<p>These combinations create <strong>pattern variety<\/strong> throughout each of Crosby\u2019s works. Pattern variety is a form of contrast and keeps the image from being too uniform.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"emphasis\">Emphasis<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Emphasis<\/strong> refers to the region of the artwork that the viewer\u2019s eye is most drawn to. Artists can create emphasis by employing the various elements and principles in visually striking ways.<\/p>\n<p>An example of emphasis in a work can be seen below in Fragonard\u2019s Rococo painting, <em>The Swing.<\/em> The viewer\u2019s eye is immediately directed towards the woman on the swing because the lighting in the forest highlights her brightly colored dress and she is placed in the center of the composition.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1943\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1943\" style=\"width: 497px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1943\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image19.jpg\" alt=\"Rococo painting depicting a young woman in a pink dress swinging joyfully from a tree branch in a lush, overgrown garden. The scene features intricate details like a statue, two men observing from below, and vibrant foliage illuminated by soft, diffused light.\" width=\"497\" height=\"637\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image19.jpg 799w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image19-234x300.jpg 234w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image19-768x984.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image19-65x83.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image19-225x288.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image19-350x449.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 497px) 100vw, 497px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1943\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Jean-Honor\u00e9 Fragonard, The Swing, c. 1768,<\/strong> <strong>oil on canvas. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/picryl.com\/media\/joean-honore-fragonard-the-swing-5fb954?__cf_chl_f_tk=dQCIyncOZx6Egm1OXamCnbCCCNR_BT2hP6vAAP2OvKA-1783115171-1.0.1.1-ljKYKREihQvqkhmQUoqt6WQpluJwfaUHeYU196zZ2PU\"><u>Picryl<\/u><\/a>, License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"><u>Public Domain CC0 1.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"contrast\">Contrast<\/h3>\n<p>Put simply, <strong>contrast<\/strong> refers to difference. You can create a difference between any of the formal elements, for example:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Texture contrast<\/strong>: smooth vs. textured<\/p>\n<p><strong>Shape contrast:<\/strong> rectilinear vs. curvilinear<\/p>\n<p><strong>Color contrast:<\/strong> light vs. dark<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"harmony\">Harmony<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Harmony<\/strong> creates artworks that are peaceful or have some visually pleasing effect.<\/p>\n<p>A common way to create harmony is through <strong>color harmony,<\/strong> as in the work below, which uses <strong>analogous colors<\/strong> in its color palette.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1944\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1944\" style=\"width: 548px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1944\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image20.jpg\" alt=\"Impressionist painting depicting a serene pond with numerous water lilies floating on the surface. Soft pastel colors of blue, green, yellow, and pink create a tranquil atmosphere, highlighting reflections and delicate floral details.\" width=\"548\" height=\"703\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image20.jpg 960w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image20-234x300.jpg 234w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image20-798x1024.jpg 798w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image20-768x986.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image20-65x83.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image20-225x289.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image20-350x449.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 548px) 100vw, 548px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1944\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Claude Monet, Water Lilies, 1908, oil on canvas, Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=User:SeekingStillness8&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1\"><u>SeekingStillness8<\/u><\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/b\/b6\/Monet_w1726.jpg\"><u>Wikimedia<\/u><\/a>, License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"><u>Public Domain CC0 1.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"variety\">Variety<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Variety<\/strong> is used to break up monotony; it involves the use of different elements to create visual interest.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.moma.org\/collection\/works\/79170\"><u>Chuck Close\u2019s 1997<\/u> <em><u>Self-Portrait<\/u><\/em><\/a> appears naturalistic at a glance, yet if you look closely, you can see the great variety of shapes and colors he uses to create an extra level of intrigue in the work. Close uses the grid method to break down his reference photograph into manageable sections to work from when transferring the image to the large canvas. In this example, instead of working in the Photorealism style he\u2019s famous for, he creates the overall image from seemingly abstract puzzle pieces that, when viewed up close, appear visually unrelated to one another, but when viewed from a distance, knit together to create a recognizable portrait.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"unity\">Unity<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Unity<\/strong> is a concept that can be expressed in many different ways, but generally, it refers to when there are visual links throughout a composition. A lack of unity may leave an artwork feeling random or confusing.<\/p>\n<p>For example, see the Delacroix below.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1945\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1945\" style=\"width: 656px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1945\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image21.jpg\" alt=\"Painting depicts a woman personifying Liberty leading a diverse group of revolutionaries over barricades during a battle, holding a French tricolor flag and a musket. The scene features fallen soldiers, smoke-filled sky, and dynamic poses symbolizing struggle and uprising in a historical revolutionary context.\" width=\"656\" height=\"525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image21.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image21-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image21-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image21-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image21-1536x1229.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image21-65x52.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image21-225x180.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image21-350x280.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 656px) 100vw, 656px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1945\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Eug\u00e8ne Delacroix, Liberty Leading the People, 1830, oil on canvas, (260 \u00d7 325 cm). License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"><u>Public Domain CC0 1.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Delacroix creates unity throughout the above composition through color. He repeats the colors of the French flag (blue, white, and red) throughout the composition. This unity helps draw the viewer\u2019s eye around and also unifies the image around the central theme of the work: patriotism.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"balance\">Balance<\/h3>\n<p>There are many ways to create balance (or imbalance) in a composition. <strong>Balance<\/strong> is concerned with the placement of visual weight across an artwork. <strong>Visual weight<\/strong> is made up of a mixture of elements and principles, and is best explained with a visual example, as shown below.<\/p>\n<p>Matisse\u2019s work, <em>The Red Studio,<\/em> is not symmetrical, yet it has a sense of balance because the artist has placed the visual weight intentionally. There is a vase on the left side of the composition, which feels heavy in visual weight due to its dark color and rounded bottom, yet its tapered top and height result in less visual weight towards the top of the composition. To balance out this weight on the right of the composition, there are several rounded shapes of medium green that flow towards the lower right side. Matisse uses color, scale, and placement to create a sense of balanced visual weight. Neither side of the composition feels significantly heavier or lighter than the other. Rather than placing two of the same vases side by side to create perfect symmetry, this is more complex and therefore more visually interesting.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1946\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1946\" style=\"width: 705px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1946\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image22.jpg\" alt=\"Painting of a still life scene featuring a dark bottle, an orange sculpture, and a trailing plant with green leaves on a red surface. Background includes a pink wall with blue floral patterns and framed artwork with abstract shapes.\" width=\"705\" height=\"498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image22.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image22-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image22-1024x723.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image22-768x542.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image22-1536x1084.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image22-65x46.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image22-225x159.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image22-350x247.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1946\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Henri Matisse, The Red Studio, 1911, oil on canvas, 181 x 219.1 cm. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"><u>Public Domain CC0 1.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Symmetry<\/strong> may come to mind when considering how to balance an image. <strong>Bilateral symmetry<\/strong> mirrors two halves of an image, as seen below in the work of Ruth Asawa.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1947\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1947\" style=\"width: 534px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1947\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image23.jpg\" alt=\"Photograph of a tall, vertically hanging wire sculpture composed of interconnected bulbous shapes with a dark color, suspended in front of large window panes. Background shows a body of water and distant buildings under a partly cloudy sky.\" width=\"534\" height=\"801\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image23.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image23-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image23-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image23-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image23-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image23-65x98.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image23-225x338.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image23-350x525.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 534px) 100vw, 534px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1947\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Ruth Asawa, Untitled (S.270, Hanging Six-Lobed, Complex Interlocking Continuous Form within a Form with Two Interior Spheres), 1955, refabricated 1957\u20131958, brass and steel wire, Overall: 63 7\/8 \u00d7 14 15\/16 \u00d7 14 15\/16 in. (162.2 \u00d7 37.9 \u00d7 37.9 cm), Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/38315261@N00\"><u>Sharon Mollerus<\/u><\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Ruth_Asawa_Number_1-_1955,_1954_1_15_18_-whitneymuseum_%2840528958572%29.jpg\"><u>Wikimedia Commons<\/u><\/a>. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/deed.en\"><u>CC BY 2.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Another type of balance is <strong>radial symmetry.<\/strong> This happens when an artwork is balanced in orientation towards a central point, as seen in the diagram below.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2339\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2339\" style=\"width: 574px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2339\" src=\"http:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-18-at-1.04.08-PM-1024x851.png\" alt=\"Diagram illustrating two types of symmetry: bilateral and radial, using examples of a fruit fly and a flower. Each example is overlaid with red lines indicating symmetry axes, highlighting one axis for bilateral and multiple axes for radial.\" width=\"574\" height=\"477\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-18-at-1.04.08-PM-1024x851.png 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-18-at-1.04.08-PM-300x249.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-18-at-1.04.08-PM-768x638.png 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-18-at-1.04.08-PM-65x54.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-18-at-1.04.08-PM-225x187.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-18-at-1.04.08-PM-350x291.png 350w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-18-at-1.04.08-PM.png 1064w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 574px) 100vw, 574px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2339\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Diagram comparing Bilateral and Radial Symmetry. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/User:Charl_Hutchings\"><u>Charl Hutchings<\/u><\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Diagram_comparing_bilateral,_radial,_and_spherical_symmetry.jpg\"><u>Wikimedia Commons<\/u><\/a>. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/deed.en\"><u>CC BY 4.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On the other hand, an artist can deliberately make their composition <strong>asymmetrical<\/strong>. This would involve a deliberate imbalance to perhaps create a sense of uneasiness or to imply movement.<\/p>\n<p>Some artists subscribe to a composition organizational principle known as <strong>The Rule of Thirds.<\/strong> To apply the Rule of Thirds to balance one\u2019s artwork, one would imagine a grid of 9 boxes over the artwork, as seen below:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1949\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1949\" style=\"width: 593px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1949\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image25.png\" alt=\"Diagram of a 3x3 grid with solid vertical lines and dashed horizontal lines dividing the space into nine equal rectangles. The grid structure highlights the contrast between line styles for vertical and horizontal separations.\" width=\"593\" height=\"423\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image25.png 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image25-300x214.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image25-768x548.png 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image25-65x46.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image25-225x161.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image25-350x250.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 593px) 100vw, 593px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1949\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Rule of Thirds Grid, Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deviantart.com\/songwind\/gallery\">Songwind<\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deviantart.com\/songwind\/art\/MyPaint-Bordered-Template-Pack-197089054\"><u>DeviantArt<\/u><\/a>, License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\"><u>CC BY 3.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The artist would then place areas of emphasis over grid intersections. This approach creates opportunities for more dynamic compositions when compared to placing a focal point in the center of a composition.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Golden Ratio<\/strong> is another way to organize and create balance in a composition; it\u2019s a method based on mathematical calculations. Essentially, it consists of arranging one\u2019s composition based on the spiral shown below:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1950\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1950\" style=\"width: 602px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1950\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image26.png\" alt=\"Diagram of a black and white golden spiral composed of connected quarter circles within squares of decreasing size arranged in a rectangular grid. The spiral illustrates the Fibonacci sequence and golden ratio through progressively smaller squares and arcs forming a continuous curve.\" width=\"602\" height=\"379\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image26.png 1574w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image26-300x189.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image26-1024x644.png 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image26-768x483.png 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image26-1536x966.png 1536w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image26-65x41.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image26-225x142.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image26-350x220.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1950\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Fibonacci Spiral, Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/openclipart.org\/artist\/Creaz\"><u>Creaz<\/u><\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/openclipart.org\/detail\/339085\/fibonacci-spiral\"><u>OpenClipArt<\/u><\/a>, License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"><u>CC0 1.0<\/u><\/a> (Public Domain)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One\u2019s subject would be placed in the center of the spiral, then the spiraling tail would ideally line up with other important areas in the composition. The spiral would draw the viewer\u2019s eye outwards via an <strong>implied line<\/strong> across the composition.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"movement\">Movement<\/h3>\n<p>Your drawing will not move (unless you\u2019re interested in pursuing <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kinetic_art\"><u>kinetic art<\/u><\/a>), but you can imply a sense of movement with how you organize your composition.<\/p>\n<p>Ethiopian American artist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mariangoodman.com\/artists\/51-julie-mehretu\/\"><u>Julie Mehretu<\/u><\/a> is famous for her incredibly dynamic 2D artworks. In the artwork below, Julie Mehretu uses radiating and swirling lines to create a sense of spinning and turning in her composition.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1951\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1951\" style=\"width: 924px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1951\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image27.jpg\" alt=\"Photograph of an art gallery interior showing visitors walking past two large abstract paintings mounted on white walls. One painting features a chaotic explosion of lines and colors radiating from a central point, while the other displays darker, more concentrated abstract forms.\" width=\"924\" height=\"693\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image27.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image27-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image27-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image27-65x49.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image27-225x169.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image27-350x263.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 924px) 100vw, 924px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1951\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Museum Visitors Walking in front of Empirical Construction (2003) by Julie Mehretu. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/thatgirl\/\"><u>Susan S<\/u><\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/thatgirl\/3335706\"><u>Flikr<\/u><\/a>. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/2.0\/deed.en\"><u>CC BY NC 2.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Another common way to create a sense of movement is with a diagonal axis line. In his painting <em>Venus and Adonis<\/em> (see below), Titian uses a <strong>diagonal axis line<\/strong> to create a sense of <strong>compositional imbalance<\/strong> and imply movement. The result is akin to a film still; the viewer expects Adonis to run off any moment, and for Venus to fall backwards as he moves away.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1952\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1952\" style=\"width: 618px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1952\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image28.png\" alt=\"Painting features a clothed male and a nude female set within an outdoor landscape next to two dogs and other figures. A white diagonal axis line is layered on top of the image to show compositional imbalance.\" width=\"618\" height=\"501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image28.png 2048w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image28-300x243.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image28-1024x830.png 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image28-768x622.png 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image28-1536x1244.png 1536w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image28-65x53.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image28-225x182.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image28-350x284.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1952\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Titian, Venus and Adonis, 1550s, oil on canvas, Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/art\/collection\/search\/437826\"><u>THE MET<\/u><\/a>, Licence: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"><u>Public Domain<\/u><\/a>. White axis line added by Elaine Wilson.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"proportion-scale\">Proportion &amp; Scale<\/h3>\n<p>These concepts both relate to size, yet in different ways. <strong>Proportion<\/strong> refers to the size difference of parts in relation to a whole. A common example of proportion is the comparison of the size of a body part to the size of the whole body. Another example of a proportion relationship would be the size of a part of the artwork in comparison to the size of the entire composition.<\/p>\n<p>In the artwork below, Michelangelo was extremely deliberate with how he proportioned the human form. He worked during the High Renaissance, when Greco-Roman beauty ideals were in fashion, so he greatly exaggerated the proportions of his forms. The bodies are extremely muscular to an unachievable degree. Some Art Historians consider this artwork, specifically, to be a part of the Mannerist art style period because of the extreme distortion of human proportion, which goes beyond typical Renaissance body ideals.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1953\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1953\" style=\"width: 745px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1953\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image29.jpg\" alt=\"Michelangelo, Last Judgment, Sistine Chapel, altar wall fresco painting depicting the Last Judgment with Christ at the center surrounded by angels, saints, and resurrected souls ascending or descending. The composition features vibrant colors, dynamic poses, and a dramatic contrast between saved figures on the right and damned souls on the left, illustrating themes of salvation and damnation.\" width=\"745\" height=\"561\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image29.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image29-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image29-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image29-65x49.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image29-225x169.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image29-350x264.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 745px) 100vw, 745px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1953\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Michelangelo, The Last Judgement (detail), 1535-41, Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/snarfel\/\"><u>Frans Vandewalle<\/u><\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/snarfel\/3133441682\"><u>Flickr<\/u><\/a>. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/2.0\/\"><u>CC BY NC 2.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Scale<\/strong> refers to the size relationship between two distinct forms.<\/p>\n<p>The above artwork has a great example of a common use of scale, to create an illusion of space in an artwork through the <strong>diminution of scale.<\/strong> As the composition recedes into space, the human forms diminish in scale (get smaller). The forms that are meant to appear closest to the viewer are the largest in scale.<\/p>\n<p>Another common use of scale that can be seen as far back as Ancient Egypt is to show importance with <strong>hierarchy of scale<\/strong>. This occurs when the most important person is depicted with the largest scale, as in the image below.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1954\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1954\" style=\"width: 665px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1954\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image30.jpg\" alt=\"Ancient Egyptian wall painting depicting a man in traditional attire standing on a wooden platform surrounded by various birds and fish, with a woman and child nearby. The artwork features hieroglyphic inscriptions, vibrant colors, and detailed natural elements, illustrating a scene of hunting or fishing in a marsh environment.\" width=\"665\" height=\"620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image30.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image30-300x280.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image30-1024x954.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image30-768x716.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image30-1536x1431.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image30-65x61.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image30-225x210.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image30-350x326.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 665px) 100vw, 665px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1954\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Nebamun Hunting Birds in the Marshes Using Cats, Tomb-Chapel, Thebes, Egypt, c. 1350 BCE. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"><u>Public Domain CC0 1.0<\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"conclusion-1\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Elements and principles are the essential building blocks of art. They are the vital ingredients to create visual content and organize visually pleasing, enticing, or even surprising compositions. As mentioned at the start of this chapter, the elements are the letters, the principles are the words, and the composition is the sentence of the visual language. Together, they tell visual stories ranging from realistic to abstract, created by artists from the ancient past to the present day.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"licensing-and-attributions-2\">Licensing and Attributions<\/h2>\n<p><strong>\u201cElements of Art &amp; Principles of Design.\u201d Written by Elaine Wilson. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/deed.en\">CC BY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"bri--please-edit-the-headings-level-for-this-learning-activity.completeelements-principles-activity\">Elements &amp; Principles Activity<\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"title-clutter-drawing\"><strong>Title:<\/strong> <em>Clutter Drawing<\/em><\/h3>\n<h4 id=\"description-1\">Description<\/h4>\n<p>This project is an opportunity to display your understanding of the elements and principles of art and your current drawing experience. There are two steps to this exercise. The first is to construct a still life, and the second is to use your supplies to draw the still life as accurately as possible.<\/p>\n<h4 id=\"project-parameters-1\">Project Parameters<\/h4>\n<h5 id=\"duration-1\">Duration<\/h5>\n<p>2 Hours<\/p>\n<h5 id=\"size-1\">Size<\/h5>\n<p>8.5&#215;11\u201d Paper Size<\/p>\n<h5 id=\"subject-1\">Subject<\/h5>\n<p>A still-life composed of a variety of objects (at least ten)<\/p>\n<h5 id=\"technique\">Technique<\/h5>\n<p>Direct Observation &#8211; draw the still-life object as it is seen<\/p>\n<h5 id=\"materials-1\">Materials<\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li>8.5&#215;11\u201d Printer or Drawing Paper<\/li>\n<li>Pencils &#8211; Graphite and Prismacolor Col-Erase Colored Pencils<\/li>\n<li>Erasers &#8211; kneaded, rubber, and mono zero<\/li>\n<li>Objects &#8211; choose at least ten items of different sizes and textures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 id=\"goals\">Goals<\/h4>\n<p>The goal of this project is to apply the elements and principles of art in an observation drawing.<\/p>\n<h4 id=\"objectives\">Objectives<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Create a complex and full still life &#8211; lots of objects and clutter<\/li>\n<li>Observe the referenced still life more than the drawing. Avoid drawing from memory or what you think the objects should look like. Instead, draw what you see!<\/li>\n<li>Use descriptive, confident lines, value, and colors to record detail and attempt to show light, shadow, and implied surface texture.<\/li>\n<li>Keep the drawing in pristine condition &#8211; clean and neat<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 id=\"method-1\">Method<\/h4>\n<h5 id=\"still-life-setup\">Still-Life Setup<\/h5>\n<ol type=\"1\">\n<li>Find at least ten three-dimensional objects with different surface textures, heights, widths, etc.\n<ol type=\"a\">\n<li>Avoid objects with complex patterns, text, etc.<\/li>\n<li>Include a lot of objects (at least ten)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li>Arrange the objects so they sit at different heights and overlap.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1955\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1955\" style=\"width: 753px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1955\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image31.jpg\" alt=\"Photograph of a tabletop arrangement featuring a green glass pitcher, an orange candle in a wooden holder, a green cup, a potted plant in a white vase, a butternut squash, a small ceramic container, a mini grater, and a cork coaster holding a jalape\u00f1o and three seashells. Warm lighting highlights natural textures and earthy tones, creating a cozy and eclectic still life composition.\" width=\"753\" height=\"632\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image31.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image31-300x252.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image31-1024x860.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image31-768x645.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image31-1536x1289.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image31-65x55.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image31-225x189.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image31-350x294.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 753px) 100vw, 753px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1955\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Clutter Drawing Still Life Reference, Briana Miyoko Stanley, digital photo, License: CC BY NC 4.0<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h5 id=\"drawing-process\">Drawing Process<\/h5>\n<ol start=\"3\" type=\"1\">\n<li>Prepare to draw by using a ruler and pencil to measure and draw a .5\u201d border on all sides of the paper.<\/li>\n<li>Then, use pencils to draw the still life to the best of your ability from observation.\n<ol type=\"a\">\n<li>Avoid drawing too small; instead, aim to fill the page with the drawing.<\/li>\n<li>Do not use a photo reference when drawing. Instead, look at the physical objects and attempt to translate the three-dimensional forms into a two-dimensional drawing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1956\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1956\" style=\"width: 763px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1956\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image32.jpg\" alt=\"Photograph of a hand holding a pencil sketch replicating a still life arrangement on a wooden table, featuring a green pitcher, orange candle, potted plant, butternut squash, small grater, and various containers. Sketch outlines key objects and composition, capturing shapes and placement while omitting colors and fine details present in the original scene.\" width=\"763\" height=\"997\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image32.jpg 1568w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image32-230x300.jpg 230w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image32-784x1024.jpg 784w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image32-768x1003.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image32-1176x1536.jpg 1176w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image32-65x85.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image32-225x294.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image32-350x457.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 763px) 100vw, 763px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1956\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Clutter Drawing Still Life Reference and Drawing Example, Briana Miyoko Stanley, digital photo, License: CC BY NC 4.0<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h5 id=\"tips-1\">Tips<\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li>Don\u2019t despair if you do not have any drawing experience; if this is you, even better that you are here to learn. If you have previous experience, this is your chance to show off what you can do.<\/li>\n<li>The best way to create an accurate drawing is to continually look at the reference\n<ul>\n<li>Only draw from direct observation; do not use a photo reference<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Draw lightly and use your eraser as needed to clean up and revise throughout the drawing process<\/li>\n<li>Think of this assignment as a great opportunity to draw what you are interested in by designing your still life with your interest in mind.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 id=\"result-1\">Result<\/h4>\n<p>The result will be your first attempt to create a direct-observation drawing. Be patient with yourself and use this drawing as an opportunity to record your current drawing ability. Then, refer to it throughout the semester to determine how much you improve.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1957\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1957\" style=\"width: 766px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1957\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image33.jpg\" alt=\"A pencil sketch of a still life composition featuring a pitcher, a candle on a holder, a bowl, a potted plant, a fruit, a small box, and a plate with rolled items. The drawing emphasizes outlines and shapes without shading or color.\" width=\"766\" height=\"604\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image33.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image33-300x237.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image33-1024x808.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image33-768x606.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image33-1536x1212.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image33-65x51.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image33-225x178.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2026\/08\/image33-350x276.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 766px) 100vw, 766px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1957\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Clutter Drawing Example, Briana Miyoko Stanley, digital photo, License: CC BY NC 4.0<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2014&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8211;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"licensing-and-attributions-3\">Licensing and Attributions<\/h2>\n<p><strong>\u201cElements &amp; Principles Activity.\u201d Written by Briana Miyoko Stanley. License: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/deed.en\">CC BY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<hr class=\"before-footnotes clear\" \/><div class=\"footnotes\"><ol><li id=\"footnote-1958-1\">Studio Museum in Harlem, \u201cNjideka Akunyili Crosby, <em>Nwantinti<\/em>, 2012,\u201d accessed June 25, 2026, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.studiomuseum.org\/artworks\/nwantinti-2?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">https:\/\/www.studiomuseum.org\/artworks\/nwantinti<\/a>. <a href=\"#return-footnote-1958-1\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 1\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"menu_order":2,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-1958","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":3,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1958","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1958\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2373,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1958\/revisions\/2373"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/3"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1958\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1958"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=1958"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=1958"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.palomar.edu\/art102\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=1958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}