Understanding Design Elements and Art Principles

Understanding Design Elements and Art Principles

is a lot like understanding the ingredients in a Cookie Recipe. The Design Elements are the ingredients and the Art Principles are how you mix those ingredients together to make a delicious cookie! Take a look at this Quilt and what do you see? Lines, colors and a great use of space!

Here are the Design Elements (Ingredients of Art): Line, Shape, Color, Texture, Space

Here are the Art Principles (ways which the ingredients interact): Balance, Emphasis, Movement, Pattern, Proportion, Repetition, Rhythm, Variety, Unity

Some resource pieces that are helpful:

4-H Handout on Design Elements and Art Principles (.pdf)

A Checklist of Design Elements and Art Principles (MSWord)  (.pdf)

PowerPoint Slides on Design Elements (.pdf) by Ann Torbert, Regional 4-H Specialist

PowerPoint Slides on Art Principles (.pdf) by Ann Torbert, Regional 4-H Specialist

Q&A on Design Elements and Art Principles by a 4-H Leader (MSWord)  (.pdf)

Unraveling the Mystery of Design Elements and Art Principles in Clothing bySue Bogue