Design Elements and Art Principles

County Fair is coming soon and you will need to be able to explain Design Elements and Art Principles for your Exhibits.

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

A special thank you for these resources to Ann Torbert, Regional 4-H Program Specialist, Sue Bogue, State 4-H Specialist and to whatever county developed the Design Elements/Art Principles Check Sheet.

Some resource pieces that are helpful:

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

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