Examples of The Effective Use Of Balance:
Radial Balance
This flower resting a tea cup on the left is a good
example of radial balance. The pedals radiate out
from a central point.
On the right radial balance is created by the
flowers which spring out of the center of the vase.
Horizontal Balance
Vertical Balance
Do you see the vertical balance suggested in the painting on the left? Look at
where the foreground ends and you will quickly see how it is balanced by the
building in the background.
The painting on the right is a little more obvious in its vertical balance.
Notice how the three objects in the top part of the painting balance the
apparent heaviness of the one object (the plate of pancakes) in the lower
part of the painting.
Examples of the effective use of Contrast
The contrast in the illustration to the left is quite obvious. Notice the contrast of the
light background (wall) with dark foreground (table cloth) and the contrast of the
dark shadows on the tea pot and cup against the wall and with the lights of the
same objects against a dark window.
There is also a contrast of thin and thick lines in the napkin, straight and curved
lines, and don't miss the dark steam as contrasted with the light clouds off in the
distance.
On the right a contrast exists between the lights and darks. Also notice the contrast of the
roundness of the objects in the foreground against the flatness of the background.
In the painting on the left is another example of contrast between
light and darkness.
Examples of the effective use of Emphasis
In this painting it is easy to see how the artist used light to
emphasize the chef. He stands out as the main focal point of
the entire the painting.
The artist created emphasis in this painting through the use of
color. By painting the cowboy's shirt red he was able to create
a center of interest.
Examples of the effective use of Proportion
There is a real sense of proportion in each of the two paintings above. Without the effective use of the principle of
proportion you would not experience the majesty of the mountain cliffs in the painting on the left or the towering
height of the trees in the painting on the right.
In the two paintings above proportion emphasizes the distance of the ship and the vastness of the ball room.
Examples of the effective use of Repitition:
Yellow Submarine - Sea of Holes
Wayne Thiebaud - Banana Splits
Examples of the effective use of Unity
The painting on the left creates a sense of
unity by the effective use of repetition.
See how the artist has repeated similar
forms (ducks) and color (brown)
throughout the composition?
On the right grouping of similar objects
(proximity) was used to create unity within
this painting.
The road in this painting is the "third element" that
helps to create a relationship between the people in
the foreground to the people in the background.
This painting is another good example of how
proximity creates relationships between related
objects.
IN CONCLUSION: USING The Design Principles
This study on the design principles would not be complete without
giving some practical guidelines on the use of the principles of
design.
1. Apply the principles in every assignment either consciously or
subconsciously.
2. Don't apply the principles equally, because one may be more
important than another depending on the mood and purpose of
the design. One design may be strong in balance, another in
proportion, another in movement and so on.
3. Try to include as many, and as much as will work of each
principle into each design.
4. You, as the designer, should always add a bit of your own
personality into your designs. Without this touch, your work may
be well designed, but lack character.
5. As you become more self confident, then you should dare to
violate one or more of the principles of design to promote growth
in your creativity.
Once the designer has an objective in mind, the effective use of
the design principles of balance, movement, emphasis, contrast,
proportion, and space will aid in the achievement of unity in a
work of art. Whether an artist uses the principles consciously or
subconsciously, unity should always be the goal of every artist.