Form and Visual Ordering

Form -- The arrangement of elements in an artwork

according to the principles that foster unity. Medium, media (pl.) --The materials and means used to bring an artwork into existence.

The Elements of Art

Line -- The path traced by the point of a tool, instrument, or medium as it
moves across and area. A three-dimensional line may be made using string, wire, tubes, solid rods, etc.

Shape -- An area that stands out because of a defined or implied boundary or

because of differences of value, color, or texture.

Value -- The relative degree of light or dark.

Texture -- The surface character of a material that can be experienced
through touch or the illusion of touch.

Color -- The visual response to different wavelengths of sunlight identified as

red, green, blue, and so on; having the physical properties of hue, intensity, and value.

The Principles of Organization

Harmony: The pleasing quality achieved by different elements of a
composition interacting to form a whole. Often accomplished through repetition of same/similar forms.

Variety: Differences achieved by opposing, contrasting, changing,

elaborating or diversifying elements in a composition to add individualized interest. (*in contrast to harmony)

Balance: Sense of equilibrium achieved through implied weight,

attention or attraction by manipulating visual elements within the composition.

Proportion: Comparative scale relationship between differing elements

within a composition. For example: the size a hand in relation to a head.

Dominance: When certain elements are more important than others in a

composition.

Movement: The directing of eye movement in a composition using

varying elements.

Economy: Adjustment of the composition to the basic essentials for clarity

of presentation, most often associated with abstraction.

Examples of Harmony

Frank Stella, Tahkt-I-Sulayman Variation II acrylic on canvas, 120 x 240 inches, 1969 Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Paul Manes, "Eiso" 1995 Oil on Canvas, 60 X 66 in. Paul Rogers 9W Gallery, New York, NY

Examples of Variety

Nancy Graves, To be little consciousness 1991, Aquatint 31 x 42 in.

Julie Mehretu, Excerpt (Molotov Cocktail), 2003 , ink and acrylic on canvas 32 x 54.

Examples of Balance

Ben Shahn, Handball 1939, Tempera on paper over compostiion board 22 3/4 X 31 1/4 in.

Unknown Artist
Example Radial balance

Examples of Proportion

Leonardo da Vinci, Proportions of the Human Figure c.1485-90. Pen and ink 13 1/2 X 9 3/4 in.

Unknown Artist
Example Proportion

Examples of Dominance

Jerome Witkin, Jeff Davies, 1980. Oil on canvas, 72 X 48 inches. Palmer Museum of Art, The Pennsylvania State University.

Chuck Close, Emma 2002, Woodcut EDITION/SET OF: 55 h: 43 x w: 35 in

Examples of Movement

Marcel Duchamp, Nude Descending a Staircase 191112, oil on canvas, 58 x 35 inches, Philadelphia Museum of Art, PA.

Examples of Economy

Robert Motherwell, Elegy to the Spanish Republic No. 110, 1971, Acrylic with pencil and charcoal on canvas, 82 x 114 inches. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Abstract Expressionist

William Frederick Yeames And when did you last see your father? 1878 Oil on canvas, 103 x 251.5cm British, Historical/Genre Painter