Part 2

Principals of Art

Balance, emphasis, movement, proportion, rhythm, unity, and variety; the means an artist uses to organize elements within a work of art.

Rhythm: A principle of design that indicates movement, created by the careful placement of repeated elements in a work of art to cause a visual tempo or beat.

Balance: A way of combining elements to add a feeling of equilibrium or stability to a work of art. Major types are symmetrical and asymmetrical.

Emphasis/Dominance/Focal Point: (contrast) A way of combining elements to stress the differences between those elements.

Proportion/Scale: A principle of design that refers to the relationship of certain elements to the whole and to each other.

Gradation: A way of combining elements by using a series of gradual changes in those elements. (large shapes to small shapes, dark hue to light hue, etc)

Harmony/Unity: A way of combining similar elements in an artwork to accent their similarities (achieved through use of repetitions and subtle gradual changes)

Variety/Variation: A principle of design concerned with diversity or contrast. Variety is achieved by using different shapes, sizes, and/or colors in a work of art.

Movement: A principle of design used to create the look and feeling of action and to guide the viewer’s eye throughout the work of art.

Keeping the principals in mind, try out a few interesting techniques with Charcoal:

Eraser Drawing:




Drawing with the side of the charcoal, and stencil:




Cross Contour
Cross Contour 2