Principles of Design & Aboriginal Art The principles of design are the recipe for a good work of art. The basis of all design is the arrangement of the elements of art (color, texture, value, line, shape form and space), using the design principles. It is the bringing together of various components into one area and arranging them in such a way as to create a composition, layout or design that is both unified and pleasing to look at. Balance is the distribution of the visual weight of objects, color texture, and space. If the design was a scale, these elements should be balanced to make a design feel stable. In symmetrical balance, the elements used on one side of the design are similar to those on the other side; in asymmetrical balance, the sides are different but still look balanced. In radial balance, the elements are arranged around a central point and may be similar. Contrast is the difference between elements in a work of art. This can happen through a variety of elements such as value change, size difference, etc.
Emphasis is the part of the design that catches the viewer s attention. Usually the artist will make one area stand out by contrasting it with other areas. The area could be different in size, color, texture, shape, etc. Movement is the path the viewer s eye takes through the work of art, often from one focal point to another. Such movement can be directed along lines, edges, shape and color within the work of art. Pattern is the repeating of an object or symbol all over the work of art. Rhythm is created when one or more elements of design are used repeatedly to create a feeling of organized movement. Unity is the feeling of harmony between all parts of the wok of art, which creates a sense of completeness. (Use the Principles of Design link on the website for a fun way for the kids to remember the principles.) Aboriginal Art is a great example of the principles of design. See if you can find some examples of the principles we just discussed. The artwork is often visually balanced and has great use of contrast with light and dark colors placed next to each other. One object is usually emphasized to show
importance. The backgrounds of these art works were never blank. There is always a continuous use of dotting, patterns, lines or hatching to create a sense of movement within the work. This as a whole creates rhythm and unity. Aboriginal Art has survived for over thousands of years and continues to be one of the oldest art forms practiced today. Have you heard of Aboriginal art or Aborigines? Do you know where the Aborigines live? The Aborigines are people who had lived in Australia since the earliest times. Some Aboriginal paintings on rock surfaces are probably the earliest discovered in the world. Some are negative prints made by spraying pigment over ones hand to leave the shape of it. Some of the paintings of animals, plants or fish, show what it looks like on the outside and what it looks like on the inside - now called x-ray art. Painting was also done on baskets, shields and boomerangs. They even painted designs on themselves for special occasions. Painting these designs was a way of life and very important in their communities and brought them all together.
Aboriginal Art consists of symbols. What is a symbol? A symbol is a picture or object that represents something else. Symbols were used to tell about their life, rituals, food and customs and to show the different things that existed around them. Aboriginal artists created their works based mainly on patterns and animals. These patterns and symbols were created using only the colors seen in nature, (for example soil, was seen in tints of reds, yellows and browns. White, clay and charcoal colors were also used from natural materials such as bark, clay, logs, trees, burnt sticks, rocks.
See if you can find some of the Aboriginal symbols in this work of art. What story do you think the artist was trying to tell? Now let's create our own Aboriginal art! http://valleyridgeacademypto.com/art/artsmart.html