Principles of Art

Unity- The feeling of wholeness or completeness that results from the pleasing combination of seperate parts.  

Movement- Creating the illusion or action or physical change in position,  Artists often use visual movement to control the way a viewer looks at a work of art. 

Emphasis- The focal point that dominates ones attention.

Balance- An equal amount of elements in a work of art.

Rhythm- The repetition of elements to create the illusion of movement.  Rhythm is created by positive spaces separated by negative spaces.  

Contrast- The complementary difference in value, colors textures, and other elements in an artwork.  Can be used as a technique for creating a focal point by emphasizing the differences among elements.  

Pattern- The combination of line, colors, shapes, etc., that are repeated in a sequence.