Unit 9: Principles of Art Flashcards

Study Notes

Principles of Art: Contrast, Emphasis, and Variety

Contrast:
- Defined as a noticeable difference between two elements (e.g., black vs. white, hot vs. cold).
- Used to excite, emphasize, and direct attention to key areas in a composition.
Emphasis:
- Prioritizes and gives dominance to specific features of an artwork.
- Helps focus viewer attention on the focal point, enhancing its importance within the composition.
Variety:
- Involves combining different art elements to create complex relationships.
- Increases visual interest through diversity and change in the artwork.

Discussion on Compositional Techniques

Contrast in Composition:
- Explore ways contrast can create depth and highlight crucial elements within the artwork.
Emphasis in Composition:
- Analyze how emphasis can be achieved through color, size, and placement to guide viewer focus.
Variety in Composition:
- Discuss methods artists use to incorporate variety, enhancing the work's visual complexity.

Demonstration and Identification

Techniques for Creating Emphasis, Contrast, or Variety:
- Review multiple artistic techniques that can be applied to achieve these principles in various compositions.
Identifying Principles in Artworks:
- Practice recognizing areas within compositions that exemplify emphasis, contrast, or variety.

Practical Applications

Creating Emphasis, Contrast, or Variety:
- List the different elements of art (e.g., line, color, texture) that can be manipulated to achieve these effects.

Notable Artworks

Two Young Girls at the Piano (Auguste Renoir):
- Notable for its use of color and light.
- Emphasis is placed on the girls, creating a focal point in the composition.
Haystacks (Snow Effect) (Claude Monet):
- Features subtle variety in brush strokes that impart motion and visual interest.
- Employs analogous colors and similar values for cohesion.
Fin d'Arabesque (Edgar Degas):
- Showcases contrast between colors and light, emphasizing the ballerina with strong and implied lines.

Description

Explore the fundamental principles of art, focusing on contrast, emphasis, and variety. These flashcards will help you understand how these concepts play a critical role in artwork creation and appreciation.