2 Principles of Design - Composition

DVD 1013
FUNDAMENTAL OF ART &

DESIGN
PRINCIPLE OF DESIGN
Composition
1
DEFINITION OF COMPOSITION
• COMPOSITION is about the way an artist composes or combines the

elements of the work to give clarity and order to their ideas.
• COMPOSITION is about the way our eyes are guided around the artwork.
• COMPOSITION is involved with UNITY, how the elements of the artwork
go together to form a oneness, a wholeness, which satisfies the eye.
• COMPOSITION is involved with and governed by the principles of design.
• COMPOSITION is about VISUAL ORGANISATION
2
FRAME
The frame crops the

image to emphasize
certain compositional
rules.
Frame is used to select

3
a good composition.
Image as Frame
The image of a
cave opening is
used as a frame to
capture and focus
on the subject of an
island. (eg :advertisement)
4
Cropping by
Frame
An illusion frame for
cropping technique is
used to bring out a
better composition.
Cropping technique
is one of the methods
used to enhance the
composition of the
image. This helps to
eliminate busy
background and
gives more emphasis
5 to the figure.
Letterform as Frame
A gigantic letterform,
“O”, is used as a
frame for a body text
in a page layout
design.
6
Shape as
Frame
In this post card design, an ellipse is used to frame out the

photograph of the Poly JB, and is further enhanced by the
dynamic motion graphic 7 lines to emphasize the subject.
RULE OF THIRDS
An imaginary grid is used to determine the optimum

subject placement in a composition. Artists and
designers came to an agreement that this rule helps
to determine the success of a composition especially
to beginners, it serves as a guide to them.
8
THE GRID
One of the simplest

tools of composition is
the classic rule of
thirds. An imaginary
guide is used to
determine the
optimum subject
placement in a
composition.
9
1/3 RULE
The layout of this Mens

Retail Store print ad
uses a one-third-rule to
emphasize the subject,
which definitely calling
for attention to the
comfortable and casual
men’s wear that both
male and female would
like it.
10
50 : 50 SPLIT
The subject is placed on the

middle section of the two
vertical lines so that the
image seemed to have a fifty-
fifty split. However, when we
study closely on this
photograph, the rule of thirds
is applied. In which the
subject, Menara Alor Setar,
occupies the middle 1/3 of the
frame, whilst, the landscape
occupies the bottom 1/3. 11
THE RIGHT THIRD
The subject placed at the right intersect of the vertical line, usually
works very well when a simple statement is meant to be
12
conveyed. This is a photograph of an old lady.
When is the
Right Third is
on the left?
When there are more stories or activities to be told, most of

the time at the background, an extreme close-up of a subject
would work well when placed at the lower left vertical
intersect of the plane. The photo portrays a happy, contented
and high-spirited young boy who took a time-off from a ball
game
13
to pose for the photographer.
FIGURE GROUND
Figure and ground are the two

basic important elements to be Figure is a positive element defined
considered in a composition. by space relation, which exist between
There are many techniques used all parts. It exists on the background
or foreground.
in manipulating the figure and
ground to achieve great attention
on the subject as well as to the Ground is the format of background,
whole composition. The most foreground, white space and negative
space which carries visual images.
common practices employed are:
STOP
Ground Figure
What do you
see? A rabbit
or a duck?
In this figure, if you

concentrate on the old
Do you see a
lady’s face it is hard to
dog or cat?
observe the young lady’s
15 faced and vice versa.
Foreground-Background
In the case of this painting, the

background and foreground are
treated equally active. This is
important as to tell the viewers of
the scenario and atmosphere of the
ballet dances and their instructor.
Painting
17
Potrait & Still Life Photography
One of the most common practices is referring ground to an inactive

background and figure to the subject placed in the foreground.
With this bookmark design, we can

see how colour can play an
important role as a background to
emphasize the subject as a focus
point.
Graphic Design
This beautiful landscape photograph is achieved by blending two exposures to create a

composite image. The rising sun backlighting the mist in the valley makes a great
backdrop to the grazing cows in the foreground.By observing both samples on the right,
the landscape is divided into two parts, foreground and background. The scene is
lightened, therefore the foreground becomes more detailed and the image is darkened to
make the background colour looked even more 20
dramatic. This is done part by part and
finally merged them together to get a near perfect photograph just like the original scene.
Positive-Negative Ambiguity
This is an example where the idea of formulating an image by only addressing its
background that will definitely change the usual approach of how we look at
things.‘Yin and Yang” symbol here, is an example that shows the balance in figure
and ground in a composition. If the colours are reversed, it will still challenge the
viewer’s attention, which is the goal of visual positive and negative ambiguity.
Positive-Negative Ambiguity
What do
you see?
Visual Puzzle
This visual puzzle can confuse the viewers. One minute, the faces are very clear
and they seem to be the figure in the graphic while the space between the
profiles is the ground. The next moment, the outline of a vase appears
between the faces and becomes the figure and the space surrounding the vase
becomes the ground.
PERSPECTIVE
A graphic convention widely used to create

an illusion of three dimension on a two
dimensional space.
23
One Point Perspective
One point perspective

is commonly used in
architecture and
interior space
drawings. This type
of perspective creates a
feeling of depth and
enclosure.
In one point perspective, one face of a rectilinear
object is parallel to the picture plane.
Two Point Perspective
Two point
perspective is
commonly used to
draw products,
building exteriors,
landscapes and
mechanical
products.
Architecture
A two point perspective is a set of rectilinear object parallel to the picture plane,
and no surfaces of the object are parallel to the picture plane.
Three Point Perspective
Three point perspective is

used in the exterior
architectural drawings to
create the feeling of
looking down onto or
into an object or space.
29
Example of
Exterior
Design
Point of View
Point of view in drawing, especially in

comic illustration, is very essential. It is
used to express or highlight the character’s
dynamic gesture, behavior and expression
from various angles of view point.
PROPORTION
The comparative relationship between a single part of the whole design or units as to size.
The balloon seen from the distance.

Regulated Proportion
Often in this type of

proportion, a mathematical
“system” or standard is
established as guide. Every
part of the design is a
result of a calculation.
Golden Section
36
Golden Section is applied to the layout of this painting
The Greeks believed that the rectangular shape whose width to length ratio came to
the closest to the golden rectangle was the shape that was most pleasing to the eye.
Mathematical Rules
Proportion based on division and multiplication
38
Regulated proportion based on mathematical rules.
The mathematical rules used in this digital photo are the basic rules of
composition. The aim here is to create a visually compelling photograph,
something that capture the attention of the viewer.
A proportion based on the structural grid of a building.
Human Figures
Proportion based on human dimension.

Unregulated Proportion
In the work of art, the relationship of the parts are difficult to

compare with any accuracy because proportion often becomes a
matter of personal judgments.
43
THE BEST THEATRE DESIGNS – IN PICTURES
44
45
Red, 2009
46
The White Guard, 2010
47
48
49
50
EXERCISE
Each group is required to design a simple sketch layout for

movie theatre stage in 15 minutes. It must use the elements &
principle of art & design that has learnt. Then two group will
present the layout and try to present as in a real theatre.
A series of exercises will be provided to allow students to

experience and experiment with the elements
and principles of design, drawing and dramatic analysis.
The exercises will be assigned in class and due

the following class period. 51

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DVD 1013

FUNDAMENTAL OF ART &

• COMPOSITION is about the way an artist composes or combines the

The frame crops the

Frame is used to select

In this post card design, an ellipse is used to frame out the

An imaginary grid is used to determine the optimum

One of the simplest

The layout of this Mens

The subject is placed on the

When there are more stories or activities to be told, most of

Figure and ground are the two

In this figure, if you

In the case of this painting, the

Potrait & Still Life Photography

One of the most common practices is referring ground to an inactive

With this bookmark design, we can

This beautiful landscape photograph is achieved by blending two exposures to create a

A graphic convention widely used to create

One point perspective

Three point perspective is

Point of view in drawing, especially in

The balloon seen from the distance.

Often in this type of

Proportion based on division and multiplication

Proportion based on human dimension.

In the work of art, the relationship of the parts are difficult to

Each group is required to design a simple sketch layout for

A series of exercises will be provided to allow students to

The exercises will be assigned in class and due

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