Everything in the world that is not nature is a reflection of the mind of Man, as he/she is developing understanding of the principles of the world and finding new ways to modify nature to the meet exigencies of the Day; to invent and problem solve.
This is a creative process that uses the mind, the heart and inspiration. In order to be creative, it takes vision, courage and focus. And it also takes knowledge.
How can some people come up with beautiful artwork, (be it buildings, sculptures, clothing, architecture, paintings, interior spaces), consistently and continuously? Besides inspiration, it is their understanding of the building blocks of Design that works. They use these tools while they are defining what they would like to say. Not all elements are easy to fit together. Sometimes it takes patience and diligence to complete a design.
Frank Lloyd Wright building block
We have been thinking about writing on this subject for a long time, but the subject of Design is so vast that it is hard to put down in words. So we have included here some websites that lay it out in simplified form. The Kennedy Center for Performing arts is a great place to start with an article about the elements and principles of composition. Here is the link below. What is the difference between an element and principle, you ask? Read on…
What are the Elements and Principles of Art?
The elements of art and principles of design are the fundamental pieces that make up an artwork. Most works of art will make use of many or all of the elements and principles of art. We often judge art by how effectively the artist used these design fundamentals even before we learn about them. We may not have analyzed it intellectually, but a beautiful and well- balanced design gives the viewer an A-hah! moment. What is that, you ask? You don’t know why yet, but you just like it. It rings like a bell.
The elements of art are the building blocks of an artwork : color, line, shape, form, tonal value, texture, and space. They are the tools artists use when creating an artwork.
See Elements of Art Examples and Definitions for more.
The principles of design are how those building blocks are arranged : contrast, rhythm, proportion, balance, unity, emphasis, movement, and variety. They are the ways an artist can organize the elements of art to create a wide range of effects.
Frank Lloyd Wright Allen House, Wichita, Kansas 1918
Knowing the elements and principles of art and design boosts visual literacy. Artists and creators make more powerful works when they utilize the principles of art. When viewers are familiar with the elements of art, they become more aware of the details and can better appreciate what they see and the message behind it.” says Cindy Ingram
Shelley Esaak at Thought.com is another good one to look at here while we are on the subject. what-are-the-elements-of-art .
We hope we have offered you enough to read on the subject. Some people are visually more creative than others, just like some are much better at math, or have a head for certain types of organization. We are all essentially creative beings, if we choose to be. Some see in color, others less so.
Rookwood by Mottahedeh
Lapis for Tony Duquette
At Mottahedeh, we choose to be colorful. That is for dinnerware or decorative objects for your home.
The historical story is important to us, because it represents the best of a culture of the past. For our reproductions and adaptations of designs, we try to understand the perspective of someone in those times and be true to their idea. For instance, if we are making an adaptation of a dinner plate from the 1750’s we would not take one motif that is repeated six times around the plate and repeat it on the computer. It is quicker. We would paint all six motifs as closely as possible in the hand of the original artist and take a picture of the whole plate after we paint it. We also paint our artwork instead of trying to photocopy. This is because before the Industrial Revolution, there was no mechanical assembly line and the present-day- hastily-copied plate would be a sad replica of a wonderful design.
For years when people have asked me about how we chose designs to reproduce, I tell them that Mrs. Mottahedeh just expressed herself, along with working with many fine museums.
Her likes and dislikes. And she loved to share her art with a twinkle in her eye. I try to follow the same philosophy of listening to my initial reaction. That is the other part of art. It is made by individuals who each have a point of view. We hope you find the means, if not already done, to determine your point of view and express yourself to enrich the lives of others through your designs.
Duke of Gloucester, Chelsea Feather, Lexington Ciel