Elements and Principles of Design

(reprinted from Susan Feller's blog, artwools.com)

The Elements and Principles of Design can be considered building blocks for composition. Elements are basic words to understand and then combine to achieve a Principle or make a story.

Elements and Principles of Design Excerpt: Design Basics for Rug Hookers by Susan L. Feller,     Stackpole Books 2011 Click title to purchase.

Elements: Line, Shape, Form, Space, Value, Color, Texture

Line is a joining of points. Thickness, direction and length are variables..
Shapes are created by joining lines. They are 2-Dimensional: height and width.
Form is any 3-Dimensional object. Form can be measured, from top to bottom (height), side to side (width), and from back to front (depth). Form is also defined by light and dark. A source of light on the object will convey form with the shadow or highlight associated by the exposure of light on the motif.
Space is the area provided for a particular purpose. It may have two dimensions (length and width), such as a floor, or it may have three dimensions (length, width, and height). Space includes the background, fore and middle ground.
Value refers to the relationship between light and dark on a surface or object and also helps create form. A value scale in fabric has 1 assigned to the lightest piece. Using a range of value in a work evokes a mood: middle values feel like a gray, rainy day; light values are cheery; and a dark work is somber.
Color is a combination of light rays reflected from a surface. In order to see color a light source is necessary. Notice the lessening of discernable color when a light is dimmed and then turned off. Color has three characteristics: hue, value and intensity.
Texture is the quality of a surface. In visual art, there are two types of texture: tactile and implied. In textile art there is texture in the materials used such as checks, plaids and tweeds.

Principles: Contrast, Emphasis, Rhythm, Movement, Pattern, Balance, Unity

Contrast is a design principle which provides visual interest. This can be accomplished using changes in scale, color, value, shapes.
Emphasis refers to areas of interest that guide the eye into and out of the image through the use of sequence, various levels of focal points, a change of value or intensity of color.
Rhythm as a principle is used to organize a composition and create interest, unity or emphasis. Visual rhythm is achieved by the same effort- repeating a shape, color or line in a regular pattern.
Movement can be achieved with a consistent directional line, or group of lines or by arranging shapes along an imaginary line.
Pattern is defined as a single unit of design used in repetition.
Balance – The eye perceives weights being equal and balanced when they have the same value, or intensity of color creating harmony. A design with equal shapes on either side of the imaginary dividing center line has symmetrical balance and is boring. Changing a motif or color on one side puts interest into the work.
Unity refers to a sense that everything in a piece of work belongs there. It is achieved by the use of balance, repetition and/or design harmony.

In order to have a successful design three parts must work together:
Materials, Techniques, and Composition

"Girl with Poppy Fascinator"

Another face worked on at the January workshop, "Girl with Poppy Fascinator" by Ruth Robinson, who writes:

"Girl with Poppy Fascinator" came from a collage done at Diane Cox and Sue Dove’s Artful Rugs workshop

in Penzance last year and started out as a large rag rug on hessian. After the workshop, finding the scale too large, I started again on a much smaller version, working with a punch needle.

We spent a whole day in Sue’s studio playing with glue and coloured paper pieces torn from magazines,

initially making abstract collages (a new experience for most of us and very liberating!), before working on another collage each which would be the inspiration for the rag rugs we would be working on during the workshop and, as it turned out, for many months after!

Cats' paws

Looking for hooking inspiration, I came across this on Gene Shepherd's blog, where you can see how to get the loops to behave. What a great way to use up scraps - perfect for all the bits of wool I've collected from the Craft Central scrap boxes.

It doesn't remind me of cats' paws at all, though - more like "starry sky" - you'll surely recognise the famous picture this comes from -

Design sources

My "road monster" rug is nowhere near finished and already I'm thinking ahead to the design of the next one.

Where do designs come from?

One possibility is - paintings. This is part of a landscape by Gustav Klimt, from the webpage of Margaret Arraj (www.millriverrugs.com) -

Among her many designs are titles like "Tropical Tivaetivae" and "Afghan Sun" -- so, other design sources are other textiles, quilts, and embroidery.