Harmony

Home > Visual Arts > Principles of Design (visual arts) > Harmony

Consistency in the use of color, texture, shape, etc. in a composition.

Color theory: Understanding the relationship between colors and how to create visually appealing color palettes.
Contrast: The use of opposing elements of design such as light and dark, or large and small, to create visual interest and depth.
Repetition: The repeating of visual elements to create harmony, balance, and rhythm in a composition.
Balance: Achieving a visual sense of stability and equilibrium through the arrangement of design elements.
Proportion: The relationship between the size and scale of various design elements and how they fit within the overall composition.
Unity: The cohesive and coherent relationship between all elements in a design, creating a sense of harmony and completion.
Movement: The use of visual elements to create the illusion of motion and direction within a composition.
Emphasis: The use of design elements to highlight and draw attention to specific areas within a composition.
Texture: The visual and tactile qualities of a surface and how they contribute to the overall design.
Shape: The use of geometric and organic forms to create dynamic and interesting design elements.
Space: The placement and arrangement of design elements within the composition, creating a sense of depth and perspective.
Pattern: The repetition of design elements to create a motif or visual interest in a composition.
Harmony: The overall visual sense of unity and balance achieved through the use of all design elements within a composition.
Scale: The size and proportion of design elements in relation to each other and the overall composition.
Line: The use of straight or curving lines to create contrast, movement, and direction within a composition.
Monochromatic Harmony: This harmony is created by using different shades and tints of a single color to create a cohesive look. For example, a painting made in all varying shades of blue.
Analogous Harmony: Analogous harmony is created by using colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel. These colors complement each other and create a visual feeling of harmony.
Complementary Harmony: Complementary harmony involves using colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, such as red and green. They create a vibrant and eye-catching effect but can also create visual tension.
Triadic Harmony: Triadic harmony involves using three colors that are evenly spaced on the color wheel, such as red, yellow, and blue.
Split-complementary Harmony: Split-complementary harmony is similar to complementary harmony but instead of using one color, it uses two neighboring colors. For example, a painting that combines blue with orange and pink.
Tetradic Harmony: Tetradic harmony involves using four colors evenly spaced on the color wheel, such as yellow, purple, blue, and green.
Accented Neutral Harmony: This harmony uses mostly neutral colors like gray, beige, or white, adding a pop of color or two for accent.
Dissonant Harmony: Dissonant harmony involves using colors that clash, creating tension and excitement in the artwork.
Retro Harmony: Retro harmony uses colors that were popular in the past, such as bright pinks, oranges, and greens from the 70s.
Chiaroscuro Harmony: Chiaroscuro harmony is created by using a balance of light and dark colors in the artwork. It creates a dramatic and compelling effect.
Harmony through Texture: Texture can also be used to create visual harmony in an artwork by repeating certain patterns or textures throughout the piece.
"In the visual arts, color theory is the body of practical guidance for color mixing and the visual effects of a specific color combination."
"Color terminology based on the color wheel and its geometry separates colors into primary color, secondary color, and tertiary color."
"The understanding of color theory dates to antiquity."
"Aristotle (d. 322 BCE) and Claudius Ptolemy (d. 168 CE) already discussed which and how colors can be produced by mixing other colors."
"The influence of light on color was investigated and revealed further by al-Kindi (d. 873) and Ibn al-Haytham (d.1039)."
"Ibn Sina (d. 1037), Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (d. 1274), and Robert Grosseteste (d. 1253) discovered that contrary to the teachings of Aristotle, there are multiple color paths to get from black to white."
"More modern approaches to color theory principles can be found in the writings of Leone Battista Alberti (c. 1435) and the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (c. 1490)."
"A formalization of 'color theory' began in the 18th century."
"Initially within a partisan controversy over Isaac Newton's theory of color (Opticks, 1704) and the nature of primary colors."
"It developed as an independent artistic tradition with only superficial reference to colorimetry and vision science."
"Color theory is the body of practical guidance for color mixing and the visual effects of a specific color combination."
"Color terminology based on the color wheel and its geometry separates colors into primary color, secondary color, and tertiary color."
"The understanding of color theory dates to antiquity."
"Aristotle (d. 322 BCE) and Claudius Ptolemy (d. 168 CE) already discussed which and how colors can be produced by mixing other colors."
"The influence of light on color was investigated and revealed further by al-Kindi (d. 873) and Ibn al-Haytham (d.1039)."
"Ibn Sina (d. 1037), Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (d. 1274), and Robert Grosseteste (d. 1253) discovered that contrary to the teachings of Aristotle, there are multiple color paths to get from black to white."
"More modern approaches to color theory principles can be found in the writings of Leone Battista Alberti (c. 1435) and the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (c. 1490)."
"A formalization of 'color theory' began in the 18th century."
"Initially within a partisan controversy over Isaac Newton's theory of color (Opticks, 1704) and the nature of primary colors."
"It developed as an independent artistic tradition with only superficial reference to colorimetry and vision science."