Visual Creativity can be a powerful tool and whether you choose to create with nature, on canvas, or on your MacBook pro, it is all based on two foundational elements, Beauty and divine order, or Logos. Do we create as God does? No, but we strive to follow and emulate the path that he lay before us. No matter your skill level or understanding of these elements, we each have an inherent intuition to strive towards beauty and live in logos. 

The visual arts are a way to express and illuminate something greater than ourselves.

No matter the tools you choose to use, visual creativity can become a way to better understand and express the Divine. Are there certain tools or mediums which get closer to Beauty or become a purer form of visual artistic expression? No, toolsets evolve over time, and Art is naturally embedded within Design. There are, of course, Art forms that do not serve Beauty and the Divine, but that is a rabbit hole for another time.

Just as Beauty is better understood through Logos, so too is Art through Design.

Beauty exists through logos. You can debate whether or not this statement is true but there is no denying nature and reality. The argument of whether you can equate Art with Design is the same. With all things creative, the argument is often stirred by the subjectivity of personal style or taste, but this will only lead to more ignorance and uncertainty. Pitting Art and Design against each other, or separating them independently is just as superfluous as the war on the traditional family unit. Yes, Art and Design serve separate functions but they are inherently embedded within the same system. Art often appeals strongly to emotion while Design serves a function. Design is reductionistic and relies on information to communicate whereas Art relies heavily on intuition and feeling to convey meaning. so how do these two realms of creativity connect? To help describe the relationship, let’s take a look at music.

Music is another realm of creativity that is often viewed as very subjective and polarizing. What sounds good to one person is often nails on a chalkboard to another, therefore all auditory sounds can be considered music, right? No, this is extremely wrong; there are natural patterns and structures which allow frequencies to vibrate harmoniously together. Personal perspective, style, or taste do not refute what works naturally. Just as the triadic formula of 1-3-5 creates a harmonious chord and subsequently leads to a progression, so do the natural principles of Design create a harmonious composition and lead to a beautiful piece of art.

Design is the inherent structure of art and allows it to function harmoniously.

The best way to bridge the gap between Traditional Art and Digital Design, and to better understand the relationship of the visual creative field, is to take a look at the underlying principles and elements of Design. There are four main Design principles that digital designers and traditional artists should utilize; Frame, Balance, Hierarchy, and Unity. Within these Design principles are elements. Each element can be used to achieve and ultimately strive towards harmony and Beauty. These elements are contrast, proportion, emphasis, and repetition. 

First, let’s define the elements of contrast, proportion, emphasis, and proportion so we can better understand the overarching principles.

The Elements of Design

Contrast

Contrast is the state of being strikingly different from something else in juxtaposition. Some basic examples of this are light versus dark, vibrant versus subdued, or textured versus smooth.

Proportion

Proportion is the comparative measure of scale between objects. Proportion is harmonious when the correct relationship between visual components is achieved.

Emphasis

Emphasis is concerned with drawing attention to a specific visual component. When done correctly the eye naturally gravitates towards the component being emphasized.

Repetition

Repetition is the number of repeating components within a composition. Using the same or similar visual elements throughout your design can ultimately help to create a cohesive whole.

The Principles of Design

With the elements of Design in mind, let’s move on to the larger piece of the whole. Design principles can be utilized in order to create harmonious body of work.

Frame

Frame is the most important principle. All other principles and subsequent elements work within the frame. You must first identify the confines of your space and realm of which you will create. The size of your canvas comes before the paint medium, just as the paper size comes before designing a poster. 

Balance 

Balance is the visual distribution of weight. Each shape, brushstroke, or visual component takes up a certain amount of space and carries weight within the frame. Where you choose to distribute these components determines the balance of your work. Contrast, size, and shape can be used to achieve balance, as well as utilizing various forms of symmetry. A good example of this found in logo design. The visual relationship between the icon and the name will create a balance of the final mark. 

Hierarchy 

Hierarchy is concerned with order and value. The visual components that are emphasized most will translate to the top of the hierarchy, whereas the components that are de-emphasized will support those at the top. It can be as simple as using proportion, shape, or color to establish a hierarchy. A great example of visual hierarchy is how any generic website is set up. The most important elements, the logo, navigation, header image, and call to action, are all at the top of the browser while supporting content is below.

Unity

Unity gives your work a sense of cohesion and coherence. You are ultimately achieving completeness and connecting everything together. All other principles and elements work together in order to achieve unity. Creating an underlying grid can help achieve a sense of unity. Using natural geometric shapes and ratios to create an underlying grid allows you to work within patterns that naturally make sense. How will you tie the composition together in the end? This is what you should ask yourself while iterating and moving towards your final piece.

Utilizing these underlying principles and elements will help you create a cohesive and complete body of work. With anything creative, iteration, consistency, and practice lead to discipline and understanding. Whether you are naturally talented or have an interest in Art and Design, utilizing these principles will also help you get closer to Nature, Beauty, and Divine Logos in your work.

You will inevitably serve someone or something through your work, so choose to serve the Good, the Beautiful, and the True.

If you have any questions or insights on the matter of Art and Design please reach out directly to arts@beartariatimes.com.

MC-Bear