Unity, Harmony, And Variety - Principles Of Art - The Virtual Instructor

Compared to the elements of art, the principles of art are challenging to understand. A shape, for example, is obviously different from a color. Shape and color are both elements of art. A person without any art education would immediately recognize how shapes are different from colors.

That same person, however, may struggle to verbalize the differences between some of the principles of art. Two specific principles – unity and harmony, come to mind. The principles of art can create a feeling about an artwork and feelings are difficult to quantify.

This article explores three of the principles of art. These three principles are best understood as a group since they are related. The first two, previously mentioned, are harmony and unity. The third is called variety.

Harmony and Variety in Art

Harmony

Harmony is the principle of art that creates cohesiveness by stressing the similarities of separate but related parts.

One should note that harmony is not the same as unity. Harmony does, however, enhance unity in a work of art. Specifically, harmony uses the elements of art (color, line, shape, form, value, space, texture) as a vehicle to create a sense of togetherness amongst otherwise separate parts.

A set of colors that relate according to a specific scheme creates harmony.

Likewise, a uniform texture of brush strokes across the surface of a canvas creates harmony.

Another way to guarantee harmony is to choose compositional components that are similar in shape and contour. For example, a composition that utilizes only curvy shapes will have more harmony than a similar composition that includes both curvy and geometric shapes. The parts of the image below are in harmony because every contour is a curve.

Even a narrowed range of value can contribute to harmony in a work of art.

Variety

For many people, performing the same task or following the same routine over and over again leads to boredom. That is why vacations are such a pleasure. A vacation is an interruption of life’s routines. Some people are active when on vacation while others do nothing at all. One thing is certain – vacations look different than the routines they interrupt. Vacations are a measured dose of variety in a person’s life. Art needs variety also.

All harmony and no variety is boring.  A favorite professor of mine used to say, “Variety is the spice of life”. He was not life-coaching. He was talking about art.

Variety is the principle of art that adds interest to an artwork.

Variety works through juxtaposition and contrast. When an artist places different visual elements next to one another, he/she is using variety. Straight lines next to curvy lines add variety. Organic shapes among geometric shapes add variety. Bright colors next to dull colors add variety.

Note: If an artist uses variety to draw the viewers attention to a specific area in a composition then variety morphs into emphasis, also a principle of art. Principles of art bleed into one another. They overlap.