Principles and Elements of Art and Design by Michael DeSiano

Planned originally as an individualized instructional tool for gifted junior high school-aged students, the content, style and problem-solving format provide an activity level and interest level suitable for teenagers and adults.

Each of the two sections of the book concentrates on one aspect of design and provides a series of studio activities to complete. Each activity has its own objectives with questions to promote guided analytical thinking about the project.

Elements of Design addresses: Point, Line, Shape, Color, Texture, Space.
Principles of Design addresses: Balance, Unity, Rhythm, Pattern, Proportion.

This workbook is easily adapted to a variety of strategies or approaches, such as an incorporation of related activities (drawing, painting, graphic arts, art history); a correlated arts and general education sequence; or, additional work for students who complete class assignments early.

There is a Self-Evaluation section which emphasizes applying criteria from an intrinsic viewpoint by rating achievement in completing the projects in accord with their guidelines. In addition, the relative merits of completed activities are examined on the basis of artistic satisfaction.

A bibliography is included.