18 ELEMENTS OF ART

Arrangment of the Motifs. Beauty in pattern depends not only
on having well-designed motifs but also on arranging them well.
The units may be grouped in borders, stripes, checks, diamonds,
ogives, or other regular or irregular plans. Arrangement is so
important that the same unit may appear insignificant when used
sparsely but distinctive when used in a compact scheme.

Definite Character. The most interesting patterns are those
that have definite expressive quality. A design niay have a feeling
of dignity, quairitness, speed, restlessness, or whatever quality the
able designer wishes it to have. The character of a pattern is
determined by the direction of the lines and by the sizes, the shapes,
and relation of spaces.

Honesty in Technique. Proper regard for the medium insures
honesty in technique. For example, patterns for textiles should
look clothlike. The process by which the pattern is applied to an
article should also influence its design. A pattern to be carved in
wood is necessarily bolder than one to be painted on silk.

Joy of the Maker or Designer- This quality is seen most com-
monly in the work of, children, peasants, and primitive people.
Their work often has naive charm, playfulness, directness, and
apparent ease of execution. It is the opposite of work that appears
to have been labored, overdone, and intellectually perfect, but
dull, static, or lifeless* Gay peasant costumes are often expressive
of the joy of the exuberant maker* Many designers of today
produce results that speak of work done with joy. See page 59.

Harmony of Line* The lines of the pattern should usually
follow the lines of the article that it decorates, for example, a circle
fits better than a square on a round plate.

Pattern Agreement. In different articles used in the same room,
the types of patterns should agree, whereas the sizes of patterns
should vary. Highly stylized patterns are usually friendly with
geometric patterns but not with naturalistic patterns. Large-
patterned draperies should not have rivals of the same size in a
room, patterns of medium size constitute foils and are better
neighbors, See page 89* Inconspicuous stripes, texture patterns,
and tweed-like mixture are desirable accompanists for important
patterns.