Ask yourself, “What am I trying to say? What is the best way to say it?” Explain a concept in two or three words, Communicate this idea through your materials, techniques, and design. The design you choose should support your basic concept. The elements of design are line, value, color, shape, size, pattern, and movement. The principles are harmony, contrast, rhythm, repetition; gradation, balance, and dominance. When elements and principles work together well, you achieve unity, the ultimate purpose of design. And this brings us to where you find your subject matter and source material. According to Igor Stravinsky, “The ability of creating is never given to us all by itself. It always goes hand in hand with the gift of observation. And the true creator may be recognized by his ability to find about him, in the commonest and simplest things, items worthy of note.”