Elements and Principles of Art

Elements The basic building blocks  Line  Shape  Value  Form  Texture  Color  Space

Line  A mark made by a moving point.  Has greater length than width.  Directs the eye-horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curvy, zig-zag, etc.  Can be actual-obvious lines or the borders or edges of shapes.  Can be implied-series of points or shapes that the viewers eyes connect. They are suggested, not actual.

Line

How do the lines in these illustrations direct the viewer's eye? Where does the artist want you to look? By Oleg Serdyuk

Line How do the lines in these photos direct the viewer's eye? Where does the artist want you to look?

Line What are the implied lines in this Illustration?

Line What are the actual lines in this Illustration? By Tiffany Wong

Shape  A contained area created by an area surrounded by a line that comes together.  A contained area created by change in color or value.  Shapes are 2-Dimensional and flat.  Can be GEOMETRIC (man-made) ex. Square, triangle, circle, etc.  Can be ORGANIC (natural) ex. Leaves, humans, puddles, etc.

Shape Describe how the shape is created in this Illustration. By Shae McKinster

Shape Describe the shapes, are they geometric or organic?

Shape Describe the shapes, are they geometric or organic?

Value  Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a surface.  Dark to light and all the mid-tones in between.  Value depends on how much light a surface reflects, creating highlight and shadow.  Contrast can be created by value.  Can add drama, impact, and emotion.

Value Describe the range of values in this illustration also how are they created? By Jennette Yi

Value Describe how the value in this illustration adds to the visual impact or emotion?

Form  Forms are 3-Dimensional with height, width and depth.  Form is created by the way light reflects off a surface  In 2-dimensional work, form is implied and is an illusion.  In 3-dimensional work it is actual, and should be viewed from many angles.

Form In this art work, how is the illusion of form created?

Form In this art work, how is the illusion of form created?

Texture  The surface quality; how an object feels, or how it looks like it feels.  Actual texture is physical, you can feel it.  Rough, smooth, shiny, or matte.  Implied texture is visual, created by how light strikes a surface showing values.  Implied texture can be created by a variety of colors, or repetition of dots, lines, and shapes.

Texture How is texture implied in this drawing? What helps you see the texture? By Katelyn Angers

Texture How is texture implied in this painting? What helps you see the texture? By Katelyn Angers

Color  Artistic term for color is HUE.  Light illuminates the subject showing color.  Primary colors are Red, Yellow, Blue  Secondary colors are mixed using two primary colors; orange, green, violet.  Tertiary colors are those mixing primary’s and secondary (ex: red-orange)  Complementary colors are those that are directly opposite on the color wheel.  Use color schemes to enhance appeal or make impact.

The Color Wheel

Subtractive and Additive modes of color Paint and pigment - CMYK Electronic - RGB

Color

red Red primary exciting provocative The pituitary gland really springs into action when it sees red.

yellow warming Yellow primary sunny In every society, yellow is equated with the splendor and heat of the sun, its identified with imagination and enlightenment.

blue dependable Blueprimary cool constant As it is strongly associated with sky and water, blue is perceived as a constant in our lives. Humans are soothed and replenished when they view blue.

Color What emotional response do you have to the colors in the above painting? By Katelyn Angers

Color What emotional response do you have to the colors in the above painting? By Shae McKinster

Space  The area used or unused in a composition.  All work can have height, width, and depth  Positive space – the area the objects/subject takes up.  Negative space – the area around, under, through and between.  Gives a 3-dimensional feeling/illusion. (Depth)  Foreground (closest), Middle ground, and Background (farthest).

Space How does space interact or frame the subject above? By Tiffany Wong

Space How does space interact or frame the subject above?

Space How is the illusion of depth created in the image above?

Elements & Principles in Composition  You have to know and understand the elements and principles of art to see and create strong visual compositions..  Good luck!