Elements and Principles of Art & Design AVI 101

The Elements of Art

Elements of Art The foundation of all two and three dimensional art work. The basic visual vocabulary that is used to create simple and complex art. In other words: the “Elements of Art” are the basic components/techniques we use to make the painting, drawing, design, etc.

Elements of Art 7 elements are used to create art: Line Shape Form Colour Value Texture Space

Elements of Art: LINE Line is the path of a point moving through space. An artist uses strokes that show motion and connect two points. Lines may be vertical, horizontal diagonal, curved, straight, or zigzag.

Elements of Art: LINE Lines define shape. Repeated lines make texture or modelling . Converging lines give the illusion of space. (like in the image to the right)

Elements of Art: LINE Lines can be emotional. Geometric lines are tense and mechanical. Organic lines are fluid and natural.

Elements of Art: LINE Geometric lines are tense and mechanical. Organic lines are fluid and natural.

Elements of Art: LINE Organic lines are fluid and natural.

Elements of Art: LINE Types of line can include actual, implied, vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and contour (outlines). Lines can be soft or hard. Leonardo da Vinci used a soft, sensitive line to create a graceful image. Leonardo da Vinci – 'Angel for the Madonna of the Rocks' ca. 1383-85

Elements of Art: LINE Here, the artist Willem DeKooning has use thick, heavy gestural lines to create a very different feeling image. Woman 1 by Willem de Koonin 1950-52 - Oil on canvas

Elements of Art: LINE The difference in line quality can create works with very different impact. The woman's face in this image is created with a mechanical lines creating an emotionally detached feeling.

Elements of Art: SHAPE Shape is a closed two- dimensional area or figure that has a definite outline created by a line, colour, texture or value that separates it from the background.

Elements of Art: SHAPE Placing the shapes together or on top of each other can create newer shapes and images.

Elements of Art: SHAPE Most drawings utilize shapes to create the basis of the image.

Elements of Art: FORM Form is a shape given 3- dimensional volume by using texture, colour or value. Note: A circle is a shape, a sphere is its related 3-D form.

Elements of Art: FORM

Elements of Art: FORM Form shows an object in the space it occupies and its mass.

Elements of Art: FORM Using simple lines can create the illusion of “Form” in art.

Elements of Art: SHAPE vs FORM Which fish is depicting Shape vs Form?

Elements of Art: COLOUR Colour is our visual response to the wavelength of light reflected from a surface. There are 3 types of colours. Primary Secondary Tertiary

Elements of Art: COLOUR Primary Colours consist of: Red Blue Yellow These colours can not be created by mixing any other colours

Elements of Art: COLOUR Secondary Colours are created by mixing two primary colours. Red + Blue = Purple/Violet Blue + Yellow = Green Yellow + Red = Orange

Elements of Art: COLOUR Tertiary Colours (aka Intermediate Colours) are created by mixing a primary colour with a secondary colour. Red-Orange Red Violet Purple Blue Blue Green Greenish Yellow Orangey Yellow

Elements of Art: COLOUR Colours ranging from Yellow to Red-Violet are considered to be Warm Colours. The other colours are considered to be Cool Colours.

Elements of Art: COLOUR Colours that are most different from one another are called Complimentary Colours. These colours are contrasting and sit opposite with each other.

Elements of Art: COLOUR Complimentary Colours

Elements of Art: COLOUR Colours that are most like one another and are near each other on the colour wheel are called Harmonious Colours. These colours are usually 2 colours away on the wheel.

Elements of Art: COLOUR Harmonious Colours

Elements of Art: VALUE Value is the lightness of darkness of an object, colour or image. In other words, how light or dark things are.

Elements of Art: VALUE Value can create a mood by making the art work more lighter or darker.

Elements of Art: TEXTURE Texture is the visual and/or tactile surface of an object or material. There are 3 types of texture. Simulated Actual Invented

Elements of Art: TEXTURE Simulated Texture is a realistic photographic rendering of the texture.

Elements of Art: TEXTURE Actual Texture is the use of the actual object to create the texture.

Elements of Art: TEXTURE Invented Texture is a texture created and only exists through the mind of the artist.

Elements of Art: SPACE Space is the area around, inside or between shapes or forms. Space is created by using other elements and principles.

Elements of Art: SPACE In visual art, space can be real (as in architecture or a three dimensional illusion).

Elements of Art: SPACE Placement of your lines, shapes, and images on your paper can also create the illusion of space.