Elements of Art

1. Elements of Art & Principles of Design Presented by THE COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL ART DEPARTMENT Tamera Westervelt, Monica Winters, Debbie Gallitan, and David Page

2. The Elements of Art Learning about the elements of art is like learning a new language—the language of the artist. Each element must be understood individually. Understanding the elements allows you to communicate about a work of art. SHAPE LINE FORM VALUE SPACE COLOR TEXTURE

3. Line Line is.. The path of a moving point; it is considered one dimensional because length is usually its only measurement. Line can be ACTUAL, IMPLIED, or 3 DIMENSIONAL

4. Real Line Real line is line in its purest form—from point A to point B, illustrations and cartoons, outline, or contour line. • Vertical Line • Horizontal Line • Diagonal Line • Curved Line • Zigzag

5. Vertical Line Vertical lines represent stability; they are static or inactive. They give a feeling of dignity or formality.

6. Horizontal Line Horizontal lines are static and create feelings of peace, quiet and restfulness. They make one feel calm and content.

7. Diagonal Line Diagonal line shows action and movement. Tension excitement and instability are the result.

8. Curved Line Curved lines change directions gradually. They create a sense of gracefulness.

9. Zigzag Line Zigzag lines are a combination of diagonal lines which form angles and create a sense of movement.

10. Implied Line Implied line is line that does not really exist. It is suggested by a series of objects which the eye automatically connects.

11. 3D Line Linear objects that are longer than they are wide are sometimes called “3 dimensional lines.”

12. SHAPE SHAPE is flat. It is an area that has height and width. When the ends of lines connect, shape is created.

13. Geometric Shape These shapes can be made using tools such as a ruler or compass and mathematical formulas. Organic Shape Irregular free-flowing shapes (often derived from nature) are organic.

14. FORM Objects that have height, width and depth are three dimensional—they are FORMS.

15. Negative / Positive Negative / Positive Both Shape and Form have NEGATIVE and POSITIVE aspects. The negative is as important to composition as the positive.

16. organic. geometric Like shape, form can be or

17. SPACE The emptiness or area around, above, below, or within objects. Space defines shape and form. A simple trick for creating space is to OVERLAP objects.

18. In addition to overlapping shapes, varying the SIZE can create space. Larger objects in a picture plane read as being closer to the viewer.

19. PLACEMENT within the picture plane can create space; the higher an object is in the picture plane, the further away it appears to be.

20. Space can be created on a 2 dimesional surface with LINEAR PERSPECTIVE.

21. ATMOSPHERIC PERSPECTIVE creates space by fading values as objects recede into the background.

22. VALUE VALUE is the lightness or darkness of an object.

23. LOCAL VALUE is the natural lightness or darkness of the color of an object not affected by highlights and shadow. The LOCAL VALUE of yellow is lighter than the LOCAL VALUE of red. Value is affected by highlight and shadow.

24. TEXTURE refers to how things feel—rough, smooth, matte, and shiny. TEXTURE REAL texture can actually be felt. IMPLIED texture refers to how things look as though they might feel.

25. COLOR COLOR is derived from reflected light. Work reproduced with permission from Angela Pan.

26. Color has 3 qualities: COLOR HUE—The name of a color; the color’s place on the color wheel. VALUE—Thelightness ordarkness of a color. INTENSITY—The brightness or dullness of a color.

27. Principles of Design The principles of design are the rules that govern how artists organize the elements of art. BALANCE MOVEMENT EMPHASIS RHYTHM/PATTERN UNITY/HARMONY PROPORTION VARIETY/CONTRAST

28. EMPHASIS The principle that makes one part of a work dominant over the other parts. The element noticed first is DOMINANT; the elements noticed later are SUBORDINATE.

29. BALANCE Balance is the principle of design that equalizes the forces in a composition. RADIAL BALANCE—In radial balance the parts of a design radiate from a central point.

30. Symmetrical Balance When two halves of an object are mirror images of each other, they are SYMMETRICAL. Symmetrical balance is also called formal balance.

31. Asymmetrical Balance Unlike objects (size or number) balance each other in compositions that are ASYMMETRICALLY balanced. This type of balance is also called informal balance.

32. MOVEMENT The element of design that creates the illusion of action or physical change in a work of art is called MOVEMENT.

33. RHYTHM RHYTHM refers to the element of design that results from repetition. Rhythm can berandom, regular, alternating, flowing, or progressive.

34. UNITY / HARMONY UNITY is the quality of wholeness or oneness; UNITY and HARMONY exist when similarities of separate but related parts are stressed.

35. curves light values angles dark values VARIETY / CONTRAST Emphasizing differences can help create focal points.

36. PROPORTION Proportion is the principle concerned with the size relationships of one part to another.

37. The Elements and Principles become “second nature” to the artist.Understand them and apply them to your creations—they’re essential! ESSENTIAL

38. BIBLIOGRAPHY • Encarta Encyclopedia 2002 • Angela Pan, Coppell High School Graduate • ArtTalk, 2nd Edition, Rosalind Ragans, 1995, Glencoe/Macmillan/McGraw-Hill • Creating & Understanding Drawings, Gene Mittler & James Howze, 1995, Glencoe/Macmillan/McGraw-Hill