ELEMENTS AND
PRINCIPLES OF ARTS
ELEMENTS OF ART
The elements of art are the visual tools that the
artist uses to create a composition. These are: line,
shape, color, value, form, texture, and space.
LINE
A path created by a moving point, mark, or
object. It is a dot that takes a walk. Lines can be
horizontal, vertical, or diagonal; straight or curved;
thick or thin.
ELEMENTS OF ART
LINE
SHAPE
A two-dimensional, flat-enclosed area. When line
crosses over itself creates a shape. Examples of shapes
could
be geometric, organic/natural, irregular, circle, square,
rectangle, diamond, oval, crescent, heart, triangle,
octagon.
▪ Geometric shape can be defined as figure or area
closed by a boundary which is created by combining
the
specific number of curves, points, and lines.
▪ Organic/Irregular shape are shapes with a natural
look and a flowing and curving appearance, are
typically irregular or asymmetrical, and are associated
SHAPE
COLOR
The element of art derived from reflected or
absorbed light. Color adds interests and mood to a
work of art. It is
also referred as hue. The primary colors are red,
yellow and blue. The secondary colors are created by
mixing the
primary colors. Tertiary colors: The combination of
primary and secondary colors
TEXTURE
How something feels or looks like it would feel if you
could touch it. There are two kinds of texture;
❖ Real/Actual/Tactile, and Implied/Visual
VALUE
The lightness and darkness of an object. The degree of lightness and
darkness. The effect of light and shade in a
picture. Value vocabulary includes tint(adding white to make something
lighter), shade(adding black to make something darker) and hue(adding true
color). Shadow, highlight, and light source are also some vocabulary words to
consider with this element of art.
FORM
Objects having three dimensions(3D), or height,
width and depth. You can include cubes, cylinders and
spheres
SPACE
Refers to the emptiness or area around
or within objects. Positive space refers to the
part of the artwork that takes up space.
Negative space is the area around the
object. This element also refers to the parts
of the picture. FOREGROUND,
MIDDLEGROUND, BACKGROUND
SPACE
PRINCIPLES OF ART
The principles of art represent how the artist
uses the elements of art to create an effect and to
help convey the artist's intent.
The principles of art and design are: balance,
contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm,
and unity/variety.
Balance
refers to the visual weight of the elements of the
composition. It is a sense that the painting feels stable and
"feels right." Imbalance causes a feeling of discomfort in the
viewer.
Balance can be achieved in 3 different ways:
1. Symmetry, in which both sides of a composition have the
same elements in the same position, as in a mirror-image, or
the two sides of a face.
2. Asymmetry, in which the composition is balanced due to the
contrast of any of the elements of art. For example, a large
circle on one side of a composition might be balanced by a
small square on the other side
3. Radial symmetry, in which elements are equally spaced
Balance
Contrast
- is the difference between elements of art in a
composition, such that each element is made
stronger in
relation to the other. When placed next to each
other, contrasting elements command the viewer's
attention. Areas of contrast are among the first
places that a viewer's eye is drawn. Contrast can
be achieved by just positions of any of the
elements of art. Negative/Positive space is an
example of contrast.
Complementary colors placed side by side is an
example of contrast.
- is achieved when opposite elements are arranged
together. Although these elements might be
Contrast
-
Emphasis
- is when the artist creates an area of the
composition that is visually dominant and
commands the viewer's attention. This is often
achieved by contrast
- Emphasis refers to the created center of interest,
the place in an artwork where your eye first lands.
• Movement
- is the result of using the elements of art such
that they move the viewer's eye around and
within the image.
A sense of movement can be created by diagonal
or curvy lines, either real or implied, by edges, by
the
illusion of space, by repetition, by energetic mark-
making
Pattern
- is the uniform repetition of any of the elements
of art or any combination thereof. Anything can be
turned
into a pattern through repetition. Some classic
patterns are spirals, grids, weaves.
Rhythm
- is created by movement implied through the
repetition of elements of art in a non-uniform but
organized
way. It is related to rhythm in music. Unlike
pattern, which demands consistency, rhythm
relies on variety.
Unity/Variety
- You want your painting to feel unified such that
all the elements fit together comfortably. Too
much unity
creates monotony; too much variety creates
chaos. You need both
Task by group of 5
Create a tapestry
TAPESTRY
IS A FORM OF TEXTILE ART,
TRADITIONALLY WOVEN BY HAND ON A
LOOM. NORMALLY IT IS USED CREATE
IMAGES RATHER THAN PATTERNS.
TAPESTRY
TAPESTRY
