Intro ch: Elements & Principles of Design + Vocabulary

Line

a connection between two points in space
An edge, one dimension, length

Shape

two dimensional - length and width
any area enclosed by a line
can be geometric or organic

Form

3 dimensional - length, width, depth
Contains mass and volume
Can be geometric or organic

Texture

the way something looks or feels. The surface quality

Value

the lightness or darkness of a color

Space

the area above, around, below, and within an object

Color

the way an object appears when light is reflected or emmitted by it

Balance

the equilibrium within the design area (deals with weight distribution)

Harmony

the similarities between the elements of design

Variety

The differences between the elements of design. Helps create visual interest

Emphasis

The Focal Point. The most important part of the photograph, that the eyes sees. first

Movement

Combining elements to cause the viewer's eye to travel over the
work whether it would be in a circular, vertical or horizontal movement.

Gradation

Combining elements using a series of graduc!,1 changes in those elements

Rythym

Repeated elements that create a visual tempo or beat.

Proportion

the relationship of certain elements to the whole and to each other .

Unity

Describes the total effect of the work of art through the effective use of the Elements and Principles of Design. It refers to the look and feel of the wholeness and oneness in a work made evident by the balance of harmony and contrast. (an equal distribution of similarities and differences of the elements within the art work)

Art Historian

someone who is an authority on art history. One who studies, analyzes, and writes about art history

Provenance

the original point of origin of a work of art. The chronology of ownership, custody, or location of a work of art

Iconography

the "writing of images" - refers to both the content, or subject, of an artwork, and to the study of content in art. It also includes the study of symbols, images that stand for other images or encapsulate ideas

Period

refers to the characteristic artistic manner of a specific era or span of years, usually within a distinct culture

Medium

the material(s) a work of art is made out of

Perspective

is one of the most important pictorial devices for organizing forms in space. Creates the illusion of depth on a two-dimensional surface

Subject Matter

Encompasses the story, or narrative; the scene presented; the action's time and place; the person involved; and the environment and its details

Composition

the way the elements and principles of design are arranged to compose a work of art. The layout of the piece

Hue

name of a color

Intensity

brightness or dullness of a color