Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions - Elements and Principles of Art

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards defining the traditional and contemporary elements and principles of visual art based on Module 5 lecture notes.

Horizontal Line

A type of line that creates an impression of serenity and perfect stability.

Vertical Line

A type of line that creates an impression of strength and perfect stability.

Diagonal Line

A line orientation that creates an impression of action.

Curved Line

A line form that creates an impression of gradual change of direction.

Circular Line

A line form that creates an impression of abrupt change of direction.

Outlines

Lines made by the edge of an object or its silhouette.

Contour Lines

Lines that describe the shape of an object and its interior detail.

Expressive Lines

Lines that catch the movement and gestures of an active figure.

Sketch Lines

Lines that capture the appearance of an object or impression of a place.

Calligraphic Lines

The elegant handwriting or lettering done by hand.

Implied Lines

Lines that are not actually drawn but created by a group of objects seen from a distance.

Shape

A two-dimensional figure with height and width that is enclosed by a line or lines.

Geometric Shapes

Shapes such as circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, and other geometric figures.

Organic Shapes

Shapes found in nature that are free flowing, informal, and irregular (abstract shapes).

Positive Shapes

The solid forms in a design.

Negative Shapes

The space around a positive shape.

Static Shapes

Shapes that appear stable and resting.

Dynamic Shapes

Shapes that appear moving and active.

Primary Colors

The foundational colors consisting of red, blue, and yellow.

Secondary Colors

The resulting colors when two primary colors are mixed, which are purple, green, and orange.

Tertiary Colors

The resulting colors when two primary and/or secondary colors are mixed: amber, vermilion, magenta, violet, teal, and chartreuse.

Analogous Colors

Colors that lie next to each other based on the color wheel, such as yellow, orange, and red.

Complementary Colors

Colors that are opposite to each other on the color wheel, such as red and green, blue and orange, and purple and yellow.

Monochromatic Colors

Several values of one color.

Warm Colors

Colors that give the feeling of warmth: yellow, amber, orange, vermilion, red, and magenta.

Cool Colors

Colors that give the feeling of coolness: purple, violet, blue, teal, green, and chartreuse.

Space

Refers to distances or areas around, between, or within components of a piece, and the arrangement of objects on the picture plane.

Positive Space

Refers to a part of space which is enclosed in a shape.

Negative Space

Refers to the opposite part of space which the shape is enclosing.

Perspective

A technical means by which distance is perceived in painting to see the position of objects in space.

One-Point Perspective

A perspective in which the position of objects meets at one point on the horizontal line.

Two-Point Perspective

A perspective in which the position of objects meets at two points on the horizontal line.

Texture

The element that appeals to the sense of feel (rough or smooth, bumpy or slippery) and represents the character of the surface of an artwork.

Real Texture

The actual physical texture of an object created in art to give visual interest or evoke a feeling.

Implied Texture

Texture created to make a piece of art look like a certain texture, even if the actual physical surface is different.

Value

Pertains to the lightness or darkness of a color in a given artwork.

Tint

Pertains to the lightness of a color, altered by adding white.

Shade

Pertains to the darkness of a color, altered by adding black.

Form

The three-dimensionality of an object, having dimensions of height, width, and length.

Rhythm

Refers to the repetition of certain elements to produce a pattern.

Movement

The illusion of motion in a painting, sculpture, or design.

Balance

Refers to the visual weight and even distribution of positions of elements in an artwork.

Symmetrical Balance

Refers to an artwork wherein both sides have the same elements in the same position.

Asymmetrical Balance

Refers to an artwork balanced through the contrast or differences of any of the elements of art.

Proportion

Refers to the relationships of the size of objects in a body of work.

Contrast

A principle showing differences between elements of art in an artwork to show how stronger each element is in relation to one another.

Variety

Refers to the diversity or the different elements used in an artwork to make it more interesting.

Emphasis

Refers to the greater impact or highlight given to a certain element in an artwork.