Unit 3: Elements of the Visual Arts

Visual Arts

__________ rely on specific visual tools to construct form, express emotions, and convey meaning on 2D and 3D surface.

Line

It is a continuous mark made on a surface by a moving point, defining boundaries, creates contour, and communicates psychological moods.

Horizontal Lines

This type of line suggest rest, repose, calmness, stability, quietude, and peace (either resembles a sleeping person or horizon).

Vertical Lines

This type of line convey height, majesty, strength, dignity, formality, stability, and spiritual aspiration toward heaves (e.g., Gothic spires, tall trees).

Diagonal Lines

This type of line express dynamic movement, action, tension, instability, drama, and energy.

Curved Lines

This type of line convey grace, elegance, rhythm, fluidity, softness, organic life, and sensuality.

Zigzag/Jagged Lines

This type of line express conflict, harshness, confusion, danger, violence, and nervous energy.

Perspective

It is a pictorial technique used to represent three-dimensional objects and spatial depth on a two-dimensional flat surface.

Linear Perspective

It is a type of perspective, which uses a mathematical system created during the Renaissance using a horizon line and vanishing points where parallel converging lines meet.

One-Point Perspective

It is a type of linear perspective that uses a single vanishing point on the horizon line (ideal for hallways, roads, centered interiors).

Two-Point Perspective

It is a type of linear perspective that uses two vanishing points on the horizon line (ideal for viewing corners of buildings).

Three-Point Perspective

It is a type of linear perspective that uses three vanishing points (two on horizon, one above/below) to depict extreme height or depth (worm’s-eye or bird’s-eye view).

Aerial/Atmospheric Perspective

It is a type of perspective that depicts depth by mimicking how atmosphere affects distant objects, having background objects appear lighter, less detailed, softer in focus, and cooler/bluer in hue.

Shape

It refers to a two-dimensional area enclosed by lines or defined by color/value changes

Geometric

It is a type of shape that is mathematical, sharp, and precise. Some examples are:

• Squares

• Circles

• Triangles

Organic/Biomorphic

It is a type of shape that is irregular, fluid, free-form, and nature-inspired.

Form

It is a three-dimensional volume possessing length, width, and depth/mass, possessing the following examples:

• Spheres

• Cubes

• Cylinders

• Sculptures

• Architectural Edifices

Value

It refers to the lightness or darkness (light and shadow) of a hue or neutral tone ranging from white to black.

Tint

It is a type of value that adds white to a hue to lighten its value

• Ex: adding pink as a ____ of red.

Shade

It is a type of value that adds black to a hue to darken its value

• Ex: adding navy as a ______ of blue

Chiaroscuro

It is a type of value, which is an Italian technique that employs strong contrasts between light and dark to give 2D figures 3D volume.

Tenebrism

It is a type of value, which is classified as an extreme chiaroscuro that features a violent contrast where dark backgrounds dominate and subjects are lit like spotlighted stage performers (pioneered by Caravaggio).

Color

It is produced when light strikes an object and reflects back to the human eye

Hue

It is a type of color, which refers to the distinct identity or name of the color family (e.g., Red, Yellow, Blue).

Value

It is a type of color, which refers to the lightness or darkness of the hue.

Intensity/Saturation

It is a type of color, which refers to the purity, vividness, or brightness versus dullness/greyish quality of a color.

Primary Colors

Red, Yellow, an Blue are classified as _________, naming them as such because they cannot be created by mixing other colors.

Secondary Colors

Orange, Green, and Violet are classified as _________, naming them as such since they are created by mixing equal parts of two primaries.

Tertiary Colors

Red-Orange, Yellow-Green, Blue-Violet, etc. are classified as _________, which can be attained by mixing a primary with an adjacent secondary.

Monochromatic

It is a type of color scheme/harmony that varies in value and intensity of a single hue.

Analogous

It is a type of color scheme/harmony that is situated directly adjacent to each other on the color wheel (e.g., Yellow, Yellow-Orange, Orange).

Complementary

It is a type of color scheme/harmony that is situated directly opposite to each other on the color wheel (e.g., Red and Green, Blue and Orange), creating a maximum visual contrast and vibration when placed side-by-side.

Triadic

It is a type of color scheme/harmony where three colors are spaced equally around the color wheel (e.g., Red, Yellow, Blue).

Texture

It refers to the surface quality of an artwork, how it feels or appears to feel

Tactile (Actual) Texture

It is a type of texture that has a real physical surface feel, such as rough carved stone, smooth polished marble, or heavy impasto oil paint.

Visual (Implied) Texture

It is a type of texture where the 2D illusion of texture is rendered through illusionistic painting techniques.

Space

It refers to the physical or pictorial area within, around, above, or between elements in an artwork.

Positive Space

It is a type of space that refers to the main subject or physical mass

Negative Space

It is a type of space that refers to the empty area or background surrounding the subject.