Elements and Principles of Art and Design
Introduction to Elements and Principles of Art and Design
The elements and principles of art and design were introduced through the Bauhaus movement and the movement to modernism in the late 19th century.
These theories have been expanded and refined for school art curriculums in many western countries.
Students are encouraged to understand art by breaking down images through elements of art.
Elements of Art
Line
Shape
Colour
Texture
Form
Value
Space
Importance of Understanding Elements of Art
It is useful for students and teachers to have a good working knowledge of these elements.
Apply that knowledge when viewing, creating, and discussing works of art.
Students need to be able to see these elements in their own work and the work of others.
Competence in visual and oral expression of the elements of art.
Combined with understanding design principles, context, and imagery development strategies, students can better analyze and create art.
Creating a Visual Resource Collection
Creating a set of images or posters that describe the elements of art is a successful project.
This activity allows a beginning teacher to create a collection of seven visual aids – one for each of the elements of art.
This collection can be presented as a series of seven posters or PowerPoint slides.
By collecting images from magazines, calendars, books, the internet, etc., and incorporating these images onto the posters, understanding of each element improves.
This collecting process encourages meaningful decisions about the choices of images.
Include at least one artwork created by the teacher or students.
It is recommended that at least three to five images be used on each poster.
Text should be presented on the front and back of the posters.
The text component of the posters is for use by the teacher, but also will be viewed by the learner.
The definition of each element should be formed in a manner that will allow the learner to understand the element, especially in combination with the images presented on the posters.
Lesson ideas are for the activities taught in the classroom to accompany the posters and further the student’s understanding of each element.
A lesson idea should be written for primary and for intermediate levels.
These posters/images are a rich and rewarding resource in the classroom, both for teachers and for learners.
They can be displayed permanently and referred to at any time, or brought out as needed for a specific lesson.
Benefits of Visual Resources
Possibilities are endless, but the benefits are invaluable, especially in terms of increasing the visual literacy of the teacher and the student.
The more often that the posters are utilized in reference to discussion about the specific elements of art, then the learners’ knowledge and understanding of that element increases.
Students engaged in conversations about the elements of art when they are viewing, creating, or discussing art is a rewarding experience.
This level of knowledge and understanding is important for their own growth as artists and also for their appreciation for the work of others.
Preparation for a Lesson in the Elements of Art
Include at least one lesson idea/activity for primary students and one lesson idea/activity for intermediate students to accompany each element. This can be written in point form.
Include the definition of each element on one side of the poster.
Layout/Design
Present visuals and text in an organized format.
Create these posters as a collection, so you may consider a theme approach or some sort of unifying device.
Use borders to define edges.
Cut out all examples neatly to create a professional appearance. (Use a paper cutter and measure.)
Present your artworks in a finished format i.e., free of ragged edges/pencil marks, borders, mounted.
Evaluation Criteria
Visuals: Examples of Colour, Shape, Texture, Value, Line, Form, Space
Text: Headings- Bold, clear, easy to read.
Lesson idea/activity: Specific and clear.
Definition: Clear language that is accurate, yet concise.
General Requirements
Evidence of imaginative and creative thinking through the choice of images.
Sensitive appreciation of the medium at hand and its expressive potential, through original artworks.
An awareness of, and a feeling for, the language of vision and the elements and principles of design, as demonstrated in the layout and presentation.
An understanding of and ability to articulate the language of vision in artworks.
Images/Illustrations: Relevant, interesting, appropriate, good variety.
Presentation/Organization: Professional, applicable as a teaching tool, creative, neat layout and design, interesting.
Resources
Many exceptional resources are available through an internet search of the Visual Elements of Art.
Materials
Sources of images: magazines, calendars, books, the internet etc.
An assortment of art supplies such as crayons, felt pens, paint, etc.
Bristol board or similar card stock
Scissors
Glue
Processes
Work through a process of collecting images from a variety of different sources – magazines, calendars, books, the internet, etc.
Throughout this exercise, the important aspects of the art curriculum are accessed: creating, communicating, perceiving, and responding.
Students are also making decisions and thinking critically.
The Assignment
Create a visual aid for each of the following Elements of Art:
Colour
Shape
Form
Texture
Value
Space
Line
Images/Illustrations
Use real examples that you have made, or examples made by children, or images generated by computer, or pictures from books, magazines, or calendars, or other sources.
Be creative in the use of images, but make sure that they are good examples and clearly define the element.
Consider choosing images that will be of interest to children.
Use many different images to define the element as this will help in clarity and understanding (at least three to five images for each element).
Consider choosing images relating to a theme or topic (i.e. Canadian Art, Children’s Literature, Animals), etc.
Text
All text should be typed and/or computer generated.
Be very neat and professional with all text and written work.
Use bold headings. Keep text simple and accurate.
Shape
A two-dimensional image created with lines composes two images:
The positive shape (inside)
Negative shape (outside)
Regular or geometric examples are rectangles, ovals, trapezoids.
Irregular or organic examples are a paint spill, the outline of a lake on a map, or an unusual puddle.
Line
The path of a point moving in any direction.
Thick or thin, bent or straight, broken or solid, angular or curvy.
Creates an infinite number of configurations.
Defines the edges or boundaries of shapes and forms.
Texture
An actual or simulated appearance.
Evokes the sense of touch.
Suggests rough, smooth, bumpy, grainy, prickly, fluffy, hard.
Space
The illusion of depth and/or form on a two-dimensional surface.
Techniques used to suggest depth are perspective, overlapping, and variation of size.
Value
The lightness or darkness of any colour.
Bright, dark, light, and muted are some terms used to describe the value of a colour.
Form
Three-dimensional forms occupy space or give the illusion of occupying space.
Created with sculpture, photography, papier-mâché, glass, etc.
Experienced by the way light reflects a surface.
Colour
Colours create relationships: Contrast, complementary, primary, secondary, and tertiary.
Primary colours are red, blue, yellow.
Secondary colours are green, purple, orange.
Tertiary colours are created by mixing a primary colour with an adjacent secondary colour (e.g. mixing red and orange)
Red
Blue
Yel ow
Purple
Orange
Green
Extension Activities
Line
Using tempera paint, make lines of different colours covering a piece of paper. Consider thin, thick, straight, curved, short, overlapping lines to create a non-objective painting.
Shape
Create a dramatic abstract collage with shapes. Cut out many different organic shapes including flower shapes and leaves. Cut out a large geometric shape that will be the vase in this collage. Arrange the shapes on white paper, and then glue the pieces down, overlapping the shapes. When it is dry, cut around all the shapes and glue the collage on black paper.
Form
Cut from magazines, pictures illustrating different forms from nature and architecture. Arrange the pieces on a piece of cardboard and glue down in an interesting and creative way.
Colour
Using tempera paint, make a colour wheel. Draw a large circle on a piece of paper, then draw twelve circles or squares evenly spaced around it for the three primary colours, red, yellow, and blue, the three secondary colours, green, orange, and violet, and the six intermediate colours, red-violet, blue-violet, blue-green, yellow-green, yellow-orange, and red-orange. (For variation and interest, draw the outlines of animals or flowers instead of circles or squares.)
Value
Using only black and white tempera paint, paint five or six 4 x 6 inch pieces of paper in different values of grey. Make a collage by arranging and gluing the shapes on a larger piece of paper (ground.)
Texture
Using a rough object as the subject for a rubbing or frottage, use crayon to pick up the texture, then paint the paper with tempera paint. The crayon resists the paint, creating an interesting textural painting. Cut out or tear pieces of paper, from your rubbing, in different sizes and make a parrot from the shapes. Glue the pieces down to make a textural collage on black paper.
Space
Cut out people shapes, dog shapes, flower, or fruit shapes from different coloured paper in different sizes. Cluster them together in groups on a white piece of paper placing the larger ones below or on top of the smaller ones or both. You have developed a sense of space. Glue down after you have achieved a pleasing arrangement.
Further Inquiry
Beyond the Elements of Design connections, reflections and creations
On the Visual Organization of the Elements
The Principles of Design
On The Social Impact of the Elements
The Postmodern Principles
Resources
The Principles of Design What are they? Link (N.D.)
A selection of online PowerPoint presentations on the Elements of Design Lessons Ideas: Link
Principles of Design – Judy Willemsma (N.D.) – Judy’s ABC’S blog Link
Jessica Jake (N.D.) Lessons on the Principles of Design. Kidcourses Resources
‘Postmodern’ Principles of Design What are they? Link Laure March (N.D.) A poster explains Lessons Ideas: Link
Lindsey Moses (2017). Using Postmodern Principles to Facilitate Artmaking With Students With Special Needs