elements of arts

FORMAL ELEMENTS OF ART TO BE USED IN VISUAL ANALYSIS
7 Elements of Art

  1. LINE

    • Definition: A recognizable path created by a point moving in space. It is one-dimensional and can vary in thickness, direction, and length. Refers to the continuous mark made on some surface by a moving point.
    • Types:
      • Two-dimensional (e.g., a pencil mark on paper).
      • Three-dimensional (e.g., wire).
      • Implied (e.g., the edge of a shape or form).
    • Outlines: A line that joins itself to create shapes.
    • Contour Lines: Define edges, and also define the edges of shapes within a form.
    • Qualities and Emotions: Lines can express different qualities and emotions and can also have a psychological effect.
      • Horizontal lines: Create a feeling of peace and calm.
      • Vertical lines: Create a feeling of strength and power.
      • Diagonal lines: Create a feeling of movement or restlessness.

  2. SHAPE AND FORM

    • Shape: Two-dimensional areas (flat) with length and width. They can be geometric or organic.
      • Organic shapes: Shapes of natural subject matter (e.g., leaves, plants, people).
      • Geometric shapes: Man-made and rely on squares, triangles, and rectangles.
    • Form: Exist in three dimensions, with length, width, and height. They also refer to the illusion of volume in a two-dimensional shape. Forms don’t have outlines in real life but are defined by light.
    • Space Relation: Shape and form define objects in space.
    • Positive Shapes: Areas in a work of art that are the subjects, or areas of interest.
    • Negative Shapes: Areas around the subjects, or the areas of interest.

  3. VALUE (TONAL VALUE)

    • Definition: Describes the brightness or darkness of color. Refers to the degree of light and dark in a given artwork.
    • Gradient: A series of values from lightest to darkest.
    • Effect: Tonal values create volume and three-dimensional forms.
    • Scale: Often described using a 9-step value scale.
    • Tints: Colours mixed with WHITE.
    • Shades: Colours mixed with BLACK.
    • Contrast: Tone can create contrasts (e.g., the contrast between light and dark areas gives a dramatic effect).

  4. TEXTURE

    • Definition: The surface quality or feel of an object (e.g., smooth, furry, scratchy, coarse, matted, wrinkled).
    • Actual Texture (Tactile): You can physically feel it; it's an actual part of the work.
    • Implied Texture (Visual/Illusionary): Found in two-dimensional works. It can be seen but not felt; there is no actual texture.
    • Frottage: A technique or process of taking a rubbing from an uneven surface to form the basis of a work of art.

  5. COLOUR

    • Definition: Reflected light.
    • Organization: Organized on a color wheel with 3 primary colors, 3 secondary colors, and 6 intermediate colors.
    • Intensity: Refers to the brightness or dullness of the color. Dull colors are muted.
    • Color Groupings:
      • Complementary colors: Pairs of colors which, when combined or mixed, cancel each other out (lose hue) by producing a grayscale color like white or black. When placed next to each other, they create the strongest contrast for those two colors. Also called "opposite colors."
      • Monochromatic: A painting that uses variations of one hue (color) only. A pure hue is mixed with black or white to get different shades or highlights.
      • Polychromatic: Random use of hues and their variations.
    • Effects:
      • Warm colours: Advance towards the viewer.
      • Cool colours: Recede into the distance.

  6. SPACE AND PERSPECTIVE

    • Space: In a work of art, refers to a feeling of three dimensions. It can also refer to the artist's use of the area within the picture.
    • Positive Space: Described as the areas in a work of art that are the subjects or areas of interest.
    • Negative Space: The area around the subjects, or the areas of interest. It is the empty space, or the open space between design elements or objects, such as a background.
    • Actual Space: Exists around forms and is real (e.g., in sculptures).
    • Illusionistic Space: Created by perspective; it gives a sense of depth on a 2D surface, like a painting or drawing.
    • Perspective in 2D Artworks: Artists create a feeling of three-dimensional space and depth through the use of perspective.
      • LINEAR PERSPECTIVE: Based on the observation that parallel lines appear to meet on the horizon at one or more vanishing points. Objects become smaller as they are positioned further away.
      • AERIAL PERSPECTIVE (ATMOSPHERIC PERSPECTIVE): When the atmosphere softens shapes and colours in a distance. (e.g., at a distance, individual branches and leaves of a tree appear to blend together).
    • Depth Creation: The illusion of three-dimensional space is created by overlapping, diminishing sizes, Foreshortening, Linear, Aerial, and Atmospheric perspective.
DESIGN PRINCIPLES

  1. BALANCE

    • Definition: Similar to balance in physics; represents the weight distributed in the design by the placement of elements. Provides stability and structure to a design.
    • Symmetry: Similar composition on either side of a work creates balance.
    • Asymmetry: One side is more "weighty" than the other side, creating imbalance.

  2. PROXIMITY

    • Definition: Nearness in space, time, or relationship. Creates relationships between elements and provides a focal point.
    • Application: Related design elements should be placed together, while any unrelated items should be spaced apart. Close proximity indicates that items are connected or have a relationship to each other and become one visual unit, which helps to organize or give structure to a layout.

  3. ALIGNMENT

    • Definition: Allows us to create order and organization. Aligning elements allows them to create a visual connection with each other.

  4. REPETITION

    • Definition: Strengthens a design by tying together individual elements. It helps to create association and consistency.
    • Effect: Repetition can create rhythm (a feeling of organized movement).

  5. CONTRAST

    • Definition: The juxtaposition of opposing elements (e.g., opposite colours on the colour wheel, value light/dark, or direction – horizontal/vertical).
    • Effect: Allows us to emphasize or highlight key elements in your design. A vast difference seen in colour, tone, shape, and form creates a dramatic effect or viewer interest.
    • Juxtaposition: Two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.

  6. DOMINANCE/EMPHASIS

    • Definition: When a part of a work seems to overwhelm or dominate the rest, it creates a focal area/point.

  7. DIRECTION

    • Definition: The way the eye moves around the artwork. Direction is linked to movement and is often directed by repetition of colours, lines, shapes that link and create a directional path.

  8. PATTERN/REPETITION

    • Definition: When shapes, lines, and colours are repeated and accumulate, it becomes decorative and creates a pattern.