Unit IV

UNIT 4: Elements and Principles of

Art

This unit presents the importance of the different elements of

the art mediums that make up the holistic character and

qualities of the art work. The discussions will focus on how the

elements and the different basic principles can merge and

effectively create a particularly organized art piece.

Learning Objectives

Understand the different principles of the elements

and classifications of the arts.

Learn successfully the methods of creating art and

designs.

Apply the principles effectively in creating one’s

own art work.

Value the learned principles and rules in art

creation and design.

I. Lines and Kinds of Lines

Line

a path made by a moving point;

a series of dots …………………………………

an intended mark made by the artist to convey meaning beyond its

physical description.

Lines can possess a variety of characteristics, depending on density,

rhythm, angularity, and the material that has produced them.

may be short or long, fine or thick, heavy or light, wavy or jagged,

straight or curved. No matter what type of line it is, it always has

direction.

Kinds of Lines

Straight Lines

geometric, impersonal, and differ in

the direction that they take.

The straight lines may move from left

to right, start from the top, and go

down, slanting or move up and down

form angles. Whatever the direction,

each kind indicates a specific type of

emotion.

VERTICAL

HORIZONTA

L

DIAGONAL

DIAGONAL LINES- suggest two

meanings, a positive and a negative

one.

-On the positive diagonals indicate

action and movement i.e. to move

forward and act. On the negative, it

conveys a feeling of uncertainty,

stress and defeat.

ZIGZAG LINES angular lines

that result in abrupt changes in

the direction of a straight line

thus forming angles. The lines

are unpleasant and harsh which

portrays tension, conflict,

chaos, or violence.

Curved Lines

are technically curvilinear lines.

suggest grace, movement, and

flexibility indicative of life and

energy.

When a curve line moves

continuously in opposite directions,

it forms a wavy line which shows

fluidity because of the gradual

change in direction.

II. Properties of Color and

How Colors Relate

Color

adds beauty and meaning to all forms of art.

the property of light.

composed of a series of wavelengths which strike the retina of the

eyes. (ROYGBIV).

Isaac Newton

Properties of Color

1. Hue

It is the name given to the color.

PRIMARY HUES- considered primary because these hues cannot be

produced by combining any hues. Red, yellow, and blue are the

primary hues.

SECONDARY HUES- produced when two primary hues are mixed

in equal amounts. Orange, green, and violet are the secondary hues.

1. Hue

INTERMEDIATE HUES-

produced after mixing equal

amounts of the primary and

secondary hues

2. Value

refers to the lightness or

darkness of a color.

The value of any hue can

be changed by adding a

neutral such as black or

white. This results in

changing the quantity of

light the hue reflects

SHADE- When black is combined with hue

TINT- When white is added with hue

3. INTENSITY

also called chroma or saturation. It denotes the brightness or

dullness of a color.

gives color its strength.

White-dull

Gray- neutral

Black- darkens

3. INTENSITY

How Colors Relate

COLOR HARMONY

is one method of establishing color quality in a composition. There

are several ways of creating harmony that an artist can use. The most

common are the following:

Monochromatic harmony

Complementary harmony

Analogous harmony

COLOR HARMONY

is one method of establishing color quality in a composition. There

are several ways of creating harmony that an artist can use. The most

common are the following:

Monochromatic harmony

Complementary harmony

Analogous harmony

COLOR HARMONY

is one method of establishing color quality in a composition. There

are several ways of creating harmony that an artist can use. The most

common are the following:

Monochromatic harmony

Complementary harmony

Analogous harmony

III. Shapes and Classification

of Shapes

SHAPES

In visual arts, a shape is formed

when two ends of a line meet to

enclose an area.

They may also presentt themselves

as flat or two-dimensional and solid

or three-dimensional on a picture

plane

ELEMENTS OF DRAMA

ELEMENTS OF DRAMA

PLOT- is the overall structure of the play. It is concerned about what

the story is all about. Traditional plots have a beginning, a middle, and

an ending.

SETTING- the locale and period in which the story takes place. It

includes the scenery, props, and costumes used in staging. It is the

background of the play that informs the audience where and when the

story will take place.

CHARACTERS- the persons involved in the story. They may seem real

to the audience depending on how the playwright structures the dialogue

to make the characters come to life. Characters can be the protagonist or

the antagonist.

ELEMENTS OF DRAMA

DIALOGUE- the words uttered by the characters in the story. It is

what the characters use when conversing with each other or when

expressing their thoughts and emotions. Dialogues let the audience

know the kind of character that the actor is portraying. There are,

however, plays with no dialogues.

THEME- is what the story means. It is how the individual elements

are put together to give the story significance and perspective. It

relates something about life that is presented in its totality. The theme

may be directly or indirectly stated.

ELEMENTS OF CINEMA

ELEMENTS OF CINEMA

Acting and the Stars. Acting is the art of portraying or impersonating

a character in a story. A performer during filming should embody the

character he is portraying. The actor’s portrayal must be perfect and

complete.

Set and Directors should know the setting of the story and build

artificial sets.

Music and Musical Director. Music is indispensable in motion

pictures. The musical director is in charge of selecting, composing

new songs, writing orchestration, preparing background music,

creating musical scores, and supervising all recording.

ELEMENTS OF CINEMA

Color in the movies is an innovation in cinematography. It costs twice

as much as the black and white films. Most films are now shown in

high-definition (HD) color.

Make-up, Hair, and Costume Design. These people are responsible

for applying the specific type of make-up, hairstyle and costume to

the actors before they face the camera.

ELEMENTS OF CINEMA

Sound, Camera, and Special Effects Technicians. Sound

technicians are responsible for making the dialogue clear and music of

fine quality. They make sure that there is no background noise. The

use of cameras and the functions of the special effects technician is

indispensable in cinematography. They decide on the use of masking,

the choice of lens, the camera angle, and the control of camera

movements.

THE RULE OF THIRDS

RULE OF THIRDS

The Rule of Thirds is used by visual artists

(painters, digital artists, and photographers) to

create compositions that meet the requirements

for a good design.

Most artists today, however, do not use this

rule, they opt for free-flowing composition that

is more of their expression rather than of works

limited or bounded by basic rules. The point of

this discussion is to encourage artists to first be

aware of the basic rules before they start

venturing to unorthodox techniques in

expressing their art.