Elements Of Art

MODULE 4: ELEMENTS OF ART Introduction The elements of art is the fundamental pieces that make up an artwork. Most works of art will make use of many or all of the elements and principles of art. We often judge art by how effectively the artist used these design fundamentals even before we learn about them. The elements of art are the building blocks of an artwork: color, line, shape, form, value, texture, and space. They are the tools artists use when creating an art. Below you’ll find an explanation of each of the elements of art, including artwork examples and links to helpful materials for teaching the individual concepts. The Element of the Point The Element of the Point A point is the visual element upon which all others are based. It can be defined as a singularity in space or, in geometric terms, the area where two coordinates meet. When an artist marks a simple point on a surface, (also referred to as the ground), they immediately create a figureground relationship. That is, they divide the work between its surface and anything added to it. Our eyes differentiate between the two, and their arrangement has everything to do with how we see a final composition. Images Showing Element of point Dots or points working together can form an endless variety of arrangement and complexity. Then can become lines and curves. They can form complex shapes, patterns, textures, and any other structure imaginable. Dots in combination can even imply direction and movement, bringing us to lines. The Element of the Line The Element of Line Essentially, when you put two or more points together you create a line. A line can be lyrically defined as a point in motion. There are many different types of lines, all characterized by their length being greater than their width. Lines can be static or dynamic depending on how the artist chooses to use them. They help determine the motion, direction and energy in a work of art. We see line all around us in our daily lives. - If a line or lines is to added a series of lines at an angle and allowed to cross several lines, this sense of depth is increased. It creates perspective. - Thick lines placed close together create a thin line in the negative space between them. - This negative space line can often become the positive element and the original lines are seen as the new negative space. - Lines working together and in rhythm can form patterns and textures Categories of Lines ∙ Actual lines are those that are physically present. ∙ Implied lines are those created by visually connecting two or more areas together Straight or classic lines provide structure to a composition. They can be oriented to the horizontal, vertical or diagonal axis of a surface. Straight lines are by nature visually stable, while still giving direction to a composition. Expressive lines are curved, adding an organic, more dynamic character to a work of art. Expressive lines are often rounded and follow undetermined paths. Element of Shape A shape is defined as an enclosed area in two dimensions. By definition shapes are always implied and flat in nature. They can be created in many ways, the simplest by enclosing an area with an outline. They can also be made by surrounding an area with other shapes or the placement of different textures next to each other. There are two categories of shapes: geometric and free-form. Free form shapes are also referred to as organic. ● Geometric shapes are defined by name, through the contours that make up that shape. These shapes are classified by name like circle, square, rectangle, triangle, and so on. What makes geometric shapes unique is that their contours can be described mathematically. ● Free-form shapes are generally irregular and uneven. One of the reasons free-form shapes are considered organic is because these types of shapes can be found in nature. Plant life, rock formations, clouds, animals, and the human body are all considered to be free-form shapes. Free Form Shapes ∙ Static Shapes - Shapes that appear stable and resting. ∙ Dynamic Shapes - Shapes that appear to be moving and active. Dynamic Shape Element of Form The Element of form, refers to a shape or three-dimensional volume that has or gives the illusion of having weight, density or bulk. Notice the distinction between two and three dimensional objects: a shape is by definition flat, but takes on the illusion of form through shading with the elements of value or color. In three dimensions a mass is an actual object that takes up space. This element portrays the act or process of changing place or direction, orientation, and/or position through the visual illustration of starting or stopping points, blurring of action, etc. Form is the physical volume of a shape and the space that it occupies. ● Form can be representational or abstract. ● Form generally refers to sculpture, 3D design and architecture but may also relate to the illusion of 3D on a 2D surface. Images showing mass in art work Element of Space Space is one of the basic elements of art. It refers to the distance between or the area around and within shapes, forms, colors and lines. Space can be positive or negative. It includes the background, foreground and middle ground. It is important to creating and understanding both two dimensional or three dimensional works of art. With three dimensional art the space things occupy is real as is the space around object. There are two types of space that exist within art — positive space and negative space. Positive space is the actual objects or shapes within an artwork and negative space is the space around and between those objects. Element of Value Value is the relative lightness or darkness of a shape in relation to another. The value scale, bounded on one end by pure white and on the other by black, and in between a series of progressively darker shades of grey, gives an artist the tools to make these transformations. Categories of Values: ● Tint is adding white to a color paint to create lighter values such as light blue or pink. ● Shade is adding black to a paint color to create dark values such as dark blue or dark red. ● High-Key is a picture with all light value ● Low-Key is a picture with all dark values. ● Value Contrast is light values placed next to dark values to create contrast or strong differences. Element of Color Color is an element consisting of hues, of which there are three properties: hue, chroma or intensity, and value. Color is present when light strikes an object and it is reflected back into the eye, a reaction to a hue arising in the optic nerve. Color is fundamental to many forms of art. Its relevance, use and function in a given work depend on the medium of that work. The Theory of Color - The study of color in art and design often starts with color theory. Color theory splits up colors into three categories: primary, secondary, and tertiary. The basic tool used is a color wheel, developed by Isaac Newton 1966. - Traditional Model Traditional color theory is a qualitative attempt to organize colors and their relationships. It is based on Newton's color wheel, and continues to be the most common system used by - The primary colors are red, blue, and yellow. You find them equidistant from each other on the color wheel. These are the "elemental" colors; not produced by mixing any other colors, and all other colors are derived from some combination of these three. · - The secondary colors are orange (mix of red and yellow), green (mix of blue and yellow), and violet (mix of blue and red). · - The tertiary colors are obtained by mixing one primary color and one secondary color. Depending on amount of color used, different hues can be obtained such as red orange or yellow-green. Neutral colors (browns and grays) can be mixed using the three primary colors together. Color Theory Element of Texture The Element of Texture is the tactile sense we get from the surface of a shape or volume. Smooth, rough, velvety and prickly are examples of texture. Texture comes in two forms: · Actual: the real surface qualities we perceive by running a hand over an object · Visual: an implied sense of texture created by the artist through the manipulation of their materials. Texture in Three-Dimensional Art Three-dimensional artwork relies on texture and you cannot find a piece of sculpture or pottery that does not include it. Fundamentally, the materials used give a piece of art texture. That may be marble, bronze, clay, metal, or wood, but this sets the foundation for the work feels if it were touched. Texture in Two-Dimensional Art Artists working in a two-dimensional medium also work with texture and the texture may either be real or implied. Photographers, for instance, almost always work with the reality of texture when creating art. Yet, they can enhance or downplay that through the manipulation of light and angle. Categories of Texture ● Real Texture is the actual texture of an object. Artists may create real textures in art to give it visual interest or evoke a feeling ● Some things look like they are rough but are actually smooth. ● Implied Texture in two-dimensional art is made to look like a certain texture but in fact is just a smooth piece of paper. Like a drawing of a tree trunk may look rough but in fact it is just a smooth piece of paper.