Elements
Line-
For the sake of having a definition, a line is the path of a point moving through space. How a line varies in thickness, angles and curves is referred to as line quality. Not all lines are drawn, many of them are implied. Different colors that touch create an implied line between the two. The placement of objects in a painting can also create implied line. Line can lead your eye throughout a painting. Contour Line- a line that describe both the inside and the outside of an object. Shape- Shape is any space enclosed by a line. Geometric shapes are enclosed by straight lines and sharp angles. Organic shapes are enclosed by free-flowing lines without angles. (Circles can be either.) Most organic shapes can be broken down into a geometric shapes; breaking them down this way can make drawing a bit simpler. Value- Value refers to how light and dark, highlight and shadow are used in a work of art. Highlights are areas hit directly by the light source, while shadows are areas where light cannot reach. Form- Form has height and width like shape does, but also has depth. Actual form exists only in sculpture and simulated form exists in painting. Like shape, there can be geometric form and organic form. To create the illusion of form in a drawing or painting, value must be added to shape. Texture- TEXTURE is the surface quality of an object. It is how it feels. There are two types of texture: TACTILE texture and VISUAL texture. Tactile texture refers to the actual way something feels. Usually only three dimensional art (sculpture) has tactile texture, but some paintings have paint that it is applied so thickly it has a rough texture (impasto). Visual texture can be broken down into two types as well: SIMULATED and INVENTED. Simulated texture is texture that is drawn, painted, etched etc that is meant to look like a real-life texture. Invented texture is not a real life texture at but looks textural due to repeating patterns, lines, and shapes. Space- refers to the area between, around, above, below or within objects. It has much to do with background, middleground, and foreground. Color- Is described by hue (that is color), intensity (how saturated the color is), and value (how light or dark the color is). COMPLEMENTARY colors are colors that are on opposite sides on the color wheel. ANALOGOUS colors are colors that are next to each other on the color wheel |
Principles
Balance-
is concerned with equalizing the visual forces or elements in an artwork It can be either symmetrical or asymmetrical. Asymmetrically balanced artwork tends to have a visual pull to one side. Symmetrically balanced artwork tends to have visual pull on both sides. Pattern- refers to a two- dimensional decorative visual repetition. It has no movement and may not have any rhythm. Unity- refers to how well completeness or wholeness is achieved in an artwork. Emphasis- refers to the portion of an artwork that is dominant over all the other portions of the artwork. It generally is what catches the eye first. Contrast/Variety- refers to how well novelty and differences are used in an artwork. Movement- is used to create the look and feel of action. It is also used to guide the viewer’s eyes throughout an artwork. Rhythm- indicates movement by the repetition of elements or objects throughout a work. Other Important Words!
Composition-refers to how visual elements are arranged in an artwork
Rule of Thirds-says that points of interests should be arranged on imaginary lines that horizontally and vertically divide the artwork into thirds |