Art Elements and Principles
Elements
Elements of art are the basic properties of a work of art that may be perceived through the senses. In a painting, for instance, the properties that may be perceived through our senses are texture, form, shape, color, line and value, space. ... Line is a basic element of art, referring to a continuous mark, made on a surface, by a moving point. Shape is an enclosed space or line, the boundaries of which are defined by other elements of art ( lines, colors, values, textures, etc.). Form is a three-dimensional that shows depth (in a drawing shading) as opposed to a shape, which is two-dimensional, or flat. Texture, is used to describe either the way a three-dimensional work actually feels when touched, or the visual "feel" of a two-dimensional work( real or implied texture). Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color of an object. Value becomes critical in a work to show changes from one object to another.( being bold and having a full range of value from black to white, and a full gray scale). Color is the element of art that is produced when light, striking an object, is reflected back to the eye. There are three (3) properties to color. First is hue, which simply means the name we give to a color (red, yellow, blue, etc.). The second property is intensity, which refers to the strength and vividness of the color. For example, we may describe the color blue as "royal" (bright, rich, vibrant) or "dull" (grayed).The third and final property of color is its value, meaning its lightness or darkness. The terms shade and tint are in reference to value changes in colors. Space refers to distances or areas around, between or within components of a piece. Space can be shallow or deep and two-dimensional or three-dimensional. Sometimes space isn't actually within a piece, but the illusion of it is. |
Principles
Principles of visual art are the rules, tools and/or guidelines that artists use to organize the elements of art in an artwork. When successfully combined with the elements of art they aid in creating an aesthetically pleasing or interesting work of art. Variety is the quality or state of having different forms or types, notable use of contrast, emphasis, difference in size and color. Contrast is created by using elements that conflict with one another. Often, contrast is created using complementary colors or extremely light and dark values. Contrast creates interest in a piece and often draws the eye to certain areas. It is used to make a painting more visually interesting. Transition there is an attempt to gradually show steps or in-between changes between two extremes of an element. For example a transition between large and small or dark to light. Rhythm refers to the suggestion of motion through the use of various elements like repetition like repeating shapes. Rhythm can make an artwork seem active. Grouping in Composition: Generally artists will form the main objects in the composition into a kind of group. If you connect the main objects in the composition with a line you will probably notice a kind of "shape" made by the object. This is shape may be triangular (very popular during the Renaissance) or some other shape. Pattern is showing consistency with colors or lines. Putting a red spiral at the bottom left and top right, for example, will cause the eye to move from one spiral, to the other, and everything in between. It is indicating movement by the repetition of elements. Balance is arranging elements so that no one part of a work overpowers, or seems heavier than any other part. The three different kinds of balance are symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial. Symmetrical (or formal) balance is the most stable, in a visual sense. When both sides of an artwork on either side of the horizontal or vertical axis of the picture plane are exactly (or nearly exactly) the same the work is said to exhibit this |