The Art Elements and Principles of Design
Line:
Line is the most basic art element. It has only one measurement (length) and is therefore referred to as a one dimensional element.
The directions of lines can be vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and curved.
Each of these four types of lines suggest different things…
Vertical Lines suggest strength
Horizontal Lines suggest calmness
Diagonal Lines suggest excitement and sometimes instability
Curved Lines suggest gracefulness
Lines can also be drawn in a variety of ways such as thick, thin, zigzag, and broken.
Shape:
When you give thickness to a line or enclose a line you create shape.
A shape has two measurements (length and width) and is therefore a two dimensional
art element. The two kinds of shape are Geometric and Organic
Form:
Form has three measurements (length, width, and depth) and is therefore three dimensional.
Space:
Space is the result of the relationships of art elements in an artwork.
In both a 2 D or 3 D work of art, shapes and objects are positive space (also referred to as figure) and the area surrounding shapes and objects are negative space (also referred to as ground).
Value:
The range of light and dark in an artwork is known as value. While value relates to both 2 D and 3 D artworks, a variety of value is key when creating form and dynamic contrast in a drawing or painting.
Texture:
Texture refers to the tactile surface of an object. The two types of texture are:
1. Actual texture is how a surface actually feels to the touch.
2. Simulated texture is the created appearance of actual texture in a drawing or painting.
Color:
The hue that our eyes see when light is reflected off of the surface of an object.
Color: continued....
The Basic Color Wheel
When the colors of the Spectrum (colors seen in a ray of light) are curved into a circle, they
form a color wheel of Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet (ROYGBIV)
You must understand the color wheel in order to properly mix and work with color successfully.
The basic color wheel is comprised of the:
Primary, Secondary, and Intermediate colors, along with neutral gray.
The Primary Colors: Are Red, Yellow, Blue and are the basis for creating all other colors on the color wheel.
Secondary Colors: Result from the combination of blending two primary colors.
Red & Yellow = Orange, Yellow & Blue = Green, Blue & Red = Violet
The Intermediate Colors : Result when adjacent primary/secondary colors are mixed.
Red/Orange, Yellow/Orange, Blue/Green, Yellow Green, Red/Violet, and Blue/Violet
Additional color groups include:
Monochromatic: color schemes are created by changing the value of one color and using its tints and shades to create a drawing or painting. Remember that the Art Element value relates to the range of lightness and darkness a color displays when adding white (to create a tint) or black (to create a shade).
Complementary Colors : are opposite (across from one another) on the color wheel.
You may also add a color’s complement (to create a tone), which can also affect the specific color’s value.
Example: Red and Green
Analogous Colors: are three colors of similar appearance that are next to each other on the color wheel.
Example: Blue, Violet, Red Violet
Split Complementary : consists of one color and the two colors across the color wheel on each side of its color complement.
Example: Yellow Green,Violet, Yellow Orange
Triad: Three colors that are equal distances apart on the color wheel.
Example: Red, Yellow, Blue
The basic color wheel has 6 warm and 6 cool colors.
Warm Colors: Warm colors remind us of fire and the sun. They bring excitement and boldness to an artwork. Warm colors make objects seem larger and appear to come forward.
These are Yellow, Yellow Orange, Orange, Red Orange, Red and Red Violet.
Cool Colors: Cool colors remind us of lakes, distant mountains, sky, and foliage.
They are calm and restful. Cool colors recede into the distance and make objects seem smaller. These are Yellow Green, Green, Blue/Green, Blue, Blue/Violet, and Violet.
Principles of Design
These are the guidelines you use when you combine the various art elements into a composition. They are balance, unity, contrast, pattern, emphasis, movement, and rhythm
Balance:
Balance in a composition refers to an equal distribution of visual weight on either side of a composition’s center.
The visual weight of images and objects in a painting or drawing depends on their relative size, brightness of color, contrasts of value or texture, complexity of shapes, and distance from the center of the composition.
Symmetrical balance (formal) occurs when one side of an object is a mirror image of the other. A face, butterfly, etc… Symmetry can create calmness, formality, and sometimes boredom.
Asymmetrical balance (informal) occurs when an artwork has equal visual weight but is not a mirror image. Each side is different but is still visually balanced.
Radial balance refers to a composition based on a circle with the design radiating from a central point.
Unity:
Unity refers to all parts of an artwork visually working well together. This principle occurs by keeping some similarities between the visual elements in an artwork, which serves to create unity in a work.
Contrast:
Contrast is the opposite of harmony and is created by combining different elements in an artwork. This serves to create variety in a work.
Pattern:
Pattern occurs when identical objects, art elements, or motifs are repeated again and again. Wallpaper and fabric often are decorated with a pattern.
Emphasis:
This occurs when visual interest in one area of an artwork is created.
Emphasis can be placed on the central idea, technique, or mood of an artwork.
Movement:
This is associated with rhythm and refers to the arrangement of parts in an artwork to help the viewer’s eyes follow a visual pathway as they move through the work.
Rhythm:
Refers to ways of combining elements to produce the appearance of movement in an artwork. Can be achieved through repetition or progression of an object or visual element.