The Elements and Principles of Art

LINE

Line is a mark on a surface that describes a shape or outline. Line is formed when two dots are joined together. Types of line can include actual, implied, vertical, horizontal, diagonal and contour lines, dotted line, wavy line,freehand line, thick, thin line and etc.

Figure 1: Line (Awesomeartists, 2003)

Figure 2: Value scale using lines

Colour

Types of colour

Colour is one of the element of art and design. The color wheel was developed by Sir Isaac Newton by taking the color spectrum and bending it into a circle. The color wheel is made up of three different types of colors - Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary. (Fussell,M, 2017)

Figure 3: Types of colours

Primary colours

The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue.  No two colors can be mixed to create a primary color. Primary colors can only be created through the use of natural pigments.  Secondly, all other colors can be created by mixing primary colors together.

Figure 4: Primary colours

Secondary colours 

The secondary colors are orange, green, and purple.  Secondary colors are created by mixing equal parts of any two primary colors.

 Yellow + blue = green
 Red + blue = purple(violet)
 Red + yellow = orange

Figure 5: Secondary colours

Tertiary colours

Tertiary colors are created by mixing equal parts of a secondary color and a primary color together.  There are six tertiary colors- red-purple, red-orange, blue-green, yellow-green, blue-purple, and yellow-orange.

Figure 6: Tertiary colours

Warm colors:  red, yellow and orange.

 Figure 7: Warm colours

Cool colors:  blue, violet and green.

Figure 8: Cool colours

Complementary colours

Colors found directly across from each other on the color wheel.

Example:

Blue and orange
red and green
yellow-green
red-purple.

Figure 9: Complementary colours

Monochromatic- literally means one (mono) color (chroma).

Figure 10: Monochromic colours

Analogous colors- are colors that are next to each other on the color wheel.

Figure 11: Analogous colours

Value 

Value is the lightness or darkness of a hue (color). The value of a hue can be changed by adding black or white. Light values of colors are called tints. Darker values of colors are called shades. 

 Figure 12: Value

• Hue: Hue is the name of a pure color, such as red, blue, or yellow.
• Shade: A colour shade is created by adding black colour
• Tint: A colour tint is created by adding white colour to it
• Tone: A colour tone is created by adding grey to it.
• Intensity: Brightness or purity of a colour. A dull colour has a low intensity. Intensity of color is changed by adding varying amounts of its complimentary color. For example, to make a bright green duller a little bit of red could be added to it.

SHAPE

Shape is a 2-dimensional line with no form or thickness. Shapes are flat and grouped into two categories, geometric and organic.
-Square and rectangle -strength and stability  
-Circle and ellipses- continuous movement
-Triangles-lead the eye in upward movement
 -Inverted triangle-   sense of imbalance  

Figure 13: Geometrical shapes

FORM

Form is a 3-dimensional object having volume and thickness. It is the illusion of a 3D effect that can be implied with the use of light and shading techniques. Form can be viewed from many angles.
 

Figure 14: Shape and form

VALUE

Value/tone - is the degree of light and dark of a colour. It is the contrast between black and white and all the tones in between.It can be used to:

•  to create the illusion of form
• to create a rhythm or pattern within a composition.

Figure 15: Value (pinterest, 2017)

 

Figure 16: Light to dark

Figure 17: Artwork using value of blue(Etsy, 2018)

SPACE

Space - refers to variations in the perspective, and proportions of objects, lines or shapes. Space refers to the area within, around, above or below an object or objects. There is a variation of sizes in space of objects either real or imagined.
 

Figure 18: Positive and negative space (victorfont.com, 2018)

 

Figure 19: Space (Pinterest, 2018)

TEXTURE

Texture is about surface quality either tactile or visual. It is the degree of roughness or smoothness in objects.

• Optical Texture:using of skillful painting technique to create the illusion of texture. For example, a cactus painted on a paper looks thorny and sharp.

• Physical Texture: expressive brushstrokes which the texture conveys the physical and emotional energy of both the artist and his/her subject. Example using oil paint, sand, cloth to create an artwork.

•  Ephemeral Texture: This is a third category of textures whose fleeting forms are subject to change like clouds, smoke, flames, bubbles and liquids.

 

Figure 20: Optical texture (tes, 2018)

 

Figure 21: Texture (Slideshare, 2017) 

 

Figure 22: Physical texture

Principles of Art

BALANCE

Balance is a feeling of visual equality in shape, form, value, color, etc.  Balance can be symmetrical or evenly balanced or asymmetrical.  Objects, values, colors, textures, shapes, forms, etc., can be used in creating a balance in a composition. A large shape close to the center can be balanced by a small shape close to the edge. A large light toned shape will be balanced by a small dark toned shape (the darker the shape the heavier it appears to be).
  

Figure 23: Balance

Types of balance:

• Symmetrical
• Assymmetrical
• Radial

Figure 24: Symmetrical, Assymmetrical, Radial (Mr. johnson's Art room, 2017)

PROPORTION

Proportion refers to the relative size and scale of the various elements in a design. The relationship between objects, or parts, of a whole is necessary to discuss proportion in terms of the context or standard used to determine proportions. 

Examples:


body and face proportion :

Figure 25: Proportion in human body (devianart.com, 2018)

Larger size to give emphasis :

 

Figure 26: Proportion (Jirousek, C, 1995)

EMPHASIS

Emphasis is an area that first attracts attention in a composition. This area is more important when compared to the other objects or elements in a composition.  This can be by contrast of values, more colors, and placement in the format.

 Figure 27: Emphasis (Walkonsocks.com, 2017)

Figure 28: Emphasis (Thinglink.com, 2017)

 

VARIETY

 Figure 29: Variety (Canyon Crest, 2018)

 

Figure 30: Artwork (Prezi, 2018)

RHTHM AND MOVEMENT

Rhythm - is a movement in which some elements recurs regularly and the flow of objects that will seem to be like the beat of music.

Directional Movement - is a visual flow through the composition. It can be the suggestion of motion in a design as you move from object to object by way of placement and position.  Directional movement can be created with a value pattern. It is with the placement of dark and light areas that you can move your attention through the format. 

Figure 31: Rhythm and movement

PATTERN

Pattern-  made by repeating or echoing the elements of an artwork to communicate a sense of balance, harmony, contrast, rhythm or movement.

•  Natural Pattern: Pattern in art is often based on observing the natural patterns that occur in nature. We can see these in the shape of a leaf.

•  Man-Made Pattern: Pattern in art is used in structure and decoration

 

Figure 32: Pattern

UNITY

Unity - Unity is the relationship among the elements of a visual that helps all the elements function together.  Unity gives a sense of oneness to a visual image. Unity in a painting also refers to the visual linking of various elements of the work. Unity can be achieve through use  of:

•     similar shapes.
•     common pattern.
•      space
•      common background

Figure 33: Unity (Landscapers Mornington Peninsula, 2017)

Figure 34: Unity and harmony (Tes, 2017)

HARMONY

Harmony brings together a composition with similar units.  

 Figure 35: Harmony (Pinterest.com, 2017)

Figure 36: Harmony (nonprints.com, 2017)

 References:

Weebly.com, Elements of design, weebly.com, accessed on 19 September 2016, url: http://elements-of-design.weebly.com/line.html

Fussel,M, 2011, The elements-form, thevirtualinstrutor.com, accessed on 19 September 2016, url: http://thevirtualinstructor.com/form.html

Fussel,M, 2011, The elements-value, thevirtualinstrutor.com, accessed on 19 September 2016, url: http://thevirtualinstructor.com/Value.html

Incredible art department, 2014, Elements and principle of design, incredibleart.org, accessed on 17 September 2016, url: http://www.incredibleart.org/files/elements2.htm#idc-cover

The Virtual Instructor, 2017, Color Theory- The elements of  Art-Color, The Virtualinstructor.com, accessed on 11th January 2018, url:http://thevirtualinstructor.com/Color.html 

Art foundation, Elements of Design: Colour, Art Fundation site, accessed on 11th January 2018, url: http://www.wcs.k12.mi.us/cousino/wcsart/Art%20Foundatons%20Site/color.html

Jirousek, C, 1995, Principles of Design, Art Design and Visual Thinking, accessed on 13th January 2018, url: http://char.txa.cornell.edu/language/principl/principl.htm