can help you
create a
successful
composition
LINE
SHAPE
VALUE
TEXTURE
SPACE
FORM
COLOR
A line is a path that a
point takes from one
place to another
through space.
There are many different
kinds of lines.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Long
Short
Fat
Thin
Curved
Diagonal
Straight
Wavy
Zigzag
Horizontal lines suggest a calmness
when used in a composition. An
example would be a horizon line where
the sky meets the ocean.
Andrew Wyeth - Baleen, 1982
Vertical lines seem to be reaching
toward the sky suggesting growth
and inspiration.
Claude Monet Poplar Series-1891
Lines convey emotion too.
Tension
Excitement
Happiness
Sadness
have
height and width
Geometric
shapes
are precise
and
measureable
are flat
or 2-dimensional
Organic-Natural
A form has height, width and
depth, and is 3-dimensional.
When shapes become forms
A triangle becomes a cone or
pyramid
A square becomes a cube
A rectangle becomes a box
There are two types of texture:
Tactile texture (real texture) is the way the
surface of an object actually feels. Examples
of this include sandpaper, cotton balls, tree
bark, etc.
Implied texture is the way the surface of an
object looks like it feels. The texture may
look rough, fizzy, gritty, but cannot actually
be felt. This type of texture is used by
artists when drawing or painting.
Dried Grass
Wood
Water
Brick
Paper
Rocks
• That which is perceived when light hits
and reflects off an object. Three
properties of color are Hue (name of a
color), Intensity (strength of a color)
and value (lightness or darkness of a
color).
COLOR WHEEL
• Learning to mix colors is important.
• Knowing the placement of colors on
the color wheel will help you mix colors
and help you decide which colors to
add to your painting or drawing!
• Your choice of color schemes can
make a big difference in the success of
your project.
• The illusion of space is created
through light and shadow.
• There are two types of space:
positive and negative space. Positive
space refers to the actual subject
matter in a work of art. Negative
space refers to the space around and
between the subject matter.
It is necessary to consider both positive and
negative space when creating a composition.
THEY ARE BOTH IMPORTANT!
• M. C. Escher was able to create drawings where there
was no distinction between positive and negative
space.
Here is an example.
refers to the lightness or darkness of a color.
It gives objects depth and perception.