ART EDUCATION
Elements of Art
The elements of art are the building blocks used by artists to create a work of art. The visual components of
color, form, line, shape, space, texture, and value.
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Line is an element of art defined by a point moving in space.
5 Types of Lines in Art: Meaning and Examples
o Vertical lines are straight up and down lines that are moving in space without any slant and are
perpendicular to horizontal lines. They suggest height and strength because they extend towards
the sky and seem unshakeable.
o Horizontal lines are straight lines parallel to the horizon that move from left to right. They
suggest width, distance, calmness, and stability.
o Diagonal lines are straight lines that slant in any direction except horizontal or vertical. When in
use, they suggest movement or lack of stability.
o Curved lines are lines that bend and change direction gradually. They can be simply wavy or
spiral. Such lines convey the feelings of comfort and ease, as well as sensual quality as they
remind us of the human body.
o Zigzag lines are a series of diagonal lines joined at ends. They can convey action and excitement,
as well as restlessness and anxiety.
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Shape is a closed line. Shapes can be geometric, like squares and circles; or organic, like free-form or
natural shapes. Shapes are flat and can express length and width.
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Form an element of art that is three-dimensional and encloses volume; includes height, width, and depth
(as in a cube, a sphere, a pyramid, or a cylinder). Form may also be free-flowing.
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Value The lightness or darkness of tones or colors. White is the lightest value; black is the darkest. The
value halfway between these extremes is called middle gray. Adding white to any color creates a TINT.
Adding black to any color creates a SHADE.
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Space is the area defined by a shape or form. There are two types of space:
o Positive Space is the area where shapes and forms exist.
o Negative Space is the empty area around shapes and forms
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Color is the visible wavelength of light that is reflected off of a surface. Color is divided into three
categories:
o Primary colors (blue, yellow, red) are colors that cannot be creating by mixing other colors. They
are the basis for all other colors.
o Secondary colors (green, orange, violet) are colors that are made by mixing equal amounts of two
primary colors.
Blue + Yellow = Green
Red + Yellow = Orange
Red + Blue = Violet
o Tertiary colors are colors on the color wheel that are made by mixing Primary and Secondary
colors (blue-green, yellow-orange, yellow-green, etc).
Color Harmonies or Color Schemes
o Complementary color - colors that are opposite each other other on the color wheel are
considered to be complementary colors.
Ex. Orange and Blue
o Split-Complementary - is a variation of the complementary color scheme. In addition to the base
color, it uses the two colors adjacent to its complement.
Ex. Yellow, Red-Violet and Blue-Violet
o Analogous color - consists of three hues, all positioned next to each other on the color wheel.
Ex. Green, Blue-Green and Blue
o Triadic - uses colors that are evenly spaced around the color wheel.
Ex. Yellow-Green, Red-Orange and Blue-Violet
o Tetradic (Rectangle) - uses four colors arranged into two complementary pairs.
Ex. Orange, Red, Blue, and Green
o Square color scheme - similar to a rectangle, but with all four colors spaced evenly around the
color wheel.
Ex. Yellow, Red-Orange, Violet, and Blue-Green
o Monochromatic – the use of a single color tint in different values or shades.
Properties of color:
o Hue – identity or the quality by which we distinguish colors
o Cool colors – colors which possess the dominance of blue
Examples: Green, Blue, Violet
o Warm colors – colors which possess the dominance of red
Examples: Red, Orange, Yellow
o Value – lightness or darkness of a hue
o Intensity or Saturation – refers to the strength of a hue
Symbolic Color Meanings
Symbolic meanings that are often associated with different colors:
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Red: Passion, excitement, love, danger, warning, bravery
Violet/Purple: wealth, regal, noble, glamorous
Blue: Wisdom, hope, reason, peace, calm
Green: Nature, growth, freshness, fertility
Yellow: optimistic, happy, cheerful, liveliness
Orange: Warmth
White: innocence, purity, kindness
Black: grief, sorrow
Texture describes the surface quality of an object. Artists use both actual texture (how things feel) and
implied texture (how things look like they feel).
Principles of Art:
Balance, emphasis, movement, proportion, rhythm, unity, and variety; the means an artist uses to organize
elements within a work of art.
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Unity is the wholeness that is achieved in a piece of art through the effective use of the Elements of Art
and the Principles of Design, to create a feeling of completeness. It can also be referred to as Harmony.
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Balance is the arrangement of elements so that no one part of a work overpowers, or seems heavier than
any other part. There are two types of Balance:
o Linear Balance uses a single axis which serves as the dividing point for symmetry. There are two
types of Linear Balance:
o Symmetrical (or formal) Balance is when both sides of an artwork, if split down the middle,
appear to be the same.
o Asymmetrical (or informal) Balance is an uneven distribution on elements that nonetheless
still manages to create an overall sense of balance.
o Radial Balance is balance that is the result of components that are distributed around a center point.
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Emphasis is the point of attraction in a piece of art that draws the viewer’s eye to it. It is the dominant
feature in the work. It is also known as the focal point.
Rhythm is a principle of design that indicates movement, created by the careful placement of repeated
elements in a work of art to cause a visual tempo or beat.
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Proportion is a principle of design that refers to the relationship of certain elements to the whole and to
each other.
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Variety is a principle of design concerned with diversity or contrast. Variety is achieved by using
different shapes, sizes, and/or colors in a work of art.
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Movement is a principle of design used to create the look and feeling of action and to guide the
viewer’s eye throughout the work of art
References:
https://yourartpath.com/types-of-line-in-art-meaning?fbclid=IwAR0AhXXAaWa6GbeK5W7X-zf8pOVJN0zSDuNThNK4JFQV44vUc9_by8k3U8
https://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/elements_art.pdf
https://artofed-uploads.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/2015/12/The-Elements-of-Art.pdf
https://massart.edu/sites/default/files/Principles%20and%20Elements.pdf
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/how-to-use-these-color-harmony-for-digitalpainting-or-any-other-work-projects/td-p/10533040
https://www.verywellmind.com/color-psychology-2795824