THE STRUCTURE AND
PURPOSES OF VISUAL
ART
1.1 T YPES, PURPOSES & ELEMENTS
Fine Arts
How the image or
object looks
Aesthetics- pleasure
from looking at
object.
Drawing, painting,
printmaking,
sculpture and
photography
Applied Arts
Functional
 weaving, ceramics,
furniture making,
jewelry design,
Architecture
 Pleasing and
Functional
PURPOSES OF ART
Artistic Expression
Ceremonial
Narrative
Functional – artistic objects used in every day
life
Persuasive – advertising, marketing,
propaganda
ELEMENTS OF ART
1.Line
is defined as a mark made on a
surface by a moving point
Lines can be actually drawn or painted, or
they can be suggested or implied.
 Directional
 Size
 Texture
 Value
2.COLOR
When light bounces off an object.
 Hue the color’s name, such as “red” or
“blue.”
value of hue (lightness or darkness)
intensity of hue (brightness or dullness).
Colors can express emotions and mood.
COLOR WHEEL
PRIMARY COLORS
Three primary hues
(red, blue, and
yellow) are mixed in
certain
combinations to
create the remaining
hues.
SECONDARY COLORS
The secondary hues
(orange, violet, and
green) are made by
mixing two primary
hues together
Red + Yellow = Orange
Blue + Red = Violet
Yellow + Blue = Green
INTERMEDIATE COLORS
 The six intermediate hues
are made by mixing a
primary hue with a
secondary hue nearest
each other
Red + Orange = Red-orange
Red + Violet = Red-violet
Blue + Violet = Blue-violet
Blue + Green = Blue-green
Yellow + Green = Yellowgreen
Yellow + Orange = Yellow orange.
COLOR SCHEME
 Monochromatic color
scheme - different
values of a single hue.
 For example: dark blue,
medium blue, and light
blue.
 Analogous color
scheme - hues that are
next to each other on
the color wheel and
connected by same
hue.
 For example: red, redorange, orange, and redviolet.
OTHER COLOR SCHEMES
Complementary
color scheme - hues
opposite from one
another
• Triadic color
scheme - three hues
that forming an
equilateral triangle
1 .2 CONTINUG ART ELEMENTS
3.VALUE
 Degree of lightness or darkness of a color
Add white to make a lighter color - Tint
Add black to make a darker color - Shade
Examples:
Red + white = pink
Red + black = maroon
4.SHAPE
Definition: An
enclosed area
with an edge or
outline
Shapes are flat,
two dimensional,
and have only
length and width
Organic-based on
nature
Different types of
shape are:
•
Square
•
Rectangle
•
Triangle
•
Circle
•
Oval
5.FORM
 Three-dimensional, having
length, width, and depth
Forms are either
geometric or
organic
Different types of
forms:
•Pyramid
•Cone
•Cylinder
•Sphere
6.SPACE
 The perceived
distance or area
between, around,
above, below, or
within a given area.
 Artists have two types
of space:
 Positive Space which is
filled by
elements/objects
 Negative Space which is
left empty.
ILLUSION OR DEPTH OF DISTANCE
Foreground
 area lowest on the
picture plane.
Middle ground
 between the
foreground and
background.
 Background
 highest on the picture
plane.
ILLUSION OR DEPTH OF DISTANCE
Overlapping - When one object covers part of a second element/object, the first appears closer
to the viewer.

Size - Large elements/objects appear to be closer to the view than small elements/objects.
PERSPECTIVE
Atmospheric
perspective - hazy, low
intensity color used in
landscapes to give the
illusion of being far
away.
Linear
Perspectiverecreate a 3D
space on a 2D
surface by having
a vanishing point
on the horizon
line.
7.TEXTURE
The way a surface
feels or how it looks
like it would feel.
You can describe
texture by using
words such as rough,
smooth, hard, soft,
slick, sticky,
slippery…
1.3 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
Balance- the visual
equalization of the
art elements in a
work of art
The three major
types of balance:
 symmetrical balance
 asymmetrical balance
 radial balance
CONTRAST
 Emphasizes dif ferences between art elements.
 Sharp contrast draws attention and can direct a viewer to a
focal point within an artwork.
EMPHASIS
The main idea or
center of interest.
(Focal Point)
Example of
emphasis would be
Oath of the Horatii
by David.
REPETITION
Using the same
elements over and
over.
Example of
repetition is Twenty
Marylins by Andy
Warhol.
PATTERN
 Repetition of an art element, typically shapes, line, or colors,
used for surface decoration or ornamentation.
RHYTHM
 The way of repeating art elements to produce the look and
feel of rhythmic movement with a visual tempo or beat. Starry
Night by Van Gogh
MOVEMENT
 Principle of design that
uses the elements to
imply action or to cause
the viewer’s eye to
sweep over the artwork
in a certain manner
The Last Judgment
by Michelangelo - an
example of the
principle of movement.
PROPORTION
 The relationship in size of one component of an artwork to
another.
Igor Stravinsky by Picasso
VARIET Y
 The quality achieved when the art elements are combined in
various combinations to increase visual interest.
Bridge at Argenteuil by Monet
TRANSITION/GRADATION
The principle of
design that deals
with a series of
gradual changes
between art
elements.
2D shape to appear
3D
UNIT Y
 Refers to the visual quality that is achieved through use of art
elements.
Le Bassin aux Nymphéas, Harmonie Verte by Monet
1.4 ART MEDIA AND ART PROCESSES
The 2D
The 3D
 Art Process
 Art Process
 Drawing
 Painting
 Textiles
 Ceramics
 Sculpture
 Carving
 Medium
 Watercolor
 Tempera
 Oil
 Acrylic
SUBJECT MATTER
The object or objects the make up the image/artwork .
Representational:
•Portrait – an image of a person or group of people.
•Landscape – an image of a rural or urban environment.
•Still Life – an image of an inanimate (not human or animal) object or
group of objects.
Non-Representational:
•Abstract – an image which is based on a recognizable object that is
altered or changed in some way;
•Non-Objective – an image that is not based anything recognizable;
line, color and shape are often the emphasis.