In this lesson you will learn about the
Elements of Art
Line Shape/Form
Space Texture
Value
Color
In this lesson you will learn about the
Elements of Art
DEFINITION = the basic visual tools
artists use when making an artwork.
The Elements are:
color, line, shape, form, texture, space, value
Line
= A mark made by a moving point; a
mark with length and direction
Ways to change a line:
Direction, Length,
Thickness, Solid/Broken
What types of LINE do you see in this artwork?
Shape
• An enclosed space or area
• Shapes are 2D, which means
they have NO depth
• Implied by an area of color
• Can be Geometric or Organic
Shapes
Geometric= shapes that follow
mathematical law; has a distinct
shape like a square, triangle,
rectangle
Organic = any natural shape that is
not geometric; has irregular edges;
like an amoeba
Look for examples of SHAPES in this artwork
Form
• An enclosed space or area
• Forms are 3D, they have depth
• Implied by an area of color
Drawing
Geometric
Shapes and Forms
Space
• Distance between lines and
shapes, or the illusion of depth
• Shown by:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Converging lines
Overlapping shapes
Changing brightness of color
Position on the page
Decreasing size (foreshortening)
Use of shading and shadows
An example of decreasing size, overlapping shapes,
position on the page, change in brightness
• Positive Space:
FIGURE. Space taken
up by objects that the
artist wants the
viewer to see.
• Negative Space:
GROUND. Space that
is around the objects
or the leftover, empty
space.
Are the HANDS the positive or the
negative space?
Texture
= the feel of the actual surface
• Can be created using lines,
shapes, and values.
• Real texture = you can actually
physically feel the texture of the
artwork
• Implied texture = the artist
created the texture, but you can
not feel it.
EVERYTHING has
texture!
Which is real texture which is
implied texture?
Color
Produced
when light
strikes an
object and
reflects back
to the eyes
Color
• Red, Yellow, & Blue are
Primary Hues
• Orange, Violet , Green are
Secondary Hues
Color
Primary
Primary
&Colors
Secondary
Colors
Value
• Lightness or darkness
• TINTS, made by adding
white
• SHADES, made by adding
black
Hatching
Cross-hatching
Stippling
An example of an artworks focusing on
VALUES
Can you find
each of the
elements
illustrated?
[Color. Line.
Shape. Form.
Texture. value.]
In this lesson you will learn about
the
Principles of Art
Contrast
Proportion
Movement
Rhythm
Emphasis
Balance
Unity
Principles of Design
= the organization of a work of art
• Rhythm
• Movement
• Balance
• Proportion
• Variety
• Emphasis
• Unity
The Design Principles of Visual Arts help
ORGANIZE the Elements of Art
Remember the Elements?
*line *texture
*shape *space
*color *value
Unity
= everything fits together as a
whole; AKA “harmony”
• Your work should not appear
disjointed or confusing.
• Composition appears to be a
whole not a collection of parts
Unity
in the Elements of Art
Line
Space
Shape
Color
Texture
Value
Examples of
UNITY/Harmony:
WAYS TO CREATE UNITY:
Simplicity, Repetition,
closeness, Limited color
scheme
Variety
Variety is the spice of life!!!
= Differences in artwork; You can achieve
variety by using different shapes,
textures, colors and values in your work.
WHY? Adds visual interest; keeps
your eye looking; avoids boredom
Examples of artworks that use VARIETY:
Contrast
= the arrangement of
opposites in artwork
• This creates a focal point;
adds interest & excitement
• What is the opposite of black?
• What’s the opposite of
smooth?
• What’s the opposite of a
straight line?
Contrast
in the Elements of Art
Line
Space
Shape
Color
Texture
Value
Emphasis
= One object or area that stands
out or attracts attention, an area
of interest that is important
• AKA “focal point”
• Created with strong contrast,
highlights, large size
• ONLINE ACTIVITY:
Find the FOCAL POINT!
Where does your eye go first?
Emphasis
in the Elements of Art
Line
Space
Shape
Color
Texture
Value
Rhythm
= Repeating an element over and over
in a work of art; similar to pattern;
* like the beat of artwork
THINK: Music, dance -beat.
– * bum bum bum
• Occurs when movement is repeated
• Used to direct your eye
• See how RHYTHM is created
Rhythm
in the Elements of Art
Line
Space
Shape
Color
Texture
Value
What is being
repeated to
create rhythm
in this artwork?
Movement
• Using the elements
to direct the viewers
eye along a certain
path
What path does
your eye follow
in this painting?
Movement
in the Elements of Art
Line
Space
Shape
Color
Texture
Value
Balance
= a sense of stability in the body of
work; a feeling of equal weight, looks
like it’s been arranged well
See Balance in Art
An experiment with
balance
Not Balanced
Formal or Symmetrical =
when the 2 sides are equal
Symmetrical Balance
•Informal or Asymmetrical =
There is balance, but the two sides
are not the same
Asymmetrical Balance
Formal Balance = identical sides
Balance
in the Elements of Art
Line
Shape
Texture
Formal
Informal
Informal
Informal
Formal
Informal
Space
Color
Value
Radial Balance
= Radiates from a central point
Proportion
= (scale) refers to the relationships of the
size of objects in a work of art.
Artists learned that distorting or
exaggerating proportion could alter the
effect of a work on the viewer
Artists can show what is important by
changing the sizes of objects
** DRAW a person with an exaggerated
feature
Examples of PROPORTION
What have you learned about the
Elements and Principles
of Visual Art?
• ELEMENTS:
– Line
– Shape
– Space
– Texture
– Value
– Color
• PRINCIPLES
– Variety
– Repetition
– Movement
– Rhythm
– Emphasis
– Balance
– Unity
NEXT :: We will be making books similar to these
to review these concepts. You will illustrate one
page for each element/principle.
How to Illustrate the ELEMENTS of Art