The Elements of Art and Design Art School The Elements of Art and Design
The Elements of Art “The root of creativity lies in unique problem solving, and therefore does not encourage absolute rules, but rather encourages discovery and invention.”--Unknown
The Elements of Art The elements of art are the basic components, or building blocks… The visual vocabulary used by the artist. Value Line Texture Shape Form Space Color
The Elements of Art Value The degree of light and dark existing in color and in black and white. A value scale shows the range of values from black to white.
Value Scale
Value Drawing
The Elements of Art Line A continuous mark made on a surface by a moving point. Line can vary in width, length, curvature, color, or direction.
The Elements of Art Texture The surface quality of materials, either actual (tactile) or implied (visual). The way things feel, or look as if they might feel if touched.
The Elements of Art Shape A two-dimensional area clearly defined by one or more of the other visual elements, such as color, value, line, texture, and space. Shapes exist on a single plane, in other words they are flat.
Shape
The Elements of Art Form A three dimensional volume or the illusion of three dimensions. Form has the length and width characteristics found in shape, but adds depth. Mass—the outside size and bulk of a form. Volume—the space within a form.
Form
The Elements of Art Space The distance or area between, around, above, below, or contained within objects. POSITVE Space NEGATIVE Space Shapes and forms are defined by the space around and within them, just as spaces are defined by the shapes and forms around and within them.
The Elements of Art Color The visual sensation dependent on the reflection or absorption of light from a given surface. The 3 characteristics of color are HUE, VALUE, and INTENSITY. Hue: The name of a color. (e.g., red, blue, yellow, etc.) Value: The lightness or darkness of a hue. Intensity: A color’s quality of brightness and purity. Also called saturation. Intensity can be changed by adding black, white, or gray, or an opposite color on the color wheel.