Formal Elements Elements of Art Principles of Art

What makes up an art work? The elements and principles of art

Elements of Art The composition of an art work is made up of the arrangement of the elements. These are known as the Elements of Art color line texture value shape form shape

Elements of Art These five elements are the primary aspects of visual perception. Every artwork can be described by reference to these elements. For example, a work will have the presence of strong lines or absence of line. A work may be full of value shifts or a complete lack of value shift.

COLOR Color is a very expressive and exciting element of art. It appeals strongly to the senses and emotions. Color can communicate in all different ways, it can be very powerful aspect of art. Art works can communicate by color alone. It can cause emotional reactions.

COLOR Primary colors-yellow, red and blue. (colors that can not be made by mixing other colors. Secondary colors- purple, green and orange (colors mixed from a combination of any two primary colors) Complementary colors (colors found on the opposite on the color wheel.)

Monochromatic color scheme (uses only one color and tints and shades) Harmonious colors- colors that have something in common. One color will be in harmony with another.

Primary colors Lichtenstein

Secondary colors

Complementary colors Gauguin

Monochromatic color scheme Escher

Color Schemes

Color schemes

Communicating with color Cool colors move away from you Van Gogh

Van Gogh

Rothko Warm colors come towards you

Rothko

Space Ways to create space Divide the picture into the foreground, middle ground and background Strong details is used in the foreground, with gradual loss of detail as the image fades into the back ground Large objects in the fore ground graduating to smaller objects in the back ground Overlapping of objects give the appearance of objects being in front of each other Warm colors in the foreground and cool colors in the back ground

Degas Space

Lines Line in art may mean a single thin stroke It may signify the meeting edge of two areas It may refer to the contours – as in sculpture Line can display strong suggestion of movement Line can produce a sense of tranquility

Line Curved Lines Clement Meadmore

Line can create volume Escher

Lines can create movement they can move through an art work Escher

Lines can create movement Wavy Lines Brett Whiteley

Zigzag or Jagged Lines

Positive and Negative Space Positive space is the primary subject matter in a work of art, as opposed to the background or unoccupied spaces. (white areas) Negative Space is the space where other things are not present. (black areas)

Brett Whiteley Larger lines in the foreground Smaller lines in the background give an illusion of distances, space and perspective.

Lines create pattern and shape John Olsen

Value Value can be flat or graduated Can be created by using shading, line or dots. Lines can be used to create value in shading or cross-hatching Dots can be used to create tone.

Rick Amor

Value Value can be subdued Strong Contrasting

Value Rembrandt Hatching and cross-hatching

Value Dramatic use of value. Value is used to attract out attention to the most important part of the painting Mattia Preti

Texture Read or Simulated Real texture are the textures that actually exist – they are what you actually feel Simulated textures are implied or artistically created to make you “believe” there is a texture. Durer

Texture Grained Rough Corrugated Smooth Furry

Texture Van Gogh

Texture When we actually touch and feel a surface we experience real texture Real texture; the feel of a surface Cactus, feathers, scales When we look at a photograph or a painting of the texture of a surface such as glass or velvet leather, we see patterns of light and dark that create the effect of texture Simulated texture; a two dimensional surface that imitates real texture, simulated textures copy or imitate real textures.

Simulated texture imitates real texture Max Ernst

Oldenburg real texture, the feel of a surface

Shape A shape is an area that is defined in some way by a line, an edge, a color or a texture. If we traced around its outline we would have a shape, silhouette Shapes are flat they have only two dimensions – height and width Shapes can be geometric – regular, straight lines and angles and look as if they were made with a ruler. Organic – irregular, uneven shapes of nature.

Shape Matisse

Form Forms, like shapes have height and width but they also have the third dimension depth. They are solid. They have volume and occupy space. Two dimension - painting Three dimension - a sculpture

Form Chihuly

Principles of Art The artists use the principles to combine the elements in a satisfying way.

Principles of Design These are the seven main principles of design Balance Contrast Emphasis Unity Pattern Movement Rhythm

Balance Refers to the distribution of weight in an art work so that no one part overpowers another or seems heavier that another. Artists may choose to create imbalance of a particular purpose.

Asymmetrical Balance Asymmetrical balance is achieved in a composition when neither side reflects or mirrors the other. Not symmetrical. Cezanne

Symmetrical Balance Symmetrical balance the placing of identical forms to either side of the central axis of a work to stabilize it visually. Himeji Castle

Radial Symmetry Radial symmetry is symmetry around a central point.

Movement Movement adds excitement by showing action and directing the viewer’s eye throughout the picture. Hokusai

Emphasis An artist can create a center of interest by allowing one area of an art work to dominate. Emphasis draws the eye to the focal area. Focal Area

Contrast Contrast refers to the arrangement of opposite elements (light vs. dark colors, rough vs. smooth textures, large vs. small shapes, etc.) in a piece so as to create visual interest, excitement and drama Caravaggio

Rhythm Rhythm, in art, is a visual beat. John Brack Not all rhythm is patterned. There is regular rhythm and irregular rhythm. John Brack

Pattern Quilt Pattern means the repetition of an element (or elements) in a work.

Unity Picasso Unity occurs when all of the elements of a piece combine to make a balanced, harmonious, complete whole.