Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. It is concerned with identifying the clues within works that can be used to understand, judge, and defend judgments about those works. What characteristics must an object have to make it a work of art? Why is a piece of art beautiful or ugly? Why are some works of art masterpieces and others not? Menu

Line TextureValue RhythmEmphasis Unity

 A visual path of action our eyes tend to follow lines.  Line defines the edge and shape two dimensionally.  Line has different qualities: thick, thin, light, dark, long, short, and broken.  Lines grouped together make patterns and textures.  Lines define the contour of shape by moving in and out, back and forth. Menu

 The surface feel of an object (actual) or the illusion of texture (implied). Texture can be experienced through both touch and vision. Menu

 Value is the amount of lightness or darkness in a color. Red when lightened by white is called pink but is actually a light red. When gray or green is added to red it is darkened and we may call it maroon. Pink and maroon are thus light and dark values of red. Monochromatic painting – One color plus black and white Menu

 A continuance, a flow, or a feeling of movement achieved by repetition of regulated visual units that direct the eye in a piece of art. Menu

 When certain elements assume more significance through the use of color, shading, line, rhythm. Menu

 This means that everything in the picture feels like it belongs there. An example of a picture that does not have unity would be a hot summer beach with a snowman on it. Menu

 What makes a piece of art beautiful to you? Menu