The Elements of Art

Elements of art are visible in all art works. We will concentrate

on 6 of these elements in every art class that you will take. Knowing

this information is the basic foundation for good

design.

The Six Elements of ArtThe Six Elements of Art

• ColorColor

• LineLine

• FormForm

• ShapeShape

• Space Space

• TextureTexture

Color - What your eye sees Color - What your eye sees when light is reflected off when light is reflected off of an objectof an object

Hue Hue – The name of a color– The name of a color

Wassily Kandinsky

There are certain color There are certain color combinations that work well combinations that work well together:together:

Primary ColorsPrimary ColorsThese colors cannot be mixed These colors cannot be mixed from any other color from any other color

and is most basic color and is most basic color combination. combination.

These colors are These colors are red, blue & red, blue & yellow.yellow.

Composition in Red Blue & YellowBy Piet Modrian

Secondary ColorsSecondary Colors are what you are what you get when you mix two primary get when you mix two primary colors.colors.• Paul Cezanne usedPaul Cezanne used

predominantly predominantly

secondary colors in secondary colors in

most of his paintings. most of his paintings.

Red + Yellow = OrangeYellow + Blue = GreenBlue + Red = Purple

Mont Saint Victoire by Paul Cezanne

Value Value – Lightness or darkness of a color– Lightness or darkness of a color

IntensityIntensity – Brightness or dullness of a – Brightness or dullness of a colorcolor

MonochromaticMonochromatic - Tints and shades of one - Tints and shades of one colorcolor

Analogous colors are colors Analogous colors are colors next to each other on the color next to each other on the color wheel and contain a common wheel and contain a common hue. hue.

An example would be:Blue, blue –green, green and yellow green.All of these colors contain BLUE.

These colors usually start at 1 primary and stop before you get to the next one.

Warm colorsWarm colors

Row of PoplarsBy Claude Monet

Sunflowers by Vincent Van gogh

RedYellowOrange

Cool colorsCool colors

• Blue Blue

• Green Green

• PurplePurple

Waterlillies by Claude Monet

ComplimentaryComplimentary colors are colors across colors are colors across from each other on the color wheel. Artists from each other on the color wheel. Artists often use a color’s compliment to make often use a color’s compliment to make something “pop” creating emphasis.something “pop” creating emphasis.

What is the compliment of

Red?Yellow? Blue?

This Painting by Picasso This Painting by Picasso called the Old Guitarist is called the Old Guitarist is predominantly predominantly monochromaticmonochromatic using tints using tints and shades of blue. Contrast is and shades of blue. Contrast is achieved by painting the achieved by painting the guitar orange which is the guitar orange which is the

complimentcompliment of blue. of blue.

Element: LineElement: Line

• A line is a mark A line is a mark made by a made by a pointed tool. pointed tool. Often defined as a Often defined as a path of a moving path of a moving point through point through space.space.

Picasso

Picasso

Horizontal – at restVertical – strength, dignityDiagonal – action, excitementZigzag – confusion, suggests actionCurved – flowing graceful movementThick and Thin to give variety.

This picture by Pablo This picture by Pablo Picasso is a great example Picasso is a great example because the entire picture because the entire picture has lines.has lines.

Form

An element of art that refers to an object with three dimensions.

(sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, fiber art, architecture).

Forms are 3D.Basic Forms are

• Cube• Cylinder• Sphere

• Pyramid

These sculptures are three These sculptures are three dimensional forms.dimensional forms.

Horse by Deborah Butterfield

The Thinker By Rodin

Shape

The area clearly set off by one or more of the other elements.

Shapes are 2D

Wherever the ends of a continuous line meet, a shape is formed.

There are two kinds of shape

Geometric shapes such as circles, triangles, ovals, rectangles or squares have perfect,

uniform measurements and don't often appear in nature.

Organic shapes are associated with things from the natural world, like plants and animals.  

SpaceSpace refers to the distance refers to the distance between, below, around and between, below, around and within things.within things.• There are two kinds of spaceThere are two kinds of space

• Positive space – shapes and forms in Positive space – shapes and forms in a work of art.a work of art.

• Negative space – empty spaces Negative space – empty spaces between shapes.between shapes.

Texture – refers to the way Texture – refers to the way things feel or look as though things feel or look as though they might feel if touched. they might feel if touched. • There are two kinds of texture:There are two kinds of texture:

•Actual texture – the way things Actual texture – the way things feelfeel

• Simulated texture – drawing Simulated texture – drawing textures to look how they might textures to look how they might feel.feel.

Mary Cassatt's paintingshows a variety of textures. The lower half of the painting is very textured, while the upper half has softer textures, with the woman's face having a very smooth texture. Cassatt gives the painting texture by using large brush strokes, and a variety of colors. Why do you think that the artist gave this painting so much texture?

Principles of DesignPrinciples of DesignGuidelines used by artists in Guidelines used by artists in arranging the elements.arranging the elements.

Three Principles of Design you willThree Principles of Design you will

study are:study are:

• BalanceBalance

• UnityUnity

• EmphasisEmphasis

Balance – there are 3 kindsBalance – there are 3 kinds

Fomal Balance Fomal Balance

• Same on Same on both sides.both sides.

• SymetricalSymetrical

Radial Balance – Objects are Radial Balance – Objects are positioned around a central positioned around a central point.point.

Informal BalanceInformal Balance-Objects are of -Objects are of different different sizes or shapes and sizes or shapes and placed off center.placed off center.

Which kind of balance do the Which kind of balance do the following artworks show?following artworks show?

UnityUnity

The arrangement of the elements with The arrangement of the elements with media to create a feeling of media to create a feeling of completeness or wholeness. completeness or wholeness.

Everything belongs together. The best Everything belongs together. The best and simplest way to create unity in and simplest way to create unity in any work of art is to REPEAT any work of art is to REPEAT ELEMENTS.ELEMENTS.

How do these works How do these works show unity? show unity? Which elements are Which elements are repeated?repeated?

EmphasisEmphasis

• Making an element in a work of art Making an element in a work of art stand out. stand out.

• Achieving a FOCAL POINT by:Achieving a FOCAL POINT by:– Contrasting or making an extreme Contrasting or making an extreme

change in an element.change in an element.– Large & smallLarge & small– Bright & dullBright & dull– Clear & blurryClear & blurry– Smooth & texturedSmooth & textured

How many different ways does How many different ways does this painting show contrast? this painting show contrast?