ELEMENTS OF ART How many types of lines can you make? How important are lines to our environment? The artist recognizes the power of the "Line" when he or she creates a work of art. Let's take a more detailed look at "Line" and its impact on our world and the world of art. Many people would argue that the Element of "Color" has the most effect on a work of art. Consider what our world would look like if everything was black, white and shades of gray? The effects of "Color" on humans has been studied many times. Artists have known that "Color" has a powerful effect on their works and on the impressions of the viewers. Let's see what "Color" is and just how it is used in the visual arts. An element of art which refers to the surface quality or "feel" of an object, its smoothness, roughness, softness, etc. Textures may be actual or simulated. Actual textures can be felt with the fingers, while simulated textures are suggested by the way the artist has painted certain areas of a picture. Shapes are everywhere. More common ones are given names such as circle or square. There are an infinite amount of shape possibilities and combinations. Let's see what role "Shape" plays in works of art and just how an artist uses the Element "Shape". Forms are often called the "three-dimensional shapes". Unlike flat, two-dimensional areas, Forms are represented as "three-dimensional". The great illustrators and sculptors of the world of art have mastered the Element Form. Let's see how they did it! Often we do not consider Space when we create a work of art. It often just seems to happen. Let's take a look at how Space effects a work of art and just how artists use Space to create interest in their works. 1
Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. It also refers to how artists use other Elements Of Art to create a sense of light or dark. 2
The Principles Of Design refer to the organization of a work of art. Each Principle interprets how an artist uses the Elements of Art, composition and design to express their feelings and ideas. By studying these, your own work will become more sophisticated as you will begin to apply this new knowledge to your own works of art. Let's take a look at each one. The words Rhythm and Movement are often associated with music, dance and sports. We think of steady marching rhythms, drum beats and the pulsing sound of the bass on the radio as types of rhythms. The darting of soccer players, the graceful flow of ballet dancers and the artful dodging of basketball players emphasize Movement. Art also has rhythm and movement, a visual rhythm, a rhythmic movement. Let's explore the Principles of Rhythm and Movement more. As humans we experience the need for Balance in our everyday life. We use it as we walk or run and to carry things. Balance is also necessary in other ways. We need to balance our awake and sleeping periods, our food intake and energy exports, and relaxation and stress. Balance is also important to a work of art. A balanced artwork leaves the viewer feeling "visually comfortable". On the other hand, a work that is not balanced creates a sense of visual stress. Let's take a look! 3
The word "Proportion" means one part in relation to another. All people have a sense of proportion concerning themselves as compared to others. "My nose is too long for my face". "She has long legs". "His eyes are wide set." All of these comments reinforce the idea that we see and have opinions about the relationships between one thing compared to another. Artists use their sense of Proportion to make statements or express a particular feeling about a subject in a work of art. Let's see some examples. Variety keeps life interesting. Imagine if everything in your life was the same, day in and day out. Imagine the monotony! Artists also understand the importance of Emphasis in their work. Usually one part or area is given more detail to enhance that section. Click here to see how artists use Variety and Emphasis in their work. "Harmony" in music results in pleasing tones to the ears. "Harmony" in art results from a combination of related Elements of Art creating a pleasing work for the eye. "Unity" infers that the work of art is presented as a " whole". When a work of art has "Unity", the viewer sees the work as a whole, not in separate sections. Let's go on to see just how this works! 4
REVIEW SECTIONS Color Shape Line Form Space Texture Value I Art Links Emphasizing the Elements Attribute Diagram Compositional Exercise Creating A Line Sampler Creating A Contour Drawing Gesture Drawing Name The Color Family Color Study Guide Let's Play A Guessing Game The Shape Detective Learning To Overlap Positive/Negative Space Design Create A Texture Rubbing Sampler Identifying Textures Using Value To Create Form Creating A Paper Strip Sculpture Chiaroscuro: The Art Of Light and Dark Creating A Value Scale Name The Color Family Mondrian Shape Collage Let's Play A Guessing Game Solving The Skoglund Mysteries Balance Variety and Emphasis Rhythm and Movement Harmony and Unity Proportion Drag-N-Drop Game Formal and Informal Balance Collage Designing A Mandala Recognizing Balance Identifying How Unity Is Created Why Did They Do That? Creating A Harmonious Composition Op Art Project Making A Mobile Aboriginal Rhythms Comparison/Contrast Diagram The Emphasis Is On? Greek Vase Design Klee Doodles The Power Of Propaganda Let's Review Description Analysis Interpretation Judgment The Credit LIne A-D E-I J-N 0-R S-Z Mnemonic Activity Gathering Clues Asking The Right Questions The Check List X What Do You Think? Discovering Credit Lines Clues Creating A Question Checklist In Other Words Learning The Aesthetic Theories 5
Why or Why Not? Build A Critiquing Cube Missing Pieces Why Did They Do That Pure Visual Poetry A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words The Ultimate Test! (PowerPoint Game) JeopARTyRounds.pdf Survey Form Evaluation Form Printed Resources PDF Lists and Activity Descriptions 6
ONLINE RESOURCES Artcyclopedia Artchive ArtLex WebMuseum National Gallery Of Art (Kids) ArtsEdNet Humanities Web MuseumStuff The Art Institute Of Chicago The Frick Collection The Louvre Museum Of Fine Arts (Boston) The National Portrait Gallery AskART WebMuseum PBS-Arts Prehistoric Art Art Studio Chalkboard Great Buildings.Com The Internet Public Library Art On The Web Web Gallery Of Art National Museum Of Women In The Arts Met Timeline Of Art History Fine Arts Museums Of San Francisco Museums Of Russia The Metropolitan Museum Of Art Musee d'orsay National Palace Museum (Taiwan) Guggenheim Museum The Museum Of Modern Art 010101:Art in Technological Times ArtSchools.com Scala Picture Library Home Elements of Art Principles Of Design Art Critiquing Process Reviews and Resources Timeline Vocabulary Contact Us 7