The Elements of Art

The Elements of Art Seven Building Blocks

Line=Element #1 • Line is the most basic element of art. • Line can be used to create all the other elements of art EXCEPT FOR COLOR! • Line is the foundation of the elements.

Types of Line • Curvy • Vertical • Horizontal • Diagonal • Zig Zag

Line As Form • Line can create IMPLIED FORM • in a few different ways. • Hatching • Cross-Hatching • Contour Lines

Line as Shape • Shape is usually created through the use of line.

Line as Shape continued • You can create or • shapes with line. Organic Geometric

Line as Value • Line creates value using Hatching and Cross Hatching • These techniques can also be used to create form.

Line as Texture • Line can be used to create the illusion of various textures. Grainy Smooth Rough

Line as Space • Artists use lines to create Perspective. • Perspective creates an illusion of space in artwork.

Shape=Element #2 • A shape is created when a line encloses an area.

Organic vs Geometric • Geometric shapes are made from sharp straight lines or perfectly curved lines. • They are usually man made. • Organic shapes are usually made from curvy lines and often occur in nature.

Positive vs Negative • Positive Shapes are the visible parts of an object. • The positive shapes are black in this example.

Positive vs Negative • Negative Shapes are created by the space around an object and are more difficult to see. • The Negative Shapes are black in this example. • What do the negative shapes look like now?

Space=Element #3 • Space is the empty area in a piece of artwork. • Space can be real (3-d) or implied (2-d). 2-d Space 3-d Space

Perspective creates Space in 2-d • Artists use perspective to create the illusion of space on a 2-d surface. • Perspective is a mathematical science and artists did not always know how to use it.

Perspective continued • Filippo Brunelleschi was a15th century architect and was one of the first artists to experiment with accurately representing a 3-d world in 2-d. • Brunelleschi discovered a method of perspective that we still use today.

Perspective continued • Andrea Mantegna (1431-1506) was one of the first painters to use perspective to paint a figure. His most famous painting is titled “Dead Christ.” What looks wrong with “Dead Christ?”

Perspective continued We can use rulers and a precise system to draw buildings in perspective. Two Point Perspective One Point Perspective

Space in 3-d • All of the air around and between forms are called space. • Negative space is the area around a form. • Positive space is the area that a form occupies.

Form=Element #4 • Form is similar to shape and exists within space. • Shape is a 2-d concept and form is a 3-d concept. • Sculptures, buildings, and pottery are 3-d forms.

Actual vs Implied Form • Actual forms have height, width, and depth so they are 3-d. • Implied forms are 2-d and have only height and width but they appear to have depth.

Actual vs Implied Form • Actual form can be created using clay, wire wood, stone, or anything three dimensional. Sand Sculpture

Actual vs Implied Form • Implied form is created in 2-d. • Artists use Line, Value, Shape, Texture, Space and Color to create Implied Form. • When artists use deep shadows and proper perspective, Implied Form is more convincing. “Drawing Hands” By M.C. Escher

Open vs Closed Form • An open form is a form that has negative space within it. • The spaces between the arms and legs of the sculpture make it an open form

Open vs Closed Form • A closed form is a form that has no negative space within it. • Patrick Johnson’s “Father and Son” is a closed form.

Texture=Element #5 • Texture is how a surface feels. • Textures can be rough, smooth, pointy, hairy, soft, hard, mushy, bumpy etc. • Texture can be Actual or Implied just like form and space.

Actual vs Implied Texture • Actual Texture is “real” and can be felt when touched. • Implied Texture is only an illusion created by using the elements of art.

Actual vs Implied Texture Actual Texture Implied Texture

Actual vs Implied Texture • Artists can use Actual Texture in 2-d artwork. • IMPASTO is a painting technique that uses thick paint to create Actual and Implied Texture. Impasto Painting

Value=Element #6 • Value is how dark or light something is. • Black is the lowest Value • White is the highest Value

Value makes Contrast • Contrast is the difference between light and dark areas in an image. Low Contrast Good Contrast High Contrast

Color=Element #7 • Color is the way that our eyes perceive light that is reflected off of objects. • White occurs when an object reflects all light back to our eyes • Black occurs when an object sucks up all incoming light.

The Primary Colors • The Primary Colors are pure hues that cannot be made by mixing other colors. • All other colors are made by mixing the primary colors. • Red, Yellow, andBlue

The Secondary Colors • Secondary Colors are made by mixing two Primary Colors together. Red+Yellow=Orange Red+Blue=Violet Blue+Yellow=Green

The Intermediate Colors • Intermediate Colors are made by mixing together Primary and Secondary Colors. Yellow+Green=Yellow-Green Green+Blue=Blue-Green Blue+Violet=Blue-Violet Violet+Red=Red-Violet Red+Orange=Red-Orange Orange+Yellow=Yellow-Orange

The Color Wheel INTERMEDIATE SECONDARY PRIMARY Gray

Monet’s “Water Lilies” Very Cool Warm vs Cool Colors • Warm Colors are…warm! • Reds,Yellows,and Oranges • Cool Colors are…cool! • Blues,Greens,and Violets Very Warm

The Elements of Art