Elements of Art and Principles of Design

Elements of ArtandPrinciples of Design You NEED to know this stuff!

Elements of Art • Line • Value • Shape • Texture • Space • Color

LINE • Continuation of a point (a mark connecting 2 points) • The primary element used in sketching and drawing • Has VARIATION • Can create SHAPE • Contour lines • Can create VALUE • Hatching, etc • Can create TEXTURE • Mark-making

VALUE • Refers to lightness or darkness • Gives an object depth • Chiaroscuro = value (interchangeable) • Tenebrism = extreme contrast of lights and darks

SHAPE • A clearly defined 2D area; can be defined by line, value, color, texture, space • Geometric and organic • Can be ACTUAL or IMPLIED • Used to: • Suggest a physical form • To create illusion of mass

TEXTURE • The surface quality of an object/drawing • Can be ACTUAL or IMPLIED • Is there texture if you touch it? TACTILE • Did you create the ILLUSION of surface texture?

SPACE • A way of creating dimension and depth on a flat, 2D surface (your paper) • Area in between objects • Value • Size • Position • Texture • Transparency • Overlapping

COLOR • The visible appearance of light of various wavelengths (reflected back at your eye) • MUST be a choice, cannot be random • Psychological choices (warm, cool) • contrast

Assignment – PART 1 • Go outside! • Find examples of each of the Elements of Art • Nature • Architecture/School structures • Be creative! • Divide your papers into 6 sections with pencil

Principles of Design- to achieve UNITY • Balance • Dominance • Variety • Proportion • Movement – directional forces • Economy • Harmony/Unity • Repetition

BALANCE • A generally pleasing arrangement and composition of elements of art such that one area of the page is not stressed or ‘heavier’ than another • Symmetrical • Radial • Asymmetrical • large objects to one side can be balanced by more small objects on the other

DOMINANCE(emphasis and subordination) • Emphasis of one or more elements of art over others in order to draw our attention to a certain area of the artwork • A FOCAL POINT!

VARIETY • A pleasing combination of many different or opposite elements of art. • Adds interest and contrast to a work of art, even an element of surprise or the unexpected. • Don’t want TOO much though! • Your ‘individual/personal’ touch

PROPORTION & SCALE • Scale – the relation of one thing to another • A person to a house, for example • Proportion – the relation of the PARTS to the WHOLE • Your arm to your whole body, for example

MOVEMENTDirectional Forces • Repetition or arrangement of elements of art such that: • the eye is drawn to the focal point and around the whole page • Also, the impression of actual movement can be created

REPETITION • Repeating patterns, lines or shapes used to create emphasis or to draw the eye around the page

ECONOMY • Simple, minimalist, uncomplicated, yet thoughtful and complete use of the elements of art. • Knowing WHEN to say WHEN • Not making something too ‘busy’

HARMONY / UNITY • Pleasing and careful combination of different elements of art • The “Big Picture” – does it ALL WORK TOGETHER as a WHOLE? • Did I consider everything?

Asmt – PART 2 • Just like yesterday, you are going to create your OWN visual examples • Use color, make them nice!!! • You only need to do 6 or these, do NOT do Economy and Harmony/Unity • You can use the “Art Fundamentals” text • Using the Index and Glossary, look up each Principle of Design • READ and LOOK at examples to help you come up with ideas

Elements of Art and Principles of Design