Elements and principles of art

 They are languages that all people speak that cut
across racial, cultural, social, educational, and
economic barriers and enhance cultural appreciation
and awareness.
 They are symbol systems as important as letters and
numbers.
 They integrate mind, body, and spirit.
 They provide opportunities for self-
expression, bringing the inner world into the outer
world of concrete reality.
 They offer the avenue to "flow states" and peak
experiences.
 They create a seamless connection between
motivation, instruction, assessment, and practical
application--leading to deep understanding.
 They are an opportunity to experience processes
from beginning to end.

 They develop both independence and collaboration.
 They provide immediate feedback and opportunities for
reflection.
 They make it possible to use personal strengths in meaningful
ways and to bridge into understanding sometimes difficult
abstractions through these strengths.
 They merge the learning of process and content.
 They improve academic achievement -- enhancing test
scores, attitudes, social skills, critical and creative thinking.
 They exercise and develop higher order thinking skills including
analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and "problem-finding."
 They are essential components of any alternative assessment
program.
 They provide the means for every student to learn
By Dee Dickinson

 The elements and principles of design are the
building blocks used to create a work of art.
 The Elements of design can be thought of as the
things that make up a painting, drawing, design
etc. Good or bad - all paintings will contain most
of if not all, the seven elements of design.
 The Principles of design can be thought of as
what we do to the elements of design. How we
apply the Principles of design determines how
successful we are in creating a work of art.

 Line
 Color
 Texture
 Shape
 Form
 Space
 Value

 is an element of art which refers to the continuous
mark made on some surface by a moving point. It may
be two dimensional, like a pencil mark on a paper or it
may be three dimensional(wire) or implied( the edge of
a shape or form) often it is a outline, contour or
silhouette.
 For many art students as well as professional artists,
Line seems to be one of the important Elements of Art.
 Imagine creating a painting, sculpture or design
without drawing lines to divide the paper or canvas
into recognizable shapes and forms.
 Think about how important a role Line plays in the
creation process. Lines can communicate an idea or
express a feeling.
 They can appear static or active. Lines define objects.
We will take a look at how artists
use line expressively.

 Color Is an element of art with three properties1) Hue, the
name of the color, e.g. red, yellow, etc. 2) Intensity or the purity
and strength of the color such as brightness or dullness. And
3) value, or the lightness or darkness of the color
 What would our world look like without Color. There have been
many studies into the psychological effects of Color.
 Artists have used Color in such ways as to create a mood or
feeling of a piece of work. This is done by using colors
realistically and by using colors "creatively".
 Color is also a very important Element 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.

 The Primary colors of red, yellow, and blue are shown as
rectangles and are connected by a solid line triangle.

 The Secondary colors, orange, green, and violet are circles and
are connected by a dotted line triangle.

 The Tertiary (inter-mediate) colors are triangle shapes. They are
red-violet, blue-violet, blue-green, yellow-green, yellow-
orange, and red-orange.

 It is easy to see that orange is made by mixing red and
yellow, violet is made by mixing red and blue, and green is made
by mixing yellow and blue. In fact, that is why the secondary
colors are placed midway between the primary colors.

 The intermediate colors are placed between the primary and
secondary colors, indicating which colors are mixed together to
make them.

Look at this wonderful painting. What strikes
you at first glance? Chances are you notice the
colors used first. Why do you think this is so?

The artist's use of complementary colors, or
colors opposite on the color wheel, creates an
exciting painting. The colors appear very
intense together.

Has the artist done this intentionally? What
does he want you to "feel" about the message
within this work?

Notice how the horses and clouds are
expressed in whites, violets and blues. The
people and the carousel are reds, golds and
oranges. What parts of this painting do you
notice first

 Visual Texture is the illusion of a three-dimensional surface. We
use our hands to feel real Texture. Think about what you feel when
you run your hands over the bark of a tree. Now think about what
the surface of a piece of sandpaper feels like. These objects have
real Texture, texture you can feel as well as see.
 Artists strive very hard to imitate the look and feel of real Texture in
works of art. Perhaps an artist can't "make" the bark of a tree in his
landscape "feel" like real bark, but the viewer will "see" the Texture
and be able to associate it with the rough feel of actual bark.
 Artists are masters of deception. In some works, the viewer is
tempted to actually reach out and touch a work of art because it
looks like it has a Texture. They are surprised to feel only
brushstrokes or a flat surface. The eye is tricked into seeing a
"real" Texture. Other artist purposefully add a "felt" texture to the
surface of their work. This allows the viewer to see actual Texture
and appreciate the interest Texture gives to a piece of art. Let's
explore Texture and see how artists create visual Texture.

This is a self-portrait. That means that the
artist painted a picture of him/her self. The
thick application of the paint and the use of
many colors to accent the paint strokes gives
this painting a Textured quality.
What was the artist trying to say by applying
the paint and colors in such a way?

 If you look around you, you will notice that almost
everything we see is made up of a Shape or combination of
Shapes.
 Some of the more common ones we have given names to,
i.e.: circle, square and rectangle. Others are so unique we
call them freeform shapes. Lines are used to draw Shapes.
 Artists draw Shapes when they are making preliminary
sketches for a drawing, painting or sculpture. In the
artroom it is often said "if you can draw the shapes, you
can draw anything".
 Shapes are categorized as Geometric or Organic.
Geometric shapes are usually angular and appear
frequently in man-made objects. Organic shapes are
usually more rounded and appear most often in nature.
Now we'll see why Shape is an important Element Of Art.

This jaguar mask from
Mexico also emphasizes
Shape. What shapes do you
see? Are they Geometric,
Organic or both?
Are the shapes arranged
symmetrically or
asymmetrically?
What shape did the artist use
to accent the nose? How
about the eyes?
What did the artist do to the
yellow shapes that make up
the skin of the jaguar?

 Form is an element of art that is three-
dimensional and encloses volume. Cubes
,spheres,and cylinders are examples of various
forms.
 Form refers to three-dimensional shapes that
have length, width and depth. In fact, Forms are
three-dimensional.
 They take up space. You can hold them, and walk
around them. A sculptor uses Form three-
dimensionally. However, a painter or illustrator
has to create the 'illusion' of Form in their works.
Let's explore just how Form is created and
manipulated in art.

Seurat creates the
illusion of three-
dimensional form
by adding value to
his colors. The
darker areas
emphasize the
shaded shaping of
the figures in this
painting. This
tricks the viewer's
eye into seeing
Form. The figures
look three-
dimensional.

 One of the most difficult Elements Of Art to teach
art students about is Space. Often students look
up and ask what Space has to do with anything.
How an artists uses Space or chooses NOT to use
Space adds a great deal to a work of art.
 Space is so important, that we have names for the
types of Space in a work of art, Positive Space and
Negative Space.
 Positive Space is the space created by an image
or a sculpture.
 Negative Space is the Space around and between
parts of an image or a sculpture. Let's see how
Space is used in a work of art.

This poster provides us with an
interesting example of how artists
use Space. The carver, including his
head, arms and tools represent the
Positive Space. The rest of the space
becomes the Negative Space. Shahn
chooses not to leave the Negative
Space empty. Instead he fills a large
portion of it with words. This
Negative Space becomes a very
important part of Shahn's message.
The words speak to us about what
ideals we, as humans, should live by.
Shahn mentions ideas such as the
Right To Be Safe and Justice For All.
Note how the arms of the carver
encircle the words. Why did Shahn do
that?
Here the man appears to be
"embracing the ideals" carved into the
Negative Space.

 Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. The
benefits of knowing how to manage
 Value are very important to artists who work two-
dimensional striving to make their subjects, or the objects
in their work, "look" three-dimensional. Light effects a true
three-dimensional object in unique ways.
 Artists work hard to reproduce these light effects in their
works, even though the drawing or painting is actually
flat, two-dimensional. How many times have you been
tempted to reach into a painting to grab an apple from the
still life that looks so real you would think it was actually
there!
 The masteryof representing or imitating true Value has been
one Element Of Art that many artists devote years of study.
Young artists who apprenticed with the great artists of
Europe, spent months and years learning how to control
Value. The study of drapery, or how to make folded cloth
look real in a painting or drawings was a required exercise.
Once mastered, the viewer would look at the work and be
tricked into thinking that the picture actually had folded
drapery. Let's see just how Value is achieved. We'll look at
some examples of how artists use Value in their works.

If you look carefully at this
drawing, you will begin to
see recognizable objects.
This is a still life, a group
of inanimate objects
arranged together. What
items do you recognize?
The wide range of white,
gray and black values of
shading, give this work a
realistic sense of form.
Using values in drawings is
a good way of showing
light reflection and
shadows. Adding these will
make two-dimensional
objects "look" like they are
three-dimensional.

 Rhythm and movement
 Balance
 Proportion
 Variety and Emphasis
 Harmony and Unity

 Rhythm is a word we are familiar with when we think of
subjects such as music and dance. You might think of
it as the drum beat to a song, the clapping of hands or
even the tapping noise created by dancers on the floor.
 Words such as beat, tempo or pulsing may come to
mind. These are examples of rhythms we hear. Now
think of what rhythm means to a visual artist.
 Rhythm is one of the Principles of Design.
 To an artist, rhythm shows movement through the
artists' repetition of certain Elements Of Art. Just as in
music when a beat is repeated over and over, an artist
will use an Element of Art such as Color and repeat it
over and over in a work of art. Let's look at an example.

Here is an example of a cut
paper tessellation design.
What is used to create the
appearance of Rhythm in
this work?

Possible answers could be:
a) the fish design is repeated
over and over.
b) the colors white and
orange appear as a pattern.
Do you see anything else
that is repeated in this
artwork? How about the lines
that form the scales of the
fish. Or the black triangles
that decorate the backbone
of the fish

 Movement is another very important Principle
of Design. Perhaps you are thinking that
artworks as a rule do not actually move. You
are correct, but we are talking about visual
movement.
 Artists know that if certain Elements Of Art are
used to create a Rhythm, there will be visual
movement. The viewer's eye is drawn from one
object to the next as they appear over and over
in a piece of work. Let's take a look at an
example.

In Starry Night, famed artist Vincent
Van Gogh creates Movement in his
sky. How does he show us this?
Possible answers could be:
a) the swirling motion of the colors
in the sky showing the artist's
interpretation of wind
b) the repetition of the brushstrokes
and paint dabs Can you find
anything else that appears to give
this painting a sense of Movement?
Look at the stars. They are all yellow
and round, vary in size and
placement, and they have "halos" of
light encircling them. Look at the
painting and concentrate on how
your eyes bounce from one star to
another. This is an example of how
an artist can create Movement in a
work of art.

 Another Principle of Design is Balance. We use
Balance as a way of controlling gravity. When we
walk, our body changes our weight from foot to
foot. If we were to loose our balance, what would
happen? Artists also recognize the importance of
Balance in works of art. There are different types
of visual Balance and artists use these types to
create works that convey a particular message or
idea to a viewer. Formal Balance usually is
achieved by the artist placing objects in the work
in a symmetrical or equal-sided arrangement.
Informal Balance is created when an asymmetrical
layout is used. There is also Radial Balance. Let's
take a look at the different types of Balance.

Here is an example of a
painting demonstrating
Formal Balance. Note that
you could visually divide the
paper in half. There would
be a poppy on both sides.
No one side dominates the
pictures. Neither poppy
appears to be more
important than the other.
Formal Balance pictures will
have an imaginary "line of
symmetry".
Be aware that in evaluating
works of art, the symmetry
does NOT have to illustrate
an exact mirror image.

When looking at this abstract
painting in the round, also known
as a tondo, see if you can find how
this piece was balanced.

This is an example of Informal
Balance. No matter how you turn
it, there is no line of symmetry.

Can you spot the Center Of
Interest? Commonly called the
Focal Point of a work, the center of
interest is the area your eye is
drawn to in a work of art. Note how
this young artist adds lines and
triangles that point to the focal
point of her work.

This is an example of Radial
Balance. Consider looking for a
spiral or spinning effect of the
pattern. The axis is the center
point and the design or pattern
appears to "radiate" from that
point.
Nature contains many examples of
radial designs as does
manufactured objects that are
usually round in shape, i.e..
wheels, plates, and fans.
This is known as a rose window. It
is made up of pieces of stained
glass held together by lead. The
ornate dark areas are made of
concrete and are called a tracery.

 Proportion is the next Principle of Design we will
look at. Proportion refers to one piece of an object
in relation to the rest of the object. In ancient
Greece, mathematicians sought the perfect
proportional measurement. It became known as
the "Golden Mean" or "Golden Rectangle". Today
many artists feel that there is not necessarily one
perfect means of proportion. Artists learned that
distorting or exaggerating proportion could alter
the effect of a work on the viewer. Let's take a look
at some examples together.

Sometimes an artist deliberately changes the Proportion for
unique reasons. Look at this family portrait painted by
Columbian artist Fernando Botero. Why do you think the fami
members are painted with such large volume and size?
He introduced inflated forms. These "puffed up forms"
exaggerate the size of people. This larger than life size
celebrates the life within, and sometimes mocks their role in
the world. Not without humor, the symbols of power and
authority everywhere - presidents, soldiers and churchmen -
are targeted in his attacks on a society still unable to deal
intelligently with social issues..
When you look at this family portrait, what strikes you as
unusual about the placement of the family members? Why is
the children's nurse painted so much smaller than the other
adult figures in the painting?

 There is an expression "Variety is the spice of life!" We
enjoy variety in our lives. Think of how boring life
would be if we ate the same food every meal, wore the
same clothes as everyone else and had the same eye,
skin and hair color as the rest of the world.
 Variety in art refers to the use of contrasting or
different types of Elements in a work of art. An artist
knows that adding contrast to a work of art adds
interest.
 Sometimes an artist wants the viewer to look
particularly close at a specific area of the work. The
artist will manipulate the Elements of Art so that your
eye is drawn to a particular area. How is this done?
Let's see some works that show good use Emphasis
and

This is an example of an abstract
work. The picture does not seem
to represent a realistic scene or
image. Works such as these are
considered Non-Objective.
Kandinsky uses a Variety of lines,
shapes and colors to give this
painting interest. He also overlaps
some of these Elements. Look at
this painting carefully. What area
is your eye drawn to? Why?
Kandinsky emphasized the large
black circle in the upper left
corner of his work. The object is
different from everything else in
the painting and therefore it
"stands out".

 The Principles of Harmony and Unity are very
important to works of art. The artist would like the
viewer to see the completed work as "finished".
 The Elements Of Art used to create the artwork
should appear to create a "whole" image, not just
a series of independent Elements.
 Artists use certain Elements Of Art over again and
again to create a sense of Harmony. Using related
colors, repeating lines and shapes and themes will
also make the work appear Harmonious. When
you look at a work and sense that the piece is
complete, you can appreciate the importance of
Unity.

Why is this piece an
excellent example of a work
of art that illustrates
Harmony and Unity?

Look at this detail of a
single section. Note the
details of the embroidered
images, designs and words.
Eight earthen colors were
used to create this marvel.
The use of related
colors, stitchery
textures, two parallel
borders, and a similar
theme throughout make
this piece harmonious

Elements and principles of art

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Elements and principles of art