The Elements of ART
Color is what we see because of reflected light. Light contains
different wavelengths of energy that our eyes and brain "see" as
different colors. When light hits an object, we see the colored light that
reflects off of the object. In
class we use a color wheel. It is
made from the primary, secondary, and intermediate colors. It looks like this:
Line is a mark made using a drawing tool or brush. There are many types of lines: thick, thin, horizontal, vertical, zigzag, diagonal, curly, curved, spiral, etc. Lines are basic tools for artists—though some artists show their lines more than others.
Shape is a flat area surrounded by
edges or an outline. Artists use all kinds
of shapes. They may use geometric shapes,
which are precise and regular, like squares, rectangles, and triangles. Or they
may use organic shapes, which are found in nature. These shapes may look like
leaves, flowers, clouds—things that grow, flow, and move.
Forms are shapes in three dimensions, like spheres, cubes, rectangular prisms, and
pyramids. The most common place to
see form, or three-dimensional shape in art is sculpture.
Texture is the look and feel of a surface. Painters have many ways to create
different textures. They use different size and shaped brushes: everything from
tiny pointed brushes to flat, wide brushes. They can also use other
tools—special knives, sponges, even fingers—to put the paint on the canvas.
(information from the National Gallery of Art website)
(information from Project ARTiculate website)
The Principles of ART
Pattern is the repetition or reoccurrence of
an element of art. Patterns can be
made with color, lines, shapes, texture, etc.
Rhythm
or movement is the implication of motion through the use of
various elements.
Proportion
or scale is the size relationship of parts to a whole and to one
another. It has to do with having things in the appropriate sizes, locations
and amounts as they relate to other things within the art piece.
Balance refers to the ways in which the elements of art (lines, shapes,
colors, textures, etc.) are arranged.
Balance is often referred to as symmetrical, asymmetrical, or
radial.
Unity occurs
when all of the elements of a piece of art combine to make a balanced, harmonious,
complete whole. Unity is one of those hard-to-describe art terms but,
when it's present, your eye and brain are pleased to see it. It gives the work a sense of
completion.
Emphasis
refers to the created center of interest, the place in a work of art where your
eye first lands.
(information from Project ARTiculate website)
The following link will take you to a great booklet on the ABC's of art:
