Elements of Art and Principles of Design

Ways to show Space

1. overlap- things that are "on top" appear to be in front and closer to the viewer. 2: size- things that are bigger appear to be closer to the viewer; smaller things appear further away. 3: color- warm colors appear closer to the viewer; cool colors recede and appear further away. 4: detail- the closer something is to the viewer, the more visible detail it will include. 5: placement- the higher up something is, the further away it appears. 6: value- the darker something is, the closer it will appear. Lighter values tend to recede and seem further away from the viewer.

Chiarascuro

A fancy word for intense shading, mostly related to the Renaissance era.

Color Scheme

A grouping of colors that are proven to go well together based on their placement on the Color Wheel.

Monochromatic

A monochromatic color scheme uses different tints, tones, and shades (all the values) of ONE color.

Real Line

A real line is one that we can physically see and could trace with our finger in a piece of work, if we chose to do so.

Shade

A shad is when we darken a color by adding black to it. In pencil, it is also created by pressing down harder with the pencil to create a series of darker marks.

Split-complementary Colors

A split complementary group starts with one color (#1) and groups that color with the TWO on either side of #1's complement. Ex: Blue. The complement is orange. The split complementary group is then blue, red-orange, and yellow-orange.

Tint

A tint is when we lighten a color by adding white. In pencil, it is also created by pressing down less with the pencil, to make a light mark.

Tone

A tone is when we dull down a color by adding grey to it, OR by adding the color's complement to it. This alters the intensity.

Triad

A triad is a color scheme that is made up of 3 colors that are 3 spaces apart on the Color Wheel. The Primary Colors are a triad. So are the Secondary Colors. There are two sets of Tertiary triads.

Implied Line

An implied line is one that our brain sort of "completes" for us, even though it's not actually connected... like a dashed or dotted line, or like a row of trees, cars, buildings, etc.

Tenebrism

Another fancy word for intense shading, but specifically for HIGH contrast, dramatic lighting with deep shadows.

Complementary Colors

Colors that are directly across from each other on the Color Wheel. When placed side-by-side, they make each other pop and vibrate. When mixed, they make neutral grayish or brownish colors. Ex: red and green, blue and orange, yellow and violet.

Cool Colors

Cool colors are the ones that remind us of ice and cold/cool things. Winter, snow, water, sky, etc.

Directional Line

Directional line is when an artist guides a viewer's eye through a piece of art in a certain direction or movement, to make them look at something or to follow the gaze of the subject(s) in the painting.

Intensity

Intensity refers to the brightness and/or dullness of a color and is altered by adding grey (a tone) or by mixing a color's complement into it to dull it down. The brightest saturation or intensity of a color is it's pure form, straight from the tube.

Parts of a shaded sphere

Light source: the source of light on an object. Highlight: the lightest part of a shaded form, where the light bounces off the form strongest. Midtones: the values of grey that are found between the highlight and the core shadow (a LOT of different values) Core Shadow: the darkest part of the form, itself, furthest away from the light source. Reflected Light: the bit of light that reflects on the opposite side of a shaded form to enhance depth and show the light reflecting off the ground. Cast Shadow: the shadow that is cast by a form... the light source is blocked by the form, so the cast shadow appears.

Secondary Colors

Orange, Violet, and Green. These colors are made by mixing primary colors and fill in the space directly in the middle of the three spaces between the two primaries that combine to make it. Yellow and red make orange. Blue and red make violet. Blue and yellow make green.

Primary Colors

Red, Yellow, and Blue. These colors cannot be made. They are the first colors to be placed on a Color Wheel, and the order does not matter, as long as the rest of the colors are placed in the proper sequence accordingly.

Shape

Shape is the Element of Art that relates to a flat, two-dimensional surface and is enclosed by a line. Line and shape are closely related, since line makes shape. Shape is NEVER three dimensional.

Color Wheel

The Color Wheel is the tool on which an artist arranges the colors in a specific sequence to create color scheme and learn about how colors work together. It does NOT matter what order you put the Primary Colors in, as long as the rest of the colors are in order, accordingly.

Emphasis

The Principle of Design that creates a focal point or a main item/place/thing for the viewer to look at first and/or most. Usually helps the artist create a point.

Contrast

The Principle of Design that deals with things juxtaposing against each other. Makes things stand out. Can be done through color, shape, size, texture, etc.

Unity

The Principle of Design that gives a piece homogeny and makes it all mesh together well; the colors, lines, shapes, etc. all "go" together in harmony.

Variety

The Principle of Design that keeps things interesting and prevents the viewer from being bored when looking at a piece. Just enough difference to keep it interesting.

Rhythm/Movement

The Principle of Design that relates to the idea of a beat; the viewer's eye bounces in a specific rhythm through a piece.

Balance

The Principle of Design that relates to things looking visually equal throughout/on both sides. No one side looks to be heavier than the other.

Pattern/Repetition

The Principle of Design that uses the same series of shapes, colors, lines, etc. over and over again, predictably and intentionally to create a constant sequence.

Principles of Design

The Principles are related to the Elements of Art, but are more of a sensibility. Rather than being a concrete thing, like each of the Elements, the Principles are an abstract feeling that we either get or don't get, depending on how the Elements work or don't work together in a piece of art.

Color

The color we see is scientifically the only color reflected from whatever we are looking at; the rest of the colors are absorbed. Color relates to emotion, and you need to understand Color Schemes and how to arrange a Color Wheel.

Proportion

The idea that all parts of a whole are the correct size and ration in relation to each other and to the whole.

Positive Space

The main portion of a piece of art; the subject of it... usually where the artist puts most of his/her attention and work.

Line

The most basic of all the elements; from this one, the rest begin. This is defined as a point moving through space. Line also relates to emotion.

Negative Space

The space around, in, between, above, below, etc. the main portion of a piece of art.

Elements of Art

There are 7 Elements of Art, and they are related to the Principles of Design, because the Elements are the building blocks; they are the tangible, actual THINGS that artists use to make the feeling of the Principles happen.

Space

This Element of Art is how an artist uses a flat space (canvas, drawing, picture plane, etc.) to create the illusion of depth. There are 6 specific ways we talk about in class. Also relates to the idea of Negative/Positive Space.

Value

This Element of Art refers to the relative lightness and/or darkness of a color (or greyscale). To create a well-shaded image, an artist uses a full range of values, which is done by varying the application of pencil pressure or by mixing colors.

Texture

This Element of Art relates to the way things feel or look like they would feel to the touch. It is an important Element for making things look realistic and recognizable. Closely related to Value since shading and highlights are what makes a texture visible.

Form

This is the Element of art that deals with THREE dimensional objects that have mass and take up physical space. When we add shading and combine multiple shapes together, we usually obtain a form. It is closely related to shape, but is ALWAYS three dimensional, with or without shading.

Tertiary/Intermediate colors

This is the third group of colors and is created by mixing a primary with the secondary closest to it, then the new color (the tertiary) goes in the space between. The primary color is always listed first. Red and orange make red-orange.

Analogous Colors

Usually 3-5 colors that are side-by-side on a Color Wheel, known as a color family, because they have at least ONE color in common. Ex: red-orange, red, red-violet, violet, blue-violet all share the color RED.

Warm Colors

Warm colors are the ones that remind us of fire and hot/warm things. Summer, sunshine, lava, etc.