ART 101

Line

A continuous extent of length, straight or curved. May be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, straight, curved, dotted, broken, think, thin, etc.

Balance

A feeling of balance results when the elements of design are arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically to create the impression of equality in weight or importance

Pattern

A regular arrangement of alternated or repeated elements (shapes, lines, colours) or motifs.

Value

An attribute of things that results from the light they reflect, transmit or emit in so far as this light causes a visual sensation that depends on its wavelengths.

Color

An attribute of things that results from the light they reflect, transmit, or emit in so far as this light causes a visual sensation that depends on its wavelenghts.

Functional

Artistic objects used in everyday life that serve an actual purpose.

Narrative

Artwork that tell stories, describe, and illustrate experiences.

Artistic Impression

Artwork to express or communicate emotions, ideas, feelings, or to beautify objects

Persuasive

Artworks that promote ideas,philosophies, or products (advertising, marketing, propaganda, ideology.

Emphasis

Emphasis is defined as an area or object within the artwork that draws attention and becomes a focal point. Emphasis is also referred to as point of focus, or interruption. It marks the locations in a composition which most strongly draw the viewers attention. Usually there is a primary, or main, point of emphasis, with perhaps secondary emphases in other parts of the composition.

negative space

Many people do not see this because their mind "filters out" the white as just background

Rhythm

Rhythm can be described as timed movement through space; an easy, connected path along which the eye follows a regular arrangement of motifs. The presence of rhythm creates predictability and order in a composition. Visual rhythm may be best understood by relating it to rhythm in sound.

Ceremonial

Ritual celebration artworks created to support worship ceremonies.

Emphasis

Special attention/importance given to one part of a work of art =(for example, a dark shape in a light composition). Emphasis can be acheived through placement, contrast, colour, size, repretition...relates to focal point.

Space

The area around, within, or between images or parts of an image. Can refer to either positive or negative space.

Harmony

The arrangement of elements to give the viewer the feeling that all the parts of the piece form a coherent whole.

Contrast

The justxtaposition of different elemnts of design for example: rough an smooth textures, dark and light values) in order to highlight their differences and/ or create visual interest, or a focal point.

Proportion

The relationship between objects with respect to size, numbers, and so on, including the relation between parts of a whole.

Texture

The visual and tactile quality of a surface.

Form

Three=dimentional. What gives or determies an object's shape

Shape

Two dimensional or flat. Something seen in outline, as in silhouette

Unity

Unity is the underlying principle that summarizes all of the principles and elements of design. It refers to the coherence of the whole, the sense that all of the parts are working together to achieve a common result; a harmony of all the parts.

Contrast

achieves emphasis by setting the point of emphasis apart from the rest of its background. Various kinds of contrasts are possible.

Principles

are concepts used to organize or arrange the structural elements of design. Again, the way in which these principles are applied affects the expressive content, or the message of the work. The principles are: • Balance • Proportion• Rhythm. Pattern• Emphasis • Unity/Harmony

Symmetrical Balance

can be described as having equal "weight" on equal sides of a centrally placed fulcrum.. When the elements are arranged equally on either side of a central axis, the result is Bilateral symmetry. This axis may be horizontal or vertical. It is also possible to build formal balance by arranging elements equally around a central point , resulting in radial symmetry.

Repetition

creates emphasis by calling attention to the repeated element through sheer force of numbers. If a color is repeated across a map, the places where certain colors cluster will attract your attention, in this instance graphing varying rates of mortality from cardiovascular disease.

Repetition

involves the use of patterning to achieve timed movement and a visual "beat". This repetition may be a clear repetition of elements in a composition, or it may be a more subtle kind of repetition that can be observed in the underlying structure of the image.

Aesthetic

is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. It is more scientifically defined as the study of sensory values, sometimes called judgments of sentiment and taste. More broadly, scholars in the field define aesthetics as "critical reflection on art, culture and nature."

Asymmetrical Balance

is more complex and difficult to envisage. It involves placement of objects in a way that will allow objects of varying visual weight to balance one another around a fulcrum point. Whether the solution is simple or complex, some form of balance can be identified in most successful compositions. In asymmetrical balance, the sides are different but appear to have the same "weight" ... as in Whistler's "Whistler's Mother

Proportion

refers to the relative size of parts of a whole (elements within an object). We often think of porportions in terms of size relationships within the human body.

Scale

refers to the size of an object (a whole) in relationship to another object (another whole).

Rhythm/movement

the use of recurring elements to direct the movement of the eye through the artwork. There are five kinds of rhythm: random, regular, alternating, progressive, and flowing, the way the elements are organized to lead the eye to the focal area. Movement can be directed for example, along edges and by means of shape and colour.