Elements of Art

Atmospheric Perspective

is the effect you get when far away objects take on the colors of atmospheric haze.

Geometric shapes

Are circles, rectangles, squares, triangles and so on have the clear edges one achieves when using tools to create them. Most geometric shapes are made by humans, though crystals are also considered to be ______ despite the fact that they are made in nature.

Organic shapes

Are shapes with a natural look and a flowing and curving appearance. Organic shapes and forms are typically irregular or asymmetrical. Organic shapes are associated with things from the natural world, like plants and animals.

Monochrome

The simplest color interaction is monochrome. This is the use of variations of a single hue. The advantage of using a monochromatic color scheme is that you get a high level of unity throughout the artwork because all the tones relate to one another. See this in Mark Tansey's 'Derrida Queries de Man' from 1990.

focal point

an area of emphasis that demands the most attention and to which the viewer's eye is drawn, pulling it into the painting. ... It is how the artist draws attention to particular content of the painting, and is often the most important element of the painting.

Three-point perspective

is used when an artist wants to project a "bird's eye view", that is, when the projection lines recede to two points on the horizon and a third either far above or below the horizon line. In this case the parallel lines that make up the sides of an object are not parallel to the edge of the ground the artist is working on (paper, canvas, etc).

Organic lines

lines that don't follow rules

Geometric lines

lines that follow rules

unity

occurs when all of the elements of a piece combine to make a balanced, harmonious, complete whole. is another of those hard-to-describe art terms but, when it's present, your eye and brain are pleased to see it.

Cross-Hatch lines

provide additional tone and texture. They can be oriented in any direction. Multiple layers of cross-hatch lines can give rich and varied texture to objects by manipulating the pressure of the drawing tool to create a large range of values.

Straight, or Classic, Lines

provide structure to a composition. They can be oriented to the horizontal, vertical or diagonal axis of a surface. are by nature visually stable, while still giving direction to a composition. In the 'Las Meninas', you can see them in the canvas supports on the left, the wall supports and doorways on the right, and in the background in matrices on the wall spaces between the framed pictures. Moreover, the small horizontal lines created in the stair edges in the background help anchor the entire visual design of the painting.

Value

the relative lightness or darkness of a shape in relation to another. The ____ scale, bounded on one end by pure white and on the other by black, and in between a series of progressively darker shades of grey, gives an artist the tools to make these transformations. The ______ scale below shows the standard variations in tones. ______ near the lighter end of the spectrum are termed high-keyed, those on the darker end are low-keyed.

Linear Perspective

creating an illusion of depth on a flat surface. All parallel lines (orthogonals) in a painting or drawing using this system converge in a single vanishing point on the composition's horizon line.

Implied Line

defined as a line that suggests the edge of an object or a plane within an object. The line may be broken by intermittent marks, it may be defined by value, color, or texture, or it may not be visible at all. With any implied line, our brain interprets that the line must exist, so this is a powerful tool that any artist can use.

Variety

A principle of design concerned with diversity or contrast. is achieved by using different shapes, sizes, and/or colors in a work of art.

Rhythm

A principle of design that indicates movement, created by the careful placement of repeated elements in a work of art to cause a visual tempo or beat.

Movement

A principle of design used to create the look and feeling of action and to guide the viewer's eye throughout the work of art.

Implied Shape

A shape that does not physically exist but is suggested through the psychological connection of dots, lines, areas, or their edges.

Balance

A way of combining elements to add a feeling of equilibrium or stability to a work of art. Major types are symmetrical and asymmetrical.

Emphasis

A way of combining elements to stress the differences between those elements.

isometric perspective

A type of visual perspective in which all dimensions parallel to the three principal spatial axes are shown in their true proportions.

Space

An element of art by which positive and negative areas are defined or a sense of depth achieved in a work of art .

Line

An element of art defined by a point moving in space. may be two-or three-dimensional, descriptive, implied, or abstract.

Simultaneous Contrast

Neutrals on a colored background will appear tinted toward that color's complement, because the eye attempts to create a balance. (Grey on a red background will appear more greenish, for example.) In other words, the color will shift away from the surrounding color.

Color Temperature

The color wheel is divided into warm and cool colors. Warm colors range from yellow to red, while cool colors range from yellow-green to violet. You can achieve complex results using just a few colors when you pair them in warm and cool sets.

Sculpture in the Round

a type of sculpture in which the figures are presented in complete three-dimensional form and are not attached to a flat background (unlike relief). The principal types of sculpture in the round are statues, busts, and sculptural groups

linear perspective

an implied geometric pictorial construct dating from 15th century Europe, affords us the accurate illusion of three-dimensional space on a flat surface, and appears to recede into the distance through the use of a horizon line and vanishing points. See how perspective is set up in the schematic examples below:

Expressive Lines

are curved, adding an organic, more dynamic character to a work of art. are often rounded and follow undetermined paths. In 'Las Meninas' you can see them in the aprons on the girls' dresses and in the dog's folded hind leg and coat pattern. Look again at the Laocoon to see in the figures' flailing limbs and the sinuous form of the snakes. Indeed, the sculpture seems to be made up of nothing but expressive lines, shapes and forms.

Hatch lines

are repeated at short intervals in generally one direction. They give shading and visual texture to the surface of an object.

Implied Lines

are those created by visually connecting two or more areas together. The space between the Infanta Margarita - the blonde central figure in the composition - and the 'meninas', or maids of honor, to the left and right of her, are implied lines. Both set up a diagonal relationship that implies movement. By visually connecting the space between the heads of all the figures in the painting we have a sense of jagged motion that keeps the lower part of the composition in motion, balanced against the darker, more static upper areas of the painting. can also be created when two areas of different colors or tones come together. Can you identify more implied lines in the painting? Where? Implied lines are found in three-dimensional artworks too. The sculpture of the Laocoon below, a figure from Greek and Roman mythology, is, along with his sons, being strangled by sea snakes sent by the goddess Athena as wrath against his warnings to the Trojans not to accept the Trojan horse. The sculpture sets implied lines in motion as the figures writhe in agony against the snakes.

Actual Lines

are those that are physically present. The edge of the wooden stretcher bar at the left of 'Las Meninas'... as are the picture frames in the background, and the linear decorative elements on the some of the figure's dresses. How many other actual lines can you find in the painting?

Shape

as an enclosed area in two dimensions. By definition ______ are always implied and flat in nature. They can be created in many ways, the simplest by enclosing an area with an outline. They can also be made by surrounding an area with other _______ or the placement of different textures next to each other - for instance, the ______ of an island surrounded by water. Because they are more complex than lines, shapes do much of the heavy lifting in arranging compositions. The abstract examples below give us an idea of how _______ are made.

Directional Line

as paths created or implied within an artwork that lead the eye through the composition. ... The yellow triangles draw the viewer's immediate attention because of the contrast in color between them and the rest of the composition.

Symmetry

balance refers to balance that is achieved by arranging elements on either side of the center of a composition in an equally weighted manner. _______ balance can be thought of as 50/50 balance or like a mirror image.

split complementary

color scheme uses one color plus the two colors on each side of the first color's complement on the color wheel. Like the use of complements, a split complement creates visual tension but includes the variety of a third color.

Plane

defined as any surface area in space. In two-dimensional art, the picture ______ is the flat surface an image is created upon; a piece of paper, stretched canvas, wood panel, etc. A shape's orientation within the picture ______ creates a visually implied _______, inferring direction and depth in relation to the viewer. The graphic below shows three examples.

Cross contour lines

follow paths across a shape to delineate differences in surface features. They give flat shapes a sense of form (the illusion of three dimensions), and can also be used to create shading.

bas relief

have clear contour lines, but are noticeably attached to the plane.

Color

he most complex artistic element because of the combinations and variations inherent in its use. Humans respond to color combinations differently, and artists study and use _______ in part to give desired direction to their work. is fundamental to many forms of art. Its relevance, use and function in a given work depend on the medium of that work. While some concepts dealing with color are broadly applicable across media, others are not. The full spectrum of _______ is contained in white light. Humans perceive colors from the light reflected off objects. A red object, for example, looks red because it reflects the red part of the spectrum. It would be a different color under a different light. ______ theory first appeared in the 17th century when English mathematician and scientist Sir Isaac Newton discovered that white light could be divided into a spectrum by passing it through a prism.

perspective system

is a cultural convention well suited to a traditional western European idea of the 'truth', that is, an accurate, clear rendition of observed reality. Even after the invention of linear perspective, many cultures traditionally use a flatter pictorial space, relying on overlapped shapes or size differences in forms to indicate this same truth of observation. Examine the miniature painting of the 'Third Court of the Topkapi Palace' from 14th century Turkey to contrast its pictorial space with that of linear perspective. It's composed from a number of different vantage points (as opposed to vanishing points), all very flat to the picture plane. While the overall image is seen from above, the figures and trees appear as cutouts, seeming to float in mid air. Notice the towers on the far left and right are sideways to the picture plane. As 'incorrect' as it looks, the painting gives a detailed description of the landscape and structures on the palace grounds.

Traditional Model

is a qualitative attempt to organize colors and their relationships. It is based on Newton's color wheel, and continues to be the most common system used by artists.

Line quality

is that sense of character embedded in the way a line presents itself. have qualities that distinguish them from others. Hard-edged, jagged lines have a staccato visual movement while organic, flowing lines create a more comfortable feeling. Meandering lines can be either geometric or expressive, and you can see in the examples how their indeterminate paths animate a surface to different degrees.

Stippling

is the creation of a pattern simulating varying degrees of solidity or shading by using small dots. Such a pattern may occur in nature and these effects are frequently emulated by artists.

Outline or contour line

is the simplest of these. They create a path around the edge of a shape. In fact, outlines define shapes.

Subtractive color theory

is used when a single light source is being reflected by different colors laid one on top of the other. Color is produced when parts of the external light source's spectrum are absorbed by the material and not reflected back to the viewer's eye. For example, a painter brushes blue paint onto a canvas. The chemical composition of the paint allows all of the colors in the spectrum to be absorbed except blue, which is reflected from the paint's surface. Subtractive color works as the reverse of additive color theory. Common applications of subtractive color theory are used in the visual arts, color printing and processing photographic positives and negatives. The primary colors are yellow, cyan, and magenta (yellow, blue and red).

One-point perspective

occurs when the receding lines appear to converge at a single point on the horizon and used when the flat front of an object is facing the viewer. Note: Perspective can be used to show the relative size and recession into space of any object, but is most effective with hard-edged three-dimensional objects such as buildings. A classic Renaissance artwork using one point perspective is Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' from 1498. Da Vinci composes the work by locating the vanishing point directly behind the head of Christ, thus drawing the viewer's attention to the center. His arms mirror the receding wall lines, and, if we follow them as lines, would converge at the same vanishing point.

Two-point perspective

occurs when the vertical edge of a cube is facing the viewer, exposing two sides that recede into the distance, one to each vanishing point.

high relief

often resembles free-standing sculptures

Complementary Colors

ound directly opposite one another on a color wheel. Here are some examples: purple and yellow green and red orange and blue

Analogous Colors

re similar to one another. As their name implies, analogous colors can be found next to one another on any 12-part color wheel. Here are some examples: purple/blue-purple green/yellow-green orange/red-orange

form

refers to a shape or three-dimensional volume that has or gives the illusion of having weight, density or bulk. Notice the distinction between two and three- dimensional objects: a shape is by definition flat, but takes on the illusion of mass through shading with the elements of value or color. In three dimensions a mass is an actual object that takes up space. Eugene Delaplanche's sculpture 'Eve After the Fall' from 1869 (below) epitomizes the characteristics of three-dimensional mass. Carved from stone with exaggerated physicality to appear bigger than life, the work stands heavily against the space around it. Delaplanche balances the massive sculpture by his treatment of the subject matter. Eve sits, her body turned on two diagonal planes, one rising, the other descending, her right hip being the meeting point of the two. She rests her head in her hand as she agonizes over the consequences of what she's just done, the forbidden apple at her feet as the serpent slinks away to her left.

Saturation

refers to the purity and intensity of a color. The primaries are the most intense and pure, but diminish as they are mixed to form other colors. The creation of tints and shades also diminish a color's saturation. Two colors work strongest together when they share the same intensity. This is called equiluminance.

Chiaroscuro/Shading

s an Italian artistic term used to describe the dramatic effect of contrasting areas of light and dark in an artwork, particularly paintings. It comes from the combination of the Italian words for "light" and "dark."

color theory

splits up colors into three categories: primary, secondary, and tertiary.

Texture

the tactile sense we get from the surface of a shape or volume. Texture comes in two forms: Actual: the real surface qualities we perceive by running a hand over an object Visual: an implied sense of texture created by the artist through the manipulation of their materials An artwork can include many different visual textures and still feel smooth to the touch. Robert Rauschenberg's mixed media print 'Skyway' includes rough and smooth visual _____ that add layers of perception and animate the work, drawing attention to specific areas within it. A self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh below swirls with actual ______ created with brushstrokes loaded with paint. The artist fixes his gaze sternly at the viewer, his spiky red beard and flowing hair rendered so ______ you want to reach out and touch them.

asymmetry

the two sides are not identical, but differ from one another. However, the elements are arranged so that there is a sense of balance.

Caliligraphic Lines

use quickness and gesture, more akin to paint strokes, to imbue an artwork with a fluid, lyrical character. To see this unique line quality, view the work of Chinese poet and artist Dong Qichang's 'Du Fu's Poem', dating from the Ming dynasty (1555-1637). A more geometric example from the Koran, created in the Arabic calligraphic style, dates from the 9th century.

Additive Color Theory

used when different colored lights are being projected on top of each other. Projected media produce color by projecting light onto a reflective surface. Where subtractive mixing creates the impression of color by selectively absorbing part of the spectrum, additive mixing produces color by selective projection of part of the spectrum. Common applications of additive color theory are theater lighting and television screens. RGB color is based on additive color theory. The primary colors are red, blue, and green. The secondary colors are yellow (mix of red and green), cyan (mix of blue and green), and magenta (mix of blue and red). The tertiary colors are obtained by mixing the above colors at different intensities. White is created by the confluence of the three primary colors, while black represents the absence of all color. The lightness or darkness of a color is determined by the intensity/density of its various parts. For instance: a middle-toned gray could be produced by projecting a red, a blue and a green light at the same point with 50% intensity.

Traditional color theory

uses the same principles as subtractive color mixing (see below) but prefers different primary colors. The primary colors are red, blue, and yellow. You find them equidistant from each other on the color wheel. These are the "elemental" colors; not produced by mixing any other colors, and all other colors are derived from some combination of these three. The secondary colors are orange (mix of red and yellow), green (mix of blue and yellow), and violet (mix of blue and red). The tertiary colors are obtained by mixing one primary color and one secondary color. Depending on amount of color used, different hues can be obtained such as red-orange or yellow-green. Neutral colors (browns and grays) can be mixed using the three primary colors together. White and black lie outside of these categories. They are used to lighten or darken a color. A lighter color (made by adding white to it) is called a tint, while a darker color (made by adding black) is called a shade.

Color Subtraction

visual phenomenon where the appearance of one color will lessen its presence in a nearby color. For instance, orange (red + yellow) on a red background will appear more like yellow.