Elements of Art

▶Elements are the building blocks or the ingredients of art.

Elements of Art

▶ Line is a mark with greater length than width.

▶ It is a mark with length and direction.

▶ It is a continuous mark made on a surface by a moving point.

Line – Element #1

▶ There are five types of lines.◦Vertical◦Horizontal◦Diagonal◦Curved◦Zig-zag

Vertical Lines

▶ Vertical lines are lines that move up and down.

▶ In a work of art, these lines show dignity, formality and strength.

Horizontal Lines▶ Horizontal lines are lines

that run parallel to the ground.

▶ When used in a work of art, they make the viewer feel comfortable, calm, relaxed, peaceful and  quiet.

Vertical and Horizontal Lines▶ Horizontal and vertical

lines used in combination communicate stability and solidity. Rectilinear forms with 90-degree angles are structurally stable. This stability suggests permanence and reliability.

Diagonal Lines

▶ Diagonal lines are lines that slant.

▶ When used in a work of art, they show motion, action or excitement.

Curved Lines▶ Curved lines are lines that

change directions gradually.

▶ In a work of art, they express movement in a graceful flowing manner.

Zig-Zag Lines▶ Zig-zag lines are lines that

are made by combining diagonal lines that change direction.

▶ These lines in a work of art cause confusion or suggest action or excitement.

▶ The quality is determined by the tool that the artist uses and the motion of the artist[‘s hand.

Lines have Quality and Thickness

▶The Thickness is how dark and heavy the line appears.

▶Shape is a closed line. ▶Shapes can be geometric, like

squares and circles; or organic, like free-form or natural shapes.

Shape – Element #2

▶Shapes are flat and can express length and width.

▶They are two dimensional.

Shape

Geometric or Non-organic▶ Squares, rectangles,

circles, polygons and etc. are geometric or non-organic shapes.

Organic Shapes

▶Organic shapes are free-form or natural shapes.

▶ Form is a three dimensional object.

▶ Form is also something in a two dimensional artwork that appears to be three dimensional.

Form – Element #3

▶ For example, a triangle, which is two dimensional, is a shape; whereas, a pyramid, which is three dimensional, is a form.

Form

▶The lightness or darkness of tones or colors.

▶White is the lightest value; black is the darkest.

▶The value halfway between these extremes is called middle gray.

Value – Element #4

▶An element of art made up of three properties: hue, value, and intensity.

Color – Element #5

▶ Hue: name of color

▶ Value: hue’s lightness and darkness (a color’s value changes when white or black is added)

▶ Intensity: quality of brightness and purity ⚫ high intensity= color is strong and bright;⚫ low intensity=color is faint and dull

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

Space – Element #6

▶An element of art that refers to the way things feel, or look as if they might feel if touched.

Texture – Element #7