ELEMENTS OF VISUAL ART

Lecture/Presentation For Fine Arts 10503 Created by Amy Landrum Spring 2004, Revised Spring 2007

Visual Elements
These elements can be applied to create or critique any of the visual arts including: paintings, photographs, film scenes, stage designs, commercials, design layouts, sculpture, architecture and

Lines Colors Texture Perspective Form Space

LINE

Four Basic Types of Lines

Horizontal

Di ag

on al

Vertical

Curvilinear

Implied Line

Implied Line is the line inside the object within in the art work. For example, an image of a soldier standing tall has an implied vertical line in the stance. Each of the lines imply different meanings. A vertical line can imply nobility. A horizontal can imply calm or rest. A diagonal line can imply movement. A curvilinear line can imply grace.

COLOR

Primary Colors

Primary colors are the only colors that cannot be made by mixing two other colors together. The primary colors are the foundation the color wheel. The primary colors are: YELLOW, RED, and BLUE.

Primary Colors

Mixing primary colors will create secondary colors

Secondary Colors

Tertiary Colors
Lime Green Yellow-Orange

Blue-Green

Red-Orange

Indigo

Violet

Cool and Warm Colors

Cool Colors
Blues Greens Purples

Warm Colors
Reds Oranges Yellows

What your favorite color says about you!

This is from a handout I received a long time ago, no references. Its not truth, its just for fun.

Red

You are a nonconformist. You work hard, are very optimistic, never let your mood down, and are quick to react. friendly and use care in choosing your friends. You have a strong sense of justice, and are not impressed by material things. You are interested in people and are glad to be of service to others. You are critical of mind and learn through observation. You are a very good conversationalist and like people. You have a keen wit and tend to be alert at all times.

Purple

Orange You are warm and

You like to live like royalty and enjoy a sense of luxury. You enjoy beautiful things and have a tendency to the romantic. and heart, you cooperate well, you are efficient and orderly.

White You are sincere in mind Gray

You seek perfection and are a good manager. You are very objective and seek constant development. You are very selfassured and like meeting interesting people. You are critical in your choice of companions and seek perfection. You are patient and a

Yellow

Black

Green

Brown

Color Harmony

Can be either related or contrasted.

RELATED COLOR HARMONIES -The use of colors of the same hue -Either monochromatic or adjacent. MONOCHROMATIC COLOR HARMONY -made up of several tones of one hue. -Simplest and easiest to use. ADJACENT COLOR HARMONY -use of 2 or 3 hues on the color circle.

Contrasted color harmony

Use of complimentary colors Gives very beautiful effects when properly used.

Value scale with 9 value steps

Value
Refers to the lightness or darkness of a color.

Intensity

Refers to the lightness or darkness of a color Gives color its strength May be described as full intensity, two-thirds intensity, twothirds neutral, and neutral.

Psychology of colors

Colors have varied psychological and emotional connotations. colors and their meanings
Meaning Death and gloom Purity and innocence Color of heaven Blood; signifies anger and provokes fear Assertive Color of nature; feeling of well- being Happy and restful association natural abundance.

Color Black White Blue Red Orange Green

Texture

Deals more directly with the sense of touch to represent the skin, clothes, jewellery and etc. richness and vitality to paintings

Used

Adds

Texture

What would it feel like to touch these surfaces?

Photography by Angel Vawter

PERSPECTIVE
Deals Can

with the effect of distance upon the appearance of objects be linear or aerial perspective

Linear Perspective
Linear Perspective is the representation of an appearance of distance by means of converging lines. The tracks of a railroad appear to the viewer as seeming to rise and meet in

Aerial Perspective
Aerial

perspective is the representation of relative distances of objects by gradation of tone and color.
Aerial view of the grand canyon

FORM

Over- all design of a work of art. the structure or shape of an object.

Describes

Open and Closed Space

Grunewald The Mocking of Christ 1503

Grunewalds piece exhibits and open frame, the action leads the eyes all over the canvas and off the edges of the frame.

Raphaels piece exhibits a closed frame, the action is centered and the viewer is Raphael Crucifixion with Sts Mary Virgin, Mary Magdalena, focused on the john and Jerome

Volume
The

term volume refers to the amount of space occupied in three dimensions. refers to the solidity or thickness.

It

The Elements of Art

One of the main objectives of the course is to learn how to critically analyze art works; how to communicate about the arts. To do this, it is necessary to have a basic understanding of the elements that art encompasses. The elements are what the artist uses to create the work (with or without intent) and what the critic uses to

ELEMENTS OF VISUAL ART

Lecture/Presentation For Fine Arts 10503 Created by Amy Landrum Spring 2004, Revised Spring 2007

End of the Report

Group III