THE P

RINCIP

LES A

ND

ELEMENTS

OF

ART

WHAT

ARE T

HE ELE

MENTS

OF ART

AND W

HY ARE T

HEY

IMPO

RTANT

? Line Shape FormColor ValueTextureSpace / Perspective

The

elem

ents

of a

rt a

re th

e bas

ic u

nits w

ith in

a v

isual

piece

of a

rt s

uch a

s a

paintin

g ,scu

lptu

re, d

raw

ing o

r

desig

n.

LINE

Artists use lines to define the edges of their images. Lines can have many different qualities, they can be: Thick, Thin, Curvy, Jagged, Broken, Short, Long, Spiral, Geometric, Organic, Etc…

Can you find several more examples of lines in use around the room?

SHAPE

A shape is an enclosed space, the boundaries of which are defined by the other elements of art.

Shapes are always two dimensional.

Geometric shapes have clearly defined edges. Examples of geometric shapes include circles, rectangles, squares and triangles.

Organic shapes have natural, less well-defined edges. Examples of organic shapes include clouds, leaves and puddles.

Do you believe that there are any geometric shapes in nature?

FORM

A form is a three-dimensional geometrical figure.

A sphere, cube, cylinder and cones are all

examples of forms.

What do you believe is the most popular form used in architecture? why do you believe it is so popular ?

A color wheel logically arranges color in a sequence of pure hues.

A basic three part color wheel is broken into three categories:

Primary colors: Blue, Yellow and Red

Secondary Colors: Orange, Violet and Green

Tertiary Colors: Yellow-Orange, Red-Orange, Red–Violet, Blue-Violet, Blue-Green and Yellow-Green.

COLOR

What is your favorite color? Why do you think you prefer that color over all the other colors?

VALUE

Value is the lightness or darkness of a color.

Artists use value to shade images and add

light and shadow.

How many different values can you identify in this landscape?

TEXTURE

Texture is the surface quality of an image.

Texture can be the way a surface looks

as well as the way it physically feels.

If an artist were going to try and paint our classroom, what kinds of textures would they need to be able to recreate?

SPACE/PERSPECTIVE

Space refers to distances or areas around, between or within parts of an artwork.

Space can be:

Positive (white or light) or Negative (black or dark),

Open or Closed, Shallow or Deep,

Two-Dimensional or Three-Dimensional.

Artists who paint or draw create the illusion of space

on a flat surface, while sculptors create it using physical space.

Would an artist draw an object larger or smaller if they wanted it to appear farther away?

WHAT

ARE T

HE PRIN

CIPLE

S

OF ART

AND W

HY ARE T

HEY

IMPO

RTANT

? Balance Contrast EmphasisMovementRhythm/PatternVarietyUnity

The

princi

ples

of a

rt a

re g

uidel

ines

that

hel

p an a

rtis

t com

bine

the

elem

ents

of

art i

n mea

ningfu

l and a

esth

etic

ally

ple

asin

g way

s. H

ow a

n art

ist a

pplies

the

princi

ples

of d

esig

n can

det

erm

ine

the

over

all s

ucces

s of

an a

rtwor

k.

BALANCE

Balance is the equalizing force in a work of art. There are three types of balance:

Symmetrical- The parts of an image or object organized so that one side duplicates or mirrors, the other.

Asymmetrical- The parts of an image or object are organized so that one side doesn't duplicate the other.

Radial (circular)- Images that have equal radius lengths from the center to the edges, all around the circumference.

Is the human body primarily symmetrical or asymmetrical?

CONTRAST

Contrast is a great difference between two elements.

For example the highest value contrast is between white and black. Other examples of contrasts would be between sizes of short and tall, big and small, and smooth and rough textures.

Can you identify other examples of contrast within the classroom ?

EMPHASIS

Emphasis can be achieved with any of the elements. Emphasis is when one element in an artwork is dominant and stands out more than all the other elements. Emphasis is what helps create a focal point for the viewer.

What elements are used to create emphasis in these two photographs?

MOVEMENT

Movement leads your eye through a composition. It can suggest an action. The principle of movement is closely related to the principle of rhythm.

Which of these three images has the greatest sense of movement and why?

RHYTHM/PATTERN

Rhythm/ Pattern is the repetition

of an element in an artwork to make

the image seem active.

This principle is closely

related to the principle of movement.

Where do we see patterns used in our everyday lives?

VARIETY

Variety is combining one or more elements.Variety is important because it allows an artist the ability to create interest by adding slight changes in their artwork.

What elements where changed to create variety in these two photographs?

UNITY

Unity is the arrangement of the elements and principles in a manner that creates a feeling of completeness or harmony.

Which one of these three images has the greatest use of unity and why?

INDEX WORKS CONSULTED Works Consulted:

Scholastic Art, Elements and Principles of Art, September/October 2012 ,vol. 43 no. 1

http://www.artsconnected.org/toolkit/index.html

Images used: All images are approved for use under Creative Common’s licenses

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Simultaneous_Contrast.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/morgaine/3069473778/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justsketchy/6256330063/sizes/m/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neetesh/7145618719/sizes/m/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rohandumbre/6084279082/sizes/m/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattmendoza/3248172557/sizes/m/in/photostream/

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mobile_(sculpture)_in_the_style_of_Alexander_Calder.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VanGogh-starry_night_ballance1.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49264038@N02/4521237231/sizes/m/in/photostrea/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Color_star-en.svg

INDEX CONTINUED Images used

http://www.flickr.com/photos/slark/405463463/sizes/m/in/photostream/

http://cuddlesaur.deviantart.com/art/Rottara-160380628

http://the-auteur-stock.deviantart.com/art/Woven-Basket-Texture-115283348

http://www.public-domain-image.com/full-image/textures-and-patterns-public-domain-images-pictures/wall-texture-public-domain-images-pictures/cobbles-grey-texture-brick.jpg-free-picture.html

http://www.public-domain-image.com/full-image/textures-and-patterns-public-domain-images-pictures/rock-stone-texture-public-domain-images-pictures/rock-floor-for-texture.jpg-royalty-free-stock-image.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhdesign/2891385816/sizes/m/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/benhosking/5119100711/sizes/m/in/photostream/

http://couch-and-canvas.deviantart.com/art/Texture-79-159359821

http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterhess/2295246151/sizes/m/in/photostream/

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AART_VALUE_SCALE.png

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gray_scale.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/weasello/3231443045/sizes/m/in/photostream/

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Basic_shapes.svg

http://willworks.deviantart.com/art/One-Point-Perspective-293663322

http://burtn.deviantart.com/art/Mountainscape-In-BW-376628310

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Similar-geometric-shapes.png

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Variety_is_the_spice_of_life.jpg

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Parallel_lines_homogeneity.svg

http://pixabay.com/en/zigzag-line-drawing-39920/

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leonardo_polyhedra.png

http://www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-2542833066

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scales_of_Justice_(PSF).png

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Four-rocks-balance.jpg