ELEMENTS OF ART
How many types of lines can you make? How important are lines to our environment? The artist recognizes the power of the "Line" when he
or she creates a work of art. Let's take a more detailed look at "Line" and its impact on our world and the world of art.
Many people would argue that the Element of "Color" has the most effect on a work of art. Consider what our world would look like if
everything was black, white and shades of gray? The effects of "Color" on humans has been studied many times. Artists have known that
"Color" has a powerful effect on their works and on the impressions of the viewers. Let's see what "Color" is and just how it is used in the
visual arts.
An element of art which refers to the surface quality or "feel" of an object, its smoothness, roughness, softness, etc. Textures may be actual or
simulated. Actual textures can be felt with the fingers, while simulated textures are suggested by the way the artist has painted certain areas
of a picture.
Shapes are everywhere. More common ones are given names such as circle or square. There are an infinite amount of shape possibilities
and combinations. Let's see what role "Shape" plays in works of art and just how an artist uses the Element "Shape".
Forms are often called the "three-dimensional shapes". Unlike flat, two-dimensional areas, Forms are represented as "three-dimensional".
The great illustrators and sculptors of the world of art have mastered the Element Form. Let's see how they did it!
Often we do not consider Space when we create a work of art. It often just seems to happen. Let's take a look at how Space effects a work of
art and just how artists use Space to create interest in their works.
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Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. It also refers to how artists use other Elements Of Art to create a sense of light or dark.
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The Principles Of Design refer to the organization of a work of art. Each Principle interprets how an artist
uses the Elements of Art, composition and design to express their feelings and ideas. By studying these,
your own work will become more sophisticated as you will begin to apply this new knowledge to your own
works of art. Let's take a look at each one.
The words Rhythm and Movement are often associated with music, dance and sports. We think of steady marching
rhythms, drum beats and the pulsing sound of the bass on the radio as types of rhythms. The darting of soccer
players, the graceful flow of ballet dancers and the artful dodging of basketball players emphasize Movement. Art also
has rhythm and movement, a visual rhythm, a rhythmic movement. Let's explore the Principles of Rhythm and
Movement more.
As humans we experience the need for Balance in our everyday life. We use it as we walk or run and to carry things.
Balance is also necessary in other ways. We need to balance our awake and sleeping periods, our food intake and
energy exports, and relaxation and stress. Balance is also important to a work of art. A balanced artwork leaves the
viewer feeling "visually comfortable". On the other hand, a work that is not balanced creates a sense of visual stress.
Let's take a look!
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The word "Proportion" means one part in relation to another. All people have a sense of proportion concerning
themselves as compared to others. "My nose is too long for my face". "She has long legs". "His eyes are wide set." All
of these comments reinforce the idea that we see and have opinions about the relationships between one thing
compared to another. Artists use their sense of Proportion to make statements or express a particular feeling about a
subject in a work of art. Let's see some examples.
Variety keeps life interesting. Imagine if everything in your life was the same, day in and day out. Imagine the
monotony! Artists also understand the importance of Emphasis in their work. Usually one part or area is given more
detail to enhance that section. Click here to see how artists use Variety and Emphasis in their work.
"Harmony" in music results in pleasing tones to the ears. "Harmony" in art results from a combination of related
Elements of Art creating a pleasing work for the eye. "Unity" infers that the work of art is presented as a " whole".
When a work of art has "Unity", the viewer sees the work as a whole, not in separate sections. Let's go on to see just
how this works!
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REVIEW SECTIONS
Color
Shape
Line
Form
Space
Texture
Value
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Art Links
Emphasizing the Elements
Attribute Diagram
Compositional Exercise
Creating A Line Sampler
Creating A Contour Drawing
Gesture Drawing
Name The Color Family
Color Study Guide
Let's Play A Guessing Game
The Shape Detective
Learning To Overlap
Positive/Negative Space Design
Create A Texture Rubbing Sampler
Identifying Textures
Using Value To Create Form
Creating A Paper Strip Sculpture
Chiaroscuro: The Art Of Light and Dark
Creating A Value Scale
Name The Color Family
Mondrian Shape Collage
Let's Play A Guessing Game
Solving The Skoglund Mysteries
A-D
E-I
J-N
0-R
S-Z
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Balance
Variety and Emphasis
Rhythm and Movement
Harmony and Unity
Proportion
Drag-N-Drop Game
Formal and Informal Balance Collage
Designing A Mandala
Recognizing Balance
Identifying How Unity Is Created
Why Did They Do That?
Creating A Harmonious Composition
Op Art Project
Making A Mobile
Aboriginal Rhythms
Comparison/Contrast Diagram
The Emphasis Is On?
Greek Vase Design
Klee Doodles
The Power Of Propaganda
Let's Review
Description
Analysis
Interpretation
Judgment
The Credit LIne
Mnemonic Activity
Gathering Clues
Asking The Right Questions
The Check List X
What Do You Think?
Discovering Credit Lines Clues
Creating A Question Checklist
In Other Words
Learning The Aesthetic Theories
Why or Why Not?
Build A Critiquing Cube
Missing Pieces
Why Did They Do That
Pure Visual Poetry
A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words
The Ultimate Test!
(PowerPoint Game)
JeopARTyRounds.pdf
Survey Form
Evaluation Form
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Printed Resources
PDF Lists and Activity Descriptions
ONLINE RESOURCES
Artcyclopedia
Artchive
ArtLex
WebMuseum
National Gallery Of Art (Kids)
ArtsEdNet
Humanities Web
MuseumStuff
The Art Institute Of Chicago
The Frick Collection
The Louvre
Museum Of Fine Arts (Boston)
The National Portrait Gallery
AskART
WebMuseum
PBS-Arts
Prehistoric Art
Art Studio Chalkboard
Great Buildings.Com
The Internet Public Library
Art On The Web
Web Gallery Of Art
National Museum Of Women In The Arts
Met Timeline Of Art History
Fine Arts Museums Of San Francisco
Museums Of Russia
The Metropolitan Museum Of Art
Musee d'Orsay
National Palace Museum (Taiwan)
Guggenheim Museum
The Museum Of Modern Art
010101:Art in Technological Times
ArtSchools.com
Scala Picture Library
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