INTRODUCTION TO ELEMENTS OF VISUAL ARTS
Elements of the visual arts are the basic "building block" that are used in producing a work of art. They are the new things or raw materials that are used by the visual artist to come up with a drawing, painting, design, or sculpture.
The visual components of color, form, line, shape, space, texture, and value.
LINES
An element of art defined by a point moving in space. Line may be two-or three-dimensional, descriptive, implied, or abstract.
Lines have direction and meaning and they could either be straight or curved.
Straight lines are often associated with energy, firmness, strength or vitality; it connotes strength, rigidity or stability.
Straight lines move in one direction only. They could either be horizontal, vertical or diagonal.
Curved lines suggest grace and are softer that straight lines.
They sweep and turn gracefully between end points. They are less definite and predictable than straight lines. They bend, they change direction. Curved lines also express fluid movement. They can be calm or dynamic depending on how much they curve. They less active the curve, the calmer the feeling.
The emotional of a person is also evident in the way he holds himself as defined by his posture or position. A confident and strong man will walk straight and tall while a sickly or shy person will slouch or stoop. On the other hand, a tired or sleepy person will assume a reclining or sleeping position.
Horizontal Line
Horizontal lines are always associated with peace, serenity and calmness; they lend a lazy, quiet feeling to a photograph or a painting. They may bring to mind how it feels to lie down and be relaxed. Some examples of using horizontal lines to create a calming mood are long, rolling waves on a shoreline, the solid line of a fallen tree; and capturing the peaceful line of an ocean horizon. The calm, relaxed feeling created in all of these scenes can be further enhanced b y using a horizontal format.
https://www.markjinksphotography.com
https://www.markjinksphotography.com
Vertical Lines
Vertical Lines are the most powerful lines in visual art. They are associated with a feeling of strength, height, integrity, solidity, dominance and power such as when viewing a tree, skyscraper, flagpole, or anything else standing tall and sturdy.
Solid vertical lines are attention-getters and can be used to create tension, to act as direct guides and paths, and to act as dividers and natural frame. They are powerful composition elements and as such, should be used with care.
Diagonal Lines
Diagonal lines are lines of action. They have no equal in visual intensity; they suggest dynamism and life and are often considered the most interesting. They represent movement and animation and the can lead you into the frame of the picture and to the center of interest.
https://www.masterfile.com/beautiful+diagonal+landscape
How lines affect your life?​
They help determine the motion, direction and energy in a work of art.
We see line all around us in our daily lives; telephone wires, tree
branches, jet contrails and winding roads are just a few examples. Look
at the photograph below to see how line is part of natural and
constructed environments.
COLOR
https://miuc.org/how-can-colours-help-you-in-your-everyday-life/
COLOR
Color is the most appealing element of the arts because it is the most attractive and aesthetic. Color is produced by the action of waves of light upon the human eye. Color then, is a property of light; naturally, without light, no color would exist. When light strikes a surface, some of the color rays are reflected, some are absorbed, and others pass through. Most surfaces absorb the color rays and that which is reflected appears to be the color that we see. A green leaf is green because it is the light ray that is reflected back to the eyes of the beholder. Black is black because all the light rays are absorbed and do not reflect any and white is white because it reflects back all the color rays.
Color has three attributes: hue, value and intensity.
Hue is another word for color. The hues of the rainbow are the colors which we call them: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. These hues are either primary, secondary or tertiary.
PRIMARY COLORS are: RED, BLUE, YELLOW
RED
BLUE
YELLOW
SECONDARY COLORS
Secondary colors is the term used to describe colors that are created by mixing two primary colors. There are three secondary colors: Green(made of blue and yellow); Violet(made up of red and blue); and orange(made up of blue and yellow).
GREEN
VIOLET
ORANGE
TERTIARY COLORS
Tertiary colors are created by mixing primary and secondary colors. There are six of these colors: Red-orange, Yellow-green, Blue-violet, Red-violet, Yellow-orange, and Blue-green.
How can colors help you in your everyday life?
Without being too scientific, most of our associations with colors are taken from nature. Take the color blue. Most people will associate it with blue skies, which for most people is a positive thing. It means playing outside and having fun. It means freedom outside the classroom. It also means that there is no danger on the horizon. That is why it reminds us of stability and calm. Perhaps that is the reason why so many banks use the color blue for their logo?
SHAPE
Shape
Shape is the element of art which refers to the form made when a line or lines enclose an area. Three straight lines can become a triangle while four straight lines can be formed into a square or rectangle. Thus, when lines form together, they become shapes.
There are three basic shapes: Circle, Triangle, and Rectangle but a shape has two dimensions only: a length and a width. Painters can turn circles to coins, faces, or balls while rectangular shapes can become tables, buildings, windows, or beds.
Triangles can be formed into mountains, ice cream cones,or skirts whiles squares can become boxes, gifts, or notebooks.
SPACE
SPACE
Space is the area occupied by the subject in an artwork. Painting does not deal with space directly for it is represented in a 2-dimensionall surface. Oftentimes, it is a created illusion in a drawing or painting. In architecture however, it is an important consideration both in the interior and exterior parts of the building or house. A structure and its purpose will be dictated by the amount of space one has. If one has limited space but needs to house a lot of people in a congested area, a high-rise building is more practical than a two-story structure.
Space could either be positive or negative. Positive space refers to the area occupied by the subject while negative space is the area not covered by the subject.
PERSPECTIVE
Perspective
Perspective is the element of art which is directly influenced by distance. It is the effect of distance, position, or height on the appearance of objects. Perspective could either be linear or aerial.
Linear perspective is how objects look like when lines seemingly converge in the distance. It gives the illusion of depth and distance.
Aerial perspective is how things appear when seen form a distance as affected by diffusion of light in the atmosphere. It makes far objects look hazier and lighter in tone while near objects appear clearer and have more intense colors. It is also called atmospheric perspective.
VALUE
Value
Value is the element of art which is directly associated with light. It deals with the darkness (shades) or lightness (tints) of a color and is key to the illusion that light gives. The combination of light and dark values contributes to the beauty of any artwork especially used in an art technique called Chiaroscuro, which, according to Wikipedia, is a "contrast in illumination between light and dark areas". The term chiaroscuro comes from the words chiaro which means "light" and scuro, "dark". This technique has been widely used since the Greek times for it gives volume to any three-dimensional form or figure and helps heighten emotional tensions.
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
BALANCE
Balance refers to the "visual weight" of lines, forms, textures, or colors. It is the power of attraction of each element, the quality which gains and holds the attention of the viewer. Large, dense elements appear to be heavier while smaller elements appear to be lighter; bigger and more colorful objects get more attention than smaller and darker ones. To achieve a balance, the artist has to distribute the attraction of each element to achieve a sensation of equilibrium. This principle, when applied effectively, gives a feeling of stability and rest.
Symmetrical Balance
Symmetrical balance is also known as formal balance or bilateral symmetry. It is a condition where in the visual weights on both sides are exactly alike; the elements used on one side of the design are similar to those on the other side. This is seen in objects of the same size and shape when arranged on two sides of a center and is the easiest to see in perfectly centered compositions or those with mirror images. The normal human body is a very good example of formal balance where in half of the body looks like the other half.
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/217158013260684464/
Asymmetrical Balance
Asymmetrical balance or Informal balance is a kind of balance where in objects of unequal weights or attraction are placed at correct distances from the center. The sides are different but still look balanced for the weights are equal but the elements are not the same.
It is used to attract viewer's attention and allows them to think about what they see. To achieve this, a large shape can be balanced by a small shape close to the edge or a light colored shape will be balanced by a small dark colored shape. This kind of balance is more casual and spontaneous, thus the term informal. To others, it is also more interesting than formal balance.
Radial Balance
Radial balance is a kind of balance where in the elements are arranged from a central point or radiate from the center or swirl around in a circular or spiral path. It's balanced is based on a circle with it's design extending from the center. A star, the iris around each pupil of the eyes, a wheel with spokes, and a sunflower( as well as other flowers and other plant forms) are examples of radial balance.
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/788974428449187257/
https://theartofeducation.edu/2016/01/04/a-better-way-to-teach-radial-balance/
PROPORTION
Proportion
Proportion is the relative size of an object in relation to other objects in the design. This is the pleasing effect that is achieved when a whole and it's parts and between parts themselves are not too big nor too small for one another. If they are "out of proportion" they're unpleasant to the eyes.
This is why people who have longer torsos that their limbs or bigger heads compared to other parts of their bodies appear less attractive.
In interior designing, large furniture for big spaces is fine but smaller spaces call for smaller furniture.
In sculpture, the size of a statue pr any sculptural work must not be too big nor too small for it's background or surroundings.
In painting, too much use of one color or use of equal amounts of various colors in a combination produces monotony. As such, using one color more than the others will produce a more pleasing effect.
Harmony
Harmony is the governing principle that one achieves when a pleasing relationship exists among the various elements of the artwork. It is the visually satisfying effect of combining similar or related elements; it unifies every part of the arrangement or design and is achieved when all the elements of the design complement one another and not compete with each other.
https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-techniques/composition/harmony-in-art/
https://www.mutualart.com/Artwork/Two-women-and-a-child-playing-on-the
Rhythm
Rhythm is a beat in the visual arts, a repetition or an organized movement with the recurrence of a line, shape or color. When lines, shapes or colors are repeated, a pattern is produced which the eyes follow form left to right, producing a rhythm.
Rhythm controls the eyes as the move around the room. Rhythm allow the eyes to move around from one object to another and creates a harmonious atmosphere in the room. Rhythm is created through the repetition of line, form, texture and color. It can also be a progression which is simply a gradual increasing or decreasing in size, direction or color.
https://www.widewalls.ch/magazine/rhythm-in-art
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/rhythm-art-the-swirl-in-this-painting-communicates-a-steady-rhythm--201606520792536929/
Emphasis
Emphasis is the principle of creating a focal point, center of attention or a point of interest in a design. It is bringing attention to what is most important, catching the eye of the viewer and making him stop and look at the image. In decorating a room, the focal point is an obvious feature in a room to which the eyes is attracted and could be anything from a fireplace, a piece of artwork, or a window treatment featuring a beautiful view. The focal point of a room should be emphasized with the use of line, form, color and texture.
https://www.mschangart.com/drawing-and-painting/emphasis-focal-point
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/focal-point-leon-zernitsky.html
CONCLUSION
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