2. Elements and Principles of Arts

MODULE 2

THE ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF ART

What is a work of art?

These are unique arrangements of the obvious and the not-so-obvious.

How do you understand a work of art?

We have to go beyond the obvious and examine the not-so-obvious, as well.

This involves knowing what the elements of art are and how these are used to create art objects.

THE ELEMENTS OF ART

THE BASIC COMPONENTS OR BUILDING BLOCKS

THAT EXPLAIN HOW A WORK OF ARTHAS BEEN DESIGNED

OR PLANNED

THE ELEMENTS OF ART

DOTLINECOLORTEXTURE

SHAPEFORMSPACE

1. DOT

The simplest, irreducible unit of visual communication.

It is used to mark space and to fill it, as well.

2. LINE

When dots are drawn too close to each other that it is impossible to recognize them individually, then we see a line.

It provides a sense of direction and movement.

Different kinds of lines

3. COLOR

It is used to attract attention, for providing emphasis and emotional impact and for enhancing unity.

TWO DIMENSIONS OF COLOR

A. HUE

B. VALUE

a. HUE

It is the specific color of things.Primary colors- red, blue yellowSecondary colors- orange, green

and violetIntermediate colors-y-g, b-g, b-v,

r-v, r-o, y-oTertiary colors: Complimentary colors

THE COLOR WHEEL

Warm colors Cool Colors

Red, orange and yellow

They tend to impart warmth, joyousness, action, and excitement.

They are called advancing colors.

Green, blue and violet

These are colors that suggest calm, restfulness, refreshment and distance.

They are called receding colors.

The Psychology of Colors

Black- death, gloom, sadnessWhite- purity, innocenceRed-love, passion, anger, fear, joyOrange-assertiveness, insecurityGreen- nature, newness, hopeBlue- calmness, royal blood,

heavenYellow-cheerfulness, excitement

B. VALUE

Refers to the lightness or darkness of a color which depends on the amount of white or black that has been used.

Tint<<<<<<<<Normal>>>>>>Shadow

4. TEXTURE

It is associated with the sense of touch.

Used to emphasize a focal point, to add richness and vitality to paintings, to enhance unity in the overall composition and to provide an optical illusion

Different Kinds of Texture

5. SHAPE

It is the area enclosed by a line (Flat 2-dimensional areas- length and width)

Different kinds of shapes:

6. FORM

Any object with 3 dimensional areas- length, width and height

6. SPACE

It is needed to enhance visual and textual elements.

It provides a resting place for the eye so as to avoid a crowded feeling.

What is the function of space in this play?

PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

What does an artist do to achieve a unified design in his/ her work?

There is a unified design when there is a skillful blend of elements and principles.

With the principles of design, you will be able to recognize and enjoy one of the most fascinating things about works of art- how they are put together.

1. BALANCE

Implies a sense of stability, equality of opposing forces and equilibrium.

•Formal balance •Informal balance•Radial balance

A. Formal Balance

It is achieved when objects of the same size and shape are arranged on two sides of a center.

B. Informal

It is achieved when objects of unequal attraction or weights are placed at the correct distances from the center.

C. Radial

It is characterized by visual elements radiating in all directions from the center.

2. Harmony

It gives a sense of beauty and unity among related or contrasting elements in a design through color, the principles of emphasis and subordination.

3. Proportion

It is within a structure or subject refers to the ratio in the dimension of its shape.

It is achieved when one part of an object does not seem too big or too small for the other parts.

4. Rhythm

It refers to the joint action or movement that puts together both visual and textual elements.

It is an organized movement, a beat, a repetition.

Examples- repetition of lines or forms, colors, or series of units in music.

Repetition of color in a room

5. Emphasis

It refers to accentuation or the drawing of attention to an important element in one’s composition.

6. Unity

It is the principle that gives pictorial composition a sense of completeness.

It can indicate a sequence and connect different visual elements.

APPLICATION

After knowing how these elements

and principles of design can allow for

endless variations of art works, how do we apply this knowledge

to describe paintings?

ART CRITICISM OPERATIONS

Description- focus on the subject matter and or the elements of art noted in the work;

Analysis- focus on how the principles of art have been used to arrange the elements of art;

Interpretation- focus on how the artist is trying to communicate his/her feelings and ideas in the work;

Judgment- focus on decision-making about the work’s artistic merit.

Apply the elements and principles in this painting:

What is the subject matter?

What are the elements of art that have been used?

Are the hues balanced formally or informally?

Are contrasting hues used to direct the eye to an area of emphasis?

Are the hues arranged to create a feeling of movement or rhythm?