can help you create a

successful composition

LINE SHAPE VALUE

TEXTURE SPACE FORM

COLOR

A line is a path that a point takes from one

place to another through space.

There are many different kinds of lines.

• Long

• Short

• Fat

• Thin

• Curved

• Diagonal

• Straight

• Wavy

• Zigzag

Horizontal lines suggest a calmness when used in a composition. An

example would be a horizon line where the sky meets the ocean.

Andrew Wyeth - Baleen, 1982

Vertical lines seem to be reaching toward the sky suggesting growth

and inspiration.

Claude Monet Poplar Series-1891

Lines convey emotion too.

Tension

ExcitementHappiness

Sadness

Geometric shapes are precise and measureable

have height and width

Organic-Natural

are flat or 2-dimensional

A form has height, width and depth, and is 3-dimensional.

When shapes become forms

A triangle becomes a cone or pyramid

A square becomes a cube

A rectangle becomes a box

There are two types of texture:

Tactile texture (real texture) is the way the surface of an object actually feels.  Examples of this include sandpaper, cotton balls, tree bark, etc.

Implied texture is the way the surface of an object looks like it feels. The texture may look rough, fizzy, gritty, but cannot actually be felt. This type of texture is used by artists when drawing or painting.

Dried Grass Water Paper

Wood Brick Rocks

• That which is perceived when light hits and reflects off an object. Three properties of color are Hue (name of a color), Intensity (strength of a color) and value (lightness or darkness of a color).

COLOR WHEEL

• Learning to mix colors is important.• Knowing the placement of colors on

the color wheel will help you mix colors and help you decide which colors to add to your painting or drawing!

• Your choice of color schemes can make a big difference in the success of your project.

• The illusion of space is created through light and shadow.

• There are two types of space: positive and negative space. Positive space refers to the actual subject matter in a work of art. Negative space refers to the space around and between the subject matter.

It is necessary to consider both positive and negative space when creating a

composition.

THEY ARE BOTH IMPORTANT!• M. C. Escher was able to create drawings where

there was no distinction between positive and negative space. Here is an example.

refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. It gives objects depth and perception.