Lesson
2 Elements of Arts
Medium and elements together are the materials the artist uses in creating a work of
art. The distinction between them is easy to see but hard to define. An element can
be known only in some medium, but as an element, it is independent of the medium.
When we study elements, we consider them with no attention to how we can come
into contact with a work of art. The elements are its qualities or properties.
The seven elements of art are:
1. Line 5. Color
2. Shape 6. Texture
3. Space 7. Perspective
4. Value
We now look with greater care at the elements of the visual arts as a kind of
basic language with which the artist's work.
1. LINE
The line is our basic means for recording and symbolizing ideas, observations,
and feelings; it is a primary means of visual communication. Lines always have
direction. They are always active.
The following illustrates the line variations (Preble, 1999)
A. Actual Line
B. Implied line and implied curved line
C. Actual straight line and implied curved line
D. Line created by an edge
E. Vertical line (attitude of alert attention);
horizontal line (attitude of rest)
F. Diagonal lines (slow action, fast action)
G. Sharp jagged lines
H. Dance of curving lines
I. Hardline; soft line
J. Ragged, irregular line
2. SHAPE
Shape refers to the expanse within the
outline of a two-dimensional area or within the
outer boundaries of a three-dimensional object. It
may be geometric, which tends to be precise or
Art Class
Source: Deviant Nep Blog. February 24, regular (circles, triangles, squares) or organic,
2008 which are irregular, often curving or rounded,
[Link]
[Link] and seem relaxed and more informal.
Most common shapes in the human-made world are geometric, while most
shapes in nature are organic.
Mass is a physical bulk of solid body material, and it has a three-dimensional
area.
Mass in Three-Dimension Mass in Two-Dimension
RECUMBENT FIGURE, Tete de Jeune Homme
Henry Moore, 1938 Green Hornton stone Pablo Picasso, 1923. Grease Crayon Drawing
Source: Alice Correia “Recumbent Figure” accessed Source: Carll H. de Silver Fund “Tete de Jeune
August 13, 2021 Homme” 24 ½ x 18 5/8 inches (62.1 x 47.4 cm).
1923, European Art. Brooklyn Museum
Alice Correia “Recumbent Figure” catalogue entry [Link]
January 2013 n/objects/49217
[Link]
publications/henry-moore/henry-moore-om-ch-
recumbent-figure-r1147451
3. SPACE
Space is the indefinable, general receptacle of all things. It is continuous, infinite,
and ever-present. The visual arts are sometimes referred to as spatial arts because
most of the art forms are organized in space.
Architects are mainly concerned with space. With three-dimensional objects such
as in architecture and sculpture, one has to move around to get a full experience of
three-dimensional space. With two-dimensional works, such as drawings, prints,
photographs, and paintings, the actual space is defined by its edges- usually the two-
dimensions of height and width. The illusion of third-dimension in two-dimensional
works is spatial depth.
Diagrams of clues to Spatial Depth in two-dimensional surface (Preble, 1999):
a. Overlap b. Overlap and
diminishing size
c. Vertical d. Overlap, vertical
placement placement, and
diminishing size
Illustrated by: Jasper Etrata, “Clues to Spatial Depth” October 7, 2020
4. VALUE
Value refers to the lightness and darkness of surfaces. It ranges from white to various
grays to black. It can be a property of color or an independent element color.
Chiaroscuro is the use of gradations of light and shade, in which the forms are
revealed by the subtle shifting from light to dark areas. This technique was developed
during the Renaissance Period to create an illusion that figures and objects depicted
on a flat surface appear as they do in the natural light conditions.
VALUE SCALE from White to Black
Source: Aurelius Jennings, “Value”, Pinterest, N.D.
[Link]
5. COLOR
Color is a component of light, affects us directly by modifying our thoughts,
moods, actions, and even our health. Color exists only in light, but light itself seems
colorless to the human eye. The so-called "color" is the effect on our eyes of light
waves of differing wavelengths or frequencies.
Properties of a Color
• Hue is a particular wavelength of spectral color to which we give names.
- In 1666, British scientist Sir Isaac Newton discovered that when the light of the
sun passes through a glass prism. It is separated into the bands of colors that
make up the visible spectrum. The sequence of the spectral colors is: red,
orange, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
Illustrated by: Jasper Etrata, “Glass
Prism” October 7, 2020
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
White Light Blue
Glass Prism Indigo
Violet
- Primary Hues are: Red, Yellow, and Blue
- Secondary Hues are: Orange, Green, and Violet. This is produced by a mixture of
primary hues.
- Intermediate Hues are: red-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, and red-violet.
Each is located between the primary and the secondary hues of which they are
composed.
Primary
intermediate intermediate
(tertiary) (tertiary)
RED
RED-
RED-
VIOLET
ORANGE
Secondary Secondary
VIOLET ORANGE
intermediate BLUE- YELLOW- intermediate
(tertiary) VIOLET ORANGE (tertiary)
YELLOW
BLUE
Primary Primary
BLUE- YELLOW-
GREEN GREEN
GREEN
intermediate intermediate
(tertiary) Secondary (tertiary)
Illustrated by: Jasper Etrata “Color Wheel” October 7, 2020
Colors affect our feelings about size and distance as well as temperature. Yellow-
green and red-violet are the poles dividing the color wheel into cool and warm hues.
Cool colors found at the blue-green side of the wheel, while the warm colors at the
red-orange side appear to expand and advance.
Objects that appear to be black absorbs all the colors; while objects that appear
white reflects all the colors of the spectrum. Black and white are not true colors and
their combination. Gray is achromatic, and they are often referred to as neutrals.
• Value refers to the relative lightness and darkness from white through grays
and black.
Illustrated by: Abihail A. Agcaoili
“Value Variation in Red” May 27, 2020
• Intensity, also called saturation, refers to the purity of a hue or color. The
pure hue is the most intense form of a given color, the hue at its highest
saturation, and the hue in its brightest form.
Illustrated by: Abihail A. Agcaoili,
“Intensity of Color” May 27, 2020
6. TEXTURE
The textile qualities of surfaces or to the visual representation of those qualities
is referred to as texture, in visual arts. Actual textures are those we can feel by touching.
Simulated textures are those created to look like something other than pain on a flat
surface. Painters simulate texture, while sculptors and architects make use of actual
texture.
Illustrated by: Abihail A. Agcaoili, “Paint Texture” May 27, 2020
7. PERSPECTIVE
Perspective is a point of view. In visual arts, it can refer to any means of
representing three-dimensional objects in space on a two-dimensional surface. It is
a system designed to depict the way objects in space appear to the eye. In linear
perspective, objects appear smaller at a distance, because parallel lines appear to
converge as they recede into the distance, and the last meeting of the lines on the
horizon is called the vanishing point.
• TIME AND MOTION
- Time is nonspatial in which events occur in succession. Our experience of
time depends upon the movements we experienced and vice versa. A sense of
motion can be created by an actual change in position.
• LIGHT
- The source, color, intensity, and direction of light greatly affect the way
things appear; as light changes, surfaces illuminated by it also seem to change.
To suggest the way light reveals form, artists use changes in value.
ACTIVITY 2
Directions: Evaluate the designs below. Try to see what elements of art are
applied. Write your answer in your test notebook.
Source: KM Claudio, “Elements and Principles Source: Joelle Browning, “The Element of Line”,
of Design”, June 8, 2014, https:// [Link]. ph/ pin/
65020788352916138/
[Link]
elements-and-principles-of-design-35630187
1. 2.
Illustrated by: Abihail A. Agcaoili “Perspective
Illustrated by: Jasper Etrata “Primary and
Art” May 27, 2020
Secondary Color Landscape” October 7, 2020
3. 4.
Illustrated by: Abihail A. Agcaoili “Texture” Illustrated by: Abihail A. Agcaoili “Still Life”
May 27, 2020 May 27, 2020
5. 6.
Illustrated by: Jasper Etrata “Visual Elements” Illustrated by: Abihail A. Agcaoili “Wavy Lines”
October 7, 2020 May 27, 2020
7. 8.
Illustrated by: Jasper Etrata “Mural Painting” Illustrated by: Abihail A. Agcaoili “Leaf”
October 7, 2020 May 27, 2020
9. 10.
Assessment 1
Create something beautiful and useful artwork to make your life more meaningful by
applying the different principles of design that you have learned concerning the talent
that God has given you.
Write your reflection on a sheet of paper.
Assessment 2
Directions: Identify the elements of art that are described in each item. Write your
answer in your test notebook.
1. This tends to be precise and regular in shape.
2. The visual arts are sometimes referred to like this because most of the art
forms are organized in space.
3. They always seem to be moving, and we follow them with our fingers, our
gestures, or our eyes.
4. It refers to the lightness and darkness from white through grays to black.
5. Objects appear smaller at a distance because parallel lines appear to converge
as they recede into the distance.
6. Artists use this element to heighten the emotional impact.
7. The last meeting of the lines on the horizon.
8. A particular wavelength of spectral color.
9. The mixture of two primary hues.
10. The physical bulk of a solid body of material and a three-dimensional
area.
What I Have Learned
Directions:
Below is a "Reflection Weight" that aims to determine what you have realized (the
attitudes toward learning), the things that you have discovered (skills that you will
cherish to live), and the things you have learned (knowledge that serves as your
foundation to stand and keep you going). Fill in each part of the weight and share it with
your friends, classmates, or your family.
What I Can Do
Directions: Analyze the sample arts below. Identify what principle of design and
elements of art is applied.
Source: Elizabeth Chapman, “Principles of Design: Illustrated by: Abihail A. Agcaoili “Geometric
Pattern An Orderly repetition of an…”, Shape” May 27, 2020
[Link]
28/
LET'S DIG MORE!
Source: North Woods Art “Assignment 2: Whirlwind Principles of Design”,
[Link]
Remember that every person has his/her own God's unique talent! Go out on
your world with your passion, embrace your talent, and start loving arts!
Assessment
Directions: Complete the crossword by filling in a word that fits each clue.
DOWN ACROSS
1. The achievement of equilibrium, the 6. It is the relation of one thing to
condition in which acting influences are another.
held in check by opposing forces. 7. It provides diversity and acts as
2. The artist used this principle to counterbalance to extreme unity.
draw our attention to an area or 8. In visual element, this gives a
areas. composition, unity, continuity, flow
3. In visual art, it is created through the and emphasis.
regular recurrence of elements with 9. It is the size relationship of parts to a
related variation. whole.
4. It is the appearance or condition of 10. It can be seen in the thick and thin
oneness. areas of a single brushstroke.
5. Neutral areas of lesser interest are
created by artists through this
principle of design.