Formal Elements of Art Composition
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ScribdTranslationsFormal Elements of Art Composition
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ScribdTranslationsPainting and creation - Danielle Carvalho
Class: formal elements of composition in artistic languages
To work with any artistic language, we must take into account the
basic elements that make up the works. These elements are:
the point,
the line
the shape (figure),
the texture,
the volume,
the color
the space,
The organization of these elements forms a composition. The use
aware of these elements in an artistic work form a
composition.
The composition can follow principles of
balance
emphasis
Proportion
movement
rhythm
model or pattern
Harmony
Variety
First of all, let's better characterize the formal elements:
POINT
It is the basic unit of visual language, its characteristics are the
irreducibility and simplicity. Grouped points often achieve an effect
very impressive visual, as the eye tends to connect them in the image. (There is
a theory of Gestalt, the German theory, that values what the eye tends to
connecting the dots, closing the shapes, seeking recognition of the
image).
An example of this characteristic is pointillist painting, created by
George Seurat, where multiple points of color come together to form the
figures and colors multiply.
LINE
When we group nearby points in an ordered sequence, we have
a line. Lines have characteristics such as thickness (thin or
thick), shape (straight, serpentine, broken), drawing (solid, discontinuous,
dashed) and the position (angled, vertical, etc.). The lines can be very
significant, as in the examples we will see here.
FORMS
Shapes can be geometric: we have 3 basic geometric shapes:
square, circle, and the equilateral triangle. We still have the other polygons,
what are shapes with several sides. Geometric shapes are constructions
humans and they are not easy to find in nature. Conversely, the
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Organic forms are those that are easily found in nature.
(like leaves, branches, wings, drop, spiral, etc.).
Forms can also be figurative or abstract. Figurative are
when referring to something recognizable. Geometric shapes And
pure organics are abstract, that is, they do not represent anything in the
composition.
Shapes can be combined to form more complex figures. Some
authors consider the figure-ground relationship as a formal element.
Many artists work with this characteristic, mixing or highlighting the figure.
from the background, mainly working with the silhouettes.
TEXTURES
It is a quality printed on a surface that enhances the prints.
tactile.
Textures can be tactile (when they can be touched and felt)
characteristics) Example: several organic lines that form the hair of a
sculpture. They can also be optical (when they only give the impression, the
illusion that can be felt by touch) Example: an adhesive paper with the
wood texture.
Textures can also be geometric or organic (made of shapes
geometric or organic and can also imitate natural elements:
wood, water, wrinkled paper, etc.)
VOLUME
O dimension, it is the third dimension. It can be real (as in a
sculpture) or just a representation (as in drawing, with perspective
which usually gives an illusion of volume).
COLOR
Effect of light on human eye perception, colors have
numerous characteristics that must be studied in greater depth. It is
it's important to know that the work can be monochrome: the use of a single color or
shade and the various hues derived from that color. Or it can be
polychromatic: the use of various colors or shades.
When talking about shade, reference is made to the different gradations.
What can have a color without abandoning its essence. It can be green.
Emerald, military or English, veronese... the shades are that color with more
white or more black.. more or less brightness.
SPACE
TRIDIMENSION: it is the real space in which the works are located.
three-dimensional art.
BIDIMENSIONAL: it has only two dimensions. A drawing or painting can
represent three dimensions in various ways: perspective, planes, figures
superimposed, light and shadow.
Now we are going to study the principles that can be used in the
compositions
BALANCE:
sensation of stability when we look at a work. The forms
they are balanced and can be a symmetrical balance: where the elements
formals are mutually balanced.
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The asymmetric equilibria: where the elements are balanced
informal way.
EMPHASIS:
When the elements of the composition give prominence to a certain
information within the work.
Proportion:
The use of shapes of different sizes to create a sense of depth or
express feelings.
MOVEMENT:
The work creates a dynamic or speed sensation. They can be
literal movements (works that have a physical movement: For example,
kinetic art, Alexandre Calder, Palatinik
or the representation of movement: the use of lines or forms in repetition,
to give the illusion of movement. For example, Futurist art. Nude
going down a staircase.
RHYTHM
intermixed arrangement of visual components to create intervals
rhythmic. For example: a blanket woven with lines ...
REGISTER
Repetition of units of formal elements that create a kind of
printed. Eg: MOROCCAN TILES, mandalas.
HARMONY
balance between all elements of the composition, forming a unity
stable and coherent.
THE VARIETY
Highlight the difference and imbalance of the visual elements. Preference
for the unusual with gestural lines and deformed figures.
e.g.: expressionism