Elements of Art and Principles of Design

Elements of Arts

 Line

An element of art defined by a point moving in space. Line may be two-or three-dimensional, descriptive, implied, or abstract.

The lines that come from his hands can lead you to either, up his hand through his arm, and to his body, or the fact that as the lines go on, there is more color following them.

Shape

An element of art that is two-dimensional, flat, or limited to height and width. 

This picture is limited to the dimensions of height and width and appears that way as well.

Color

An element of art made up of three properties: hue, value, and intensity.

• Hue: name of color
  
• Value: hue’s lightness and darkness (a color’s value
  changes when white or black is added)
  
• Intensity: quality of brightness and purity (high
  intensity= color is strong and bright; low intensity= color is faint and dull)
  
  

 Most paintings use color, but I chose this one because of the vast variety of color that it contains, from reds to purples, all the way through the rainbow.

 

 Value (Tone)

The lightness or darkness of tones or colors. White is the lightest value; black is the darkest. The value halfway between these extremes is called middle gray. 

 

This painting shows a contrast of brightness, or value, from one end of the picture to the other, starting with dark to the left moving to bright from the right. 

Form

An element of art that is three-dimensional and encloses volume; includes height, width AND depth (as in a cube, a sphere, a pyramid, or a cylinder). Form may also be free flowing. 

The reasons would be obvious as of the description, but I like the use of the 3D in the sphere and the reflection of the sphere making this more believable.

Texture

An element of art that refers to the way things feel, or look as if they might feel if touched. 

I picked this picture based off of the perception that it gives of a boy being a giant in a waterfall when it's only like that from this perspective.

Space 

An element of art by which positive and negative areas are defined or a sense of depth achieved in a work of art. 

This painting gives a sense of depth by the way that it shows the different activities that the Greeks had done in their time and the positions that they're in adds to the overall effect.

Principles of Design

Balance

A way of combining elements to add a feeling of equilibrium or stability to a work of art. Major types are symmetrical and asymmetrical. 

This painting is stable because of the way the colors blend with each other to produce a beautiful flower.

Contrast/Emphasis

A way of combining elements to stress the differences between those elements. 

 This picture shows the black background, with a girl in front of it, and a a shiny earring on her. Emphasizing the point.

 Movement

A principle of design used to create the look and feeling of action and to guide the viewer’s eye throughout the work of art. 

 This picture shows the movement of "news" and others reactions. 

 Pattern

Pattern uses the art elements in planned or random repetitions to enhance surfaces of paintings or sculptures

 Repeating soup cans shows the planning of Andy Warhol and somewhat the time dedicated to Campbell's Soup.

Rhythm

A principle of design that indicates movement, created by the careful placement of repeated elements in a work of art to cause a visual tempo or beat. 

 This picture represents the movement of the wave as it continues towards it's destination.

Unity

Unity is the relationship among the elements of a visual that helps all the elements function together.

This picture uses all the aspects of art to create a well thought out painting that shows how all they can make a picture this balanced and connected.