Studio Arts
Elements
Art Elements are the marks we make on a surface or a page.
Line:
A line is a mark on a surface that ravels from one point to another and is longer than it is wide. Lines often suggest movement in a work of art.
Words to describe the use of line include:
Detail, movement, outline, pattern, sharp, effect, enhance, effective, curvy, straight, type combination, thick, thin, divides, joints, connect, flows and continuous.
Shape:
A shape is the space contained within lines and is two dimensional. Shapes can be either geometric or organic. Words to describe the use of shapes include:
Geometric, round, defines, explains, triangle, flat, mark, figure, outline, appearance, square, normal, abnormal, interesting, different, pattern and recognize.
Form:
Forms are created by joing shapes together and are three dimensional. Forms take up space and have depth, width and height.
Words to describe form include:
Shape, definition, dimension, solid, structure, round, presence, meaning, construction and space.
Colour:
The primary colours are red, yellow and blue but endless combinations of these three can make more colours including secondary and intermediate hues. Colour can be put into groups such as complimentary, warm, cool and contrasting.
Words that describe colour include:
Bold, vibrant, bright, dull, earthy, highlight, contrast, enhance, shadow, tone, detail, intensify, compliment, feeling, expressive, complexion, pigment, primary, secondary, pastel, tint and blend.
Value:
Value refers to tones of dark and light. Value contrasts help us see and understand a two-dimensional work of art.
Texture:
Texture describes the way something feels or looks like it would feel if we were to touch it.
Words that describe texture include: Interesting, contrast, shape, reality, highlights, desired effect, rough, smooth, appearance, touch, surface, painterly, coarse, quality, grain and finish.
Space:
Space is a three-dimensional volume that has width, height and depth. Space in a painting is an illusion that can be created with various techniques including overlapping and size relationships.
Line:
A line is a mark on a surface that ravels from one point to another and is longer than it is wide. Lines often suggest movement in a work of art.
Words to describe the use of line include:
Detail, movement, outline, pattern, sharp, effect, enhance, effective, curvy, straight, type combination, thick, thin, divides, joints, connect, flows and continuous.
Shape:
A shape is the space contained within lines and is two dimensional. Shapes can be either geometric or organic. Words to describe the use of shapes include:
Geometric, round, defines, explains, triangle, flat, mark, figure, outline, appearance, square, normal, abnormal, interesting, different, pattern and recognize.
Form:
Forms are created by joing shapes together and are three dimensional. Forms take up space and have depth, width and height.
Words to describe form include:
Shape, definition, dimension, solid, structure, round, presence, meaning, construction and space.
Colour:
The primary colours are red, yellow and blue but endless combinations of these three can make more colours including secondary and intermediate hues. Colour can be put into groups such as complimentary, warm, cool and contrasting.
Words that describe colour include:
Bold, vibrant, bright, dull, earthy, highlight, contrast, enhance, shadow, tone, detail, intensify, compliment, feeling, expressive, complexion, pigment, primary, secondary, pastel, tint and blend.
Value:
Value refers to tones of dark and light. Value contrasts help us see and understand a two-dimensional work of art.
Texture:
Texture describes the way something feels or looks like it would feel if we were to touch it.
Words that describe texture include: Interesting, contrast, shape, reality, highlights, desired effect, rough, smooth, appearance, touch, surface, painterly, coarse, quality, grain and finish.
Space:
Space is a three-dimensional volume that has width, height and depth. Space in a painting is an illusion that can be created with various techniques including overlapping and size relationships.
Principles
Composition:
Composition refers to the overall layout of an artwork. It is about the relationships between the design elements and principles and how they combine to work with each other.
Words that describe the use of composition:
Strong, effective, dominate, contrasts, compliments, detail, colourful, workable, highlights, enhances, aesthetics, pleasing large scale, fine detail, attractive, abstract, cropped and intricate.
Balance:
Balance describes the effect of a visually satisfying composition, for example, our eye feels comfortable and able to take in all parts of the artwork. There are two types of balance-
- Symmetrical; the elements mirror one another.
- Asymmetrical; the elements do not mirror one another but are still balanced.
Words that describe balance include:
Effective, strong, focus, defines, stability and workable.
Pattern:
Pattern is the repetition or alternation of one or more components to create an artwork. Any visual elements can be repeatedly used to create a pattern such as colour, line, tone...Pattern can be regular or random.
Words that describe pattern include:
Continuous, uniform, shape, effective, flows, describes, movement, space, repetitive, alternative, alternative and reinforces.
Movement:
Movement directs where the viewer's eyes travel through a work of art. It can be directed along, lines and shapes, values or colour.
Words that describe movement include:
Linear, curved, flowing, fractured, strong, slowly and quickly.
Rhythm:
Rhythm is the repetition of visual movement - colours, shapes or lines. It is essential to have variety when representing rhythm in order to keep the work the work exciting and active and to avoid monotony.
Words that describe rhythm include:
Regular, irregular, movement, repetitive, rhythmic, flowing, beat, pace, tempo, time and pulse.
Contrast:
Refers to differences in the elements of a work of art. Contrast is the tension caused between opposites such as large/small, light/dark, and soft/hard.
Words that describe contrast include:
Dark and light, cool and warm, geometric and organic, hard and soft, pattern, high and low value.
Emphasis:
Artists can use colour, value, shapes, or other art elements to create emphasis in an artwork which often leads to a strong focal point.
Words that describe emphasis include:
Focus, hierarchy, definition, attention, dominant, importance, weight, accent, prominence and highlighting.
Unity:
Unity provides the quality that makes an artwork feel complete. When all elements in a work look as though they belong together, the artist has achieved harmony and unity.
Words that describe unity include:
Cohesive, harmony, whole, unified, complete, balanced, unison, agreement and accord.
Composition refers to the overall layout of an artwork. It is about the relationships between the design elements and principles and how they combine to work with each other.
Words that describe the use of composition:
Strong, effective, dominate, contrasts, compliments, detail, colourful, workable, highlights, enhances, aesthetics, pleasing large scale, fine detail, attractive, abstract, cropped and intricate.
Balance:
Balance describes the effect of a visually satisfying composition, for example, our eye feels comfortable and able to take in all parts of the artwork. There are two types of balance-
- Symmetrical; the elements mirror one another.
- Asymmetrical; the elements do not mirror one another but are still balanced.
Words that describe balance include:
Effective, strong, focus, defines, stability and workable.
Pattern:
Pattern is the repetition or alternation of one or more components to create an artwork. Any visual elements can be repeatedly used to create a pattern such as colour, line, tone...Pattern can be regular or random.
Words that describe pattern include:
Continuous, uniform, shape, effective, flows, describes, movement, space, repetitive, alternative, alternative and reinforces.
Movement:
Movement directs where the viewer's eyes travel through a work of art. It can be directed along, lines and shapes, values or colour.
Words that describe movement include:
Linear, curved, flowing, fractured, strong, slowly and quickly.
Rhythm:
Rhythm is the repetition of visual movement - colours, shapes or lines. It is essential to have variety when representing rhythm in order to keep the work the work exciting and active and to avoid monotony.
Words that describe rhythm include:
Regular, irregular, movement, repetitive, rhythmic, flowing, beat, pace, tempo, time and pulse.
Contrast:
Refers to differences in the elements of a work of art. Contrast is the tension caused between opposites such as large/small, light/dark, and soft/hard.
Words that describe contrast include:
Dark and light, cool and warm, geometric and organic, hard and soft, pattern, high and low value.
Emphasis:
Artists can use colour, value, shapes, or other art elements to create emphasis in an artwork which often leads to a strong focal point.
Words that describe emphasis include:
Focus, hierarchy, definition, attention, dominant, importance, weight, accent, prominence and highlighting.
Unity:
Unity provides the quality that makes an artwork feel complete. When all elements in a work look as though they belong together, the artist has achieved harmony and unity.
Words that describe unity include:
Cohesive, harmony, whole, unified, complete, balanced, unison, agreement and accord.