LESSON 6: THE ELEMENTS OF VISUAL ARTS

WHAT DO I NEED TO LEARN?

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the learners should be able to:

1. identify the elements of art ;

2. describe and explain the elements of art; and
3. create artworks to display creativity.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?

Introduction

A work of art has subject, form and content. You have learned from the previous lesson
that form is the development and configuration of the artwork. It is how the artist has used the
elements of art to give visual organization to his artwork. The elements of art are the buildings
blocks used by an artist to create a work of art. In this lesson, the seven elements of art will be
discussed.

Discussion

The Seven Elements of Art

1. Line. A line is an identifiable path created by a point moving in space. It is one-dimensional

and can vary in width, direction, and length. It is considered as the simplest and most element
of art. There are two types of lines: straight lines and curved lines.

Straight lines

Vertical lines are straight up and down lines

that are moving in space without any slant
and are perpendicular to horizontal lines.
They suggest height and strength because
they extend towards the sky and seem
unshakeable.

Horizontal lines are straight lines parallel to the

horizon that move from left to right. They suggest
width, distance, calmness, and stability.

Diagonal lines are straight lines that slant in

any direction except horizontal or vertical.
When in use, they suggest movement or lack
of stability.
Zigzag lines are a series of diagonal lines joined
at ends. Diagonal lines are unbalanced. They
can convey action and excitement, as well as
restlessness and anxiety.

Curved lines

Curved lines are lines that are not straight but

are bent. They can be simply wavy or spiral.
Such lines convey feelings of comfort and ease,
as well as sensual quality as they remind us of
the human body.

2. Shape. Shape is created when a line becomes connected and encloses space. It is the
outline or outward appearance of something. Shapes have two dimensions, height and
width, and are usually defined by lines. There are two types of shape: geometric shapes and
organic shapes.

Geometric shapes are precise and regular and are often found in man-made things because
they are easier to reproduce and make things with.

Organic shapes have more complicated edges and are usually found in nature. Examples
are the shape of flowers, trees, clouds, rocks, and so on.

Geometric shapes Organic shapes

3. Form. Form is an element of art that connotes something that is three-dimensional and
encloses volume, having length, width, and height, versus shape, which is two-dimensional or
flat. A form is a shape in three dimensions, and, like shape, can be geometric or organic.

Geometric forms are forms that are mathematical, precise and can be named, as in the basic
geometric forms: sphere, cube, pyramid, cone, and cylinder. A circle becomes a sphere in
three dimensions, a square becomes a cube, a triangle become a pyramid or cone. They
are often found in architecture.
Organic forms are those that are free-flowing, curvy, sinewy, and are not symmetrical or easily
measurable or named. They most often occur in nature, as in the shapes of flowers, branches,
leaves, puddles, etc., but can also be found in many sculptures.

4. Space. Space is the area between and around objects. It refers to the distance between
or the area around and within spaces, forms, colors and lines. There are two types of space
that exist within art – positive space and negative space. Positive space is the actual objects
or shapes within an artwork and negative space is the space around and between those
objects.

Positive space is the area or part of

the composition that an object or
subject occupies. It is usually the main
focus of the painting, such as vase of
flowers, fruits, or candle in still life, a
person’s face in a portrait. Negative
space is the empty or open space
that surrounds an object.

5. Color. Color is present when light strikes an object and it is reflected back into the eye, a
reaction to a hue arising in the optic nerve. In art, color pertains to the use of hue in artwork
and design.

Properties of color:

 Hue - The name of the color such as red, green, blue, etc.
 Value - The lightness or darkness of the hue. How light or dark it is.
 Intensity - The brightness or dullness of the hue. How bright or dull it is.

Classification of Color

Primary colors - The source of all other

colors. These are red, blue and yellow.

Secondary colors - Colors made by

mixing two primary colors together.
These are green, orange, and violet.

Tertiary colors - Colors made by mixing a

primary color and a secondary color
together. These are red-violet, red-
orange, blue-green, blue-violet, yellow-
green, and yellow-orange.
Color Wheel
6. Value. Value is a basic element of art that refers to the gradual change of lightness or
darkness of a color. It is created when a light source shines upon an object creating highlights,
from shadows and cast shadows.

Value Scale
The term value is used in the language of art to the “value” of light. The more light, the higher
the value. White is the highest or lightest value. On the the other hand, black is the lowest or
darkest value. Colors can have value too. In painting, values can be achieved by adding
either black (shade) or white (tint) to the chosen color.

7. Texture. The surface quality in a work of art is called texture. We associate textures with the
way that things look or feel. We describe things as being rough, smooth, silky, shiny, fuzzy and
so on. Some things feel just as they appear; this is called real or actual texture. Texture that is
created to look like something it is not, is called visual or implied texture. This is the type of
texture that artists use when they draw or paint.

Real or Actual Textures Visual or Implied Textures

WHAT DO I NEED TO REMEMBER?

Generalization

 The elements of art are the building blocks used by an artist to create a work of art. This
means that the artist cannot create a work of art without them.
 There are seven elements of art: line, shape, form, value, space, color and texture.
 Artists manipulate these seven elements, mix them in with principles of design, and
compose a piece of art.
 Not every work of art contains every one of these elements, but at least two are always
present.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

Analysis

To check your understanding of the lesson, answer the following essay questions.

1. Why are elements of art important for an artist?

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2. Why is line the simplest and most important element of a work of art?
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3. How do you distinguish geometric shapes/forms from organic shapes/forms?

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4. What are the two types of space? Define and illustrate your own example.
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5. In art, how is value used or achieved by an artist?

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6. What are the three primary colors? Why are they important?
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7. What type of texture is used by an artist to create an artwork?

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Reflection

Answer the question below.

1. What is/are your favorite color/s? Why?

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Artworks

1. You will need the following materials: a whole oslo paper, pencil, marker pen, ruler,
compass and crayons/poster paints. Create your own design of a color wheel using
crayons/poster paints. Make sure you will only use primary colors. Mix them to create
secondary and tertiary colors. Name the colors in your color wheel. Once through, upload
the picture of your artwork to our Facebook group.

Rubric:

Composition/Design 50%
Creativity/Originality 30%
Neatness 20%
Total 100%

2. You will need the following materials: a whole oslo paper, pencil and crayons. Think of
anything that you would want to draw using curved lines. Use different kinds of curved line
and color your artwork. Give your artwork a title. Once through, upload the picture of your
artwork to our Facebook group.

Rubric:

Composition/Design 50%
Craftsmanship 30%
Creativity/Originality 20%
Total 100%

WHAT HAVE I GAINED IN THIS TOPIC?

Evaluation
Read each item carefully and encircle the letter of your choice.

1. These are the buildings blocks used by an artist to create a work of art.

A. Principles of art C. Subject, content and form

B. Media used in Art D. Elements of art
 2. Which of the following does NOT belong to the group?

A. Texture B. Space C. Harmony D. Line

3. Which type of lines will you use if you want to express ideas of calmness in your artwork?

A. Vertical B. Horizontal C. Diagonal D. Zigzag

4. Which of the following does NOT belong to the group?

A. Green B. Yellow C. Blue D. Red

5. This is the type of texture used by an artist to paint or draw.

A. Natural B. Real C. Implied D. Tactile

6. It has two dimensions, height and width, and is usually defined by lines.

A. Texture B. Space C. shape D. color

7. Which refers to the distance between or the area around and within spaces, forms, colors
and lines?

A. Space B. Texture C.Value D. Shape

8. This refers to the gradual change of lightness or darkness of a color.

A. Intensity B. Value C. Hue D. Texture

9. In art, this pertains to the use of hue in artwork and design.

A. Shape B. Texture C. Color D. Space

10. These are colors made by mixing two primary colors together.

A. Intermediate colors C. Secondary colors

B. Basic colors D. Tertiary colors

References:

https://learnmapeh.blogspot.com/2015/04/art-elements-grade-3.html?M=1

https://www.slideshare.net/OndrianDuncanReid/elements-of-art-2015-16-51194881

https://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/elements_art.pdf

https://www2.oberlin.edu/amam/asia/sculpture/documents/vocabulary.pdf

https://www.slideshare.net/emurfield/elements-principles-of-art-design-powerpoint