Module 7: Understanding the Subjects of Visual Arts and their Elements and

Principles

Learning Objectives

At the end of this session, you will be able to:

a. explain the elements and principles of visual arts;

b. compare and contrast images and structures of visual artworks using the elements and principles of
visual arts;

c. analyze visual arts through identifying its theme, mood, tone and composition; and

d. establish a mini gallery of local visual artists for the community

Presentation of Contents
Understanding Visual Art: Identifying Theme, Mood, Tone and Composition

To really understand visual arts, one must move beyond stating the obvious and add perceptive,
personal insight. Viewer should demonstrate higher order of thinking like analyzing, evaluating, and
synthesizing information and ideas from visual observation. In doing visual arts analysis, the four
features (theme, mood, tone, and composition), the elements, and the principles are to be considered.
Theme relates to the meaning of a painting, rather than the subject, which is specific and basic. A theme
is deeper and broader and conveys something more universal.

Themes are usually implied rather than explicitly stated. To examine the theme in visual arts is
look at the ideas conveyed by the visual experience as a whole. In analyzing the movie Star Wars, the
subject is simply “a battle for the control of the galaxy” while the theme is explored around “conflict
between technology and nature”.

Mood is the atmosphere in a painting, or the feeling expressed. Is the art tranquil, or is it dark
and disturbing? The mood is studied through evaluating the emotional reaction or response of the
viewer or evaluating the overall mood of the artwork. Some of these moods are energetic, excitement,
serious, sedate, positive, peaceful, calm, melancholic, tense, uneasy, uplifting, foreboding, calm,
turbulent, disturbing.

Tone refers to lightness or darkness of colors used, which can help create a sense of depth or
distance in art. The tonal values of an artwork can be attuned to modify its expressive appeal.

Tone can be used to create a contrast of light and dark, to create the illusion of form, to create a
dramatic or tranquil atmosphere, to create a sense of depth and distance, and to create a rhythm or
pattern within a composition. These are to be considered in analyzing the tone of visual arts.
 Composition is the underlying structure of the art that refers to where the artist placed the
subject matter. It is considered as exactly the same as the layout of a piece of artwork. It is not the
actual subject of the art but where the subject is placed. It is how the elements of visual arts are
organized. Analyzing the composition of visual arts means seeing if its off-centered, centered,
disoriented, done with the rue of thirds, etc.

Analysis of “The Dance of Life” by Edvard Munch

The Dance of Life by Edvard Munch is a
painting of dancing couples. On the left, a
young woman in a white floral dress stands
watching which symbolizes innocence and
youth. In the background shows dancing
couples. The composition centers on a man in
black and a woman in red. Red implies love,
passion and pain. Her dress cloaks his feet and
envelops him. He has no choice but to follow.
Their faces are odd looking and seems like
zombies. On the right, an old woman in an
unembellished black dress stands apart, thin
face wrinkled, hands clasped tight. The old
woman signifies loneliness and sorrow. The
moon in the sky reflects on the water, but the deep colors and uncomfortable movement among the
figures render the dance less than festive. The characters are surrounded by outlines that emphasize
their rounded shapes rather than the individuals.

So the mood is uneasy, the tone is dark, and the theme conveys various stages of a woman’s life and the
passage of time and death, rather than family love and closeness. The proper use of the rules of art is
essential to the success of any visual artwork.

The “Principles of Art” is the first set of rules or guidelines that make deciding the impact of a work of
art easier. The second set of rules is the “Elements of Art”.

Principles of Visual Arts is the means an artist uses to organize elements within a work of art.
1. Harmony is a way of combining similar elements in artwork to accent their similarities
(achieved through the use of repetition and subtle, gradual changes)

2. Rhythm is 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.

3. Balance is a way of blending elements to add a feeling of equilibrium or stability to a work of

art. Major types are symmetrical and asymmetrical. (Art Quizlet)

4. Proportion is a principle of design that refers to the relationship of individual elements to the
whole and each other.
 5. Emphasis s a way of mixing elements to stress the differences between those elements. (Art
Quizlet)

6. Variety is a principle of design concerned with diversity or contrast. It is achieved by using

different shapes, sizes, or colors in a work of art.

7. Movement is a principle of design applied to create the look and feel of action and to guide
the viewer’s eye throughout the work of art.

Analysis of the Artwork “Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh

It is best to explain The Principles of Art using “The Starry Night”, by Vincent van Gogh.

Harmony is achieved in an artwork by using

similar elements throughout the composition
to make sure it does not look too intricate.
The regularity of the lines throughout the
painting gives it a feeling of harmony.

Rhythm is a type of movement in drawing

and painting. In the painting, it is seen in the
repetition of shapes and colors.
Interchanging lights and shades also give a
sense of rhythm. The lines and color pattern
seen throughout the work are a great
illustration of rhythm.

Balance is a sense of stability in the artwork. Balance can be achieved by creating a feeling of equal
weight. In the painting, the large dark tree helps to balance the bright moon in the opposite corner.

Proportion refers to the relationship of the size of objects in an artwork. The painting has a perfect
proportion, nothing looks out of place.

Emphasis in an artwork refers to the focus of interest that pull the spectator’s eye to significant parts of
the work. The emphasis in the painting is the bright yellow moon.

Variety refers to the differences in the work. Variety is achieved by using different shapes, textures,
colors and values in an artwork. You can find variety in the bright and dark colors as well as the cool and
warm colors and in the swirls and curves of the hills next to the sharpness in shape of the houses.

Movement adds interest to an artwork by showing action and directing the viewer’s eye throughout the
picture plane. In the painting, the dark tree moves your eye up, the twirls and spins carry your eye to the
moon, and the color in

the moon leads your eye to the light yellow streak beneath it, which in turn

leads your eye back to the dark tree.

Elements and Principles of Visual Arts
Elements of Visual Arts are the visual components of color, form, line, shape, space, texture, and
value.

1. Line is an element of art illustrated by a point moving in space. It may be two- or three-
dimensional, descriptive, implied, or abstract. Lines may be straight, curved, angular, flowing, horizontal,
vertical, diagonal, contour, thick, thin, implied, etc. (ualr.edu).

2. Shape is an element of art that is two-dimensional, flat, or restrained to height and width.
Shape can be geometrical or organic (Art Quizlet).

3. Form is 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 (Art
Quizlet).

4. Space is an element of art by which positive and negative areas are defined or a sense of
depth achieved in a work of art.

5. Color is an element of art composed of three characteristics: hue, value, and intensity. It can
be primary, secondary, mixed, complimentary, monochromatic, decorative, warm, cool, dark, etc.

i. Hue is the name of color.

ii. Value is hue’s lightness and darkness (a color’s value changes when adding white or
black to it).

iii. Intensity is the degree of brightness and purity (high-intensity -the color is sharp and
bright; low-intensity - the color is faint and dull) (Rollins, 2015).

6. Texture is an element of art that indicates to the way things feel or look as if they might feel if
touched. Texture can be rough, smooth, real, implied, repeating, etc. (3 Doodler Edu).

Analysis of the Artwork “The School of Athens” by Raphael Sanzio

“The School of Athens” by Rapahel Sanzio is a classic
example which manifestly embodies line, shape, color,
form, space (its representation) and texture in a single
painting.

Content The painting’s subject is not a school but an

assembly of significant Greek philosophers.

Medium The artwork was painted in fresco which means it

was done on wet plaster.

Composition The painting is done in a pyramidal

arrangement which is a prominent characteristic of Raphael
and the High Renaissance.
Lines and Forms: Raphael gives his figures mass, bulk and weight by using perspective, drapery, and
chiaroscuro. The way the clothing of the figures falls on their bodies gives them a sense of underlying
body structure. All the lines converge between Plato and Aristotle's heads which gives it the pyramidal
composition. There is also an interest in accurate body proportion. The painter showed a lot of depth
created by the walls and archways of the building. He used linear perspective to make the architecture
really pop out and look threedimensional

Shape: The warm light is focused more on the people in the back, and shadow is slightly casted upon the
figures towards the front. Raphael used chiaroscuro (Chiaroscuro refers to the use of light and dark to
create the illusion of threedimensional volume on a flat surface) to show underlying body structure in
each of the figures and to create depth and shape.

Space: Although the painting seems crowded in some parts (especially around Plato and Aristotle)
Raphael creates a great sense of space. He used linear perspective and has a vanishing point so the
painting looks like it goes back in space. He also paints the figures in the foreground larger than the rest
which adds to the sense of space.

Color Raphael uses mostly natural colors with lots of browns and greys. He uses mostly warm earthly
tones with some subtle blue and green cool accents. Raphael did not use bright colors because he
intended the mood to be more solemn. Value is used well to create depth and shading.

Texture: Raphael used texture and repetition together while designing the floor and ceiling patterns.
The textures of the painting are mostly solid and flat, created by the floor and walls. It creates the
feeling that if someone touches the walls and floors, it would be smooth.

Summary of the Unit

Visual arts are those art forms appreciated or perceived primarily by sight, which occupy space
that is either two-dimensional or three-dimensional. The categories of visual arts are fine arts,
decorative arts, and contemporary arts. Fine Arts are developed primarily for aesthetics and judged for
its beauty and meaningfulness. Examples of fine arts are painting, sculpture, drawing, watercolor,
graphics, and architecture. Decorative Arts are made for function but retain an artistic style and still
require talent to create. These include tapestry, ceramics, mosaic art, glass art, jewelry, woodwork,
interior design, textile arts, and crafts. Contemporary Arts, is a form of art conceived in modern times,
include photography, art print, video art, animation, graffiti, and installation art.

Mediums of visual arts denote the ways by which an artist communicates his idea. These are
the materials which are used by an artist to interpret his feelings or thoughts.

One way of doing analysis of visual arts is using theme, mood, tone, and composition. To
further understand visual arts, the elements and principles of visual arts are used. The principles of
visual arts are harmony, rhythm, balance, proportion, emphasis, variety, and movement. The
elements of visual arts are line, shape, form, space, color, and texture.