Republic of the Philippines

UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PHILIPPINES

University Town, Northern Samar
uep.edu.ph uepnsofficial@gmail.com

WILSON NUNGAY EJERCITO

Special Lecturer, UEP-CAC

Credits to Prof. Brenfred Romero

 MODULE 8
ELEMENTS OF VISUAL ARTS

OBJECTIVES
▪ Identify the elements of the visual arts
▪ Infuse the connotations of lines and colors in the interpretive type of art
criticism
▪ Master the correct ways of harmonizing colors

The Elements of the Visual Arts

1. Line
2. Color
3. Texture
4. Perspective
5. Space
6. Form
7. Volume

6.1 LINE
It is an important element at the disposal of every artist. It is being used
to represent figures and forms. It has direction. It is moving. It is composed of
points.

Two Kinds of Lines

1. Straight line- one/linear direction; associated with the ideas of
steadiness and force.
2. Curved line- two directions; associated with the ideas of flexibility,
buoyancy and grace, sudden/gradual change of movement or direction
and joyousness.

Kinds of Straight Line:

1. Horizontal Line. It is a line for repose and serenity. It refers to
the ideas of quiescence and calmness. It can be found in a
reclining person, calm bodies of water, landscape, repose and
death. It’s taken from the word HORIZON, the distant meeting of the
earth and the sky.
2. Vertical Line. It connotes to the idea of a dignified figure. It is
poised for action. It is balanced, forceful and dynamic. It can
be found in a standing person, tall tree, statues of saints and
heroes, exaltation of monuments.
3. Diagonal Line. It suggests action and movement. It gives
animation to any composition. It can be found in a running
person.

Credits to Prof. Brenfred Romero

 Other Classification of Lines
1. Repetitive Line. A line which repeats/follows one another. Repetition
occurs when two or more lines are drawn within a corner following the
lines of the corner.
2. Contrasting Lines. Are in position to each other form of a contrast.
3. Transition Line. It happens when a curved line cuts across a corner
from an opposition line to another. It modifies the sharpness of vertical
and horizontal lines giving a harmonizing effect.

6.2 COLOR
Delight in color is a universal human characteristic. Color is a property
of light. When color goes out, color goes with it. White light of the sun contains
all the colors of the spectrum: ROYGBIV.

“When a beam of light passes through a prism, the different rays of color
are separated so that we are able to see and identify them.” When a light strikes
a surface, some of the color rays are absorbed while others are reflected. For
example, a blue dress absorbs all the color rays except the blue ray which is
reflected.

Objects that appear to be black absorb practically all the color rays and
reflects none; on the other hand, objects that appear to white reflect all the rays
equally.

3 Dimensions/Attributes/Properties of Color
1. Hue. It gives color its name.
2. Value. It denotes the lightness and darkness of color. It indicates the
degree of luminosity (presence or absence of light)

White- highest value

Medium- halfway
Dark- lowest value

Light- the halfway between white and black

Dark- the point halfway between medium and black

Tints. Are values above the normal.

Shades. Are values below the normal.

3. Intensity. It refers to the brightness or darkness/dullness of color. It

gives color its name. The more black or white is added, the weaker is
the intensity.

Grouping the Colors

1. Primary colors: red, yellow, blue
All other colors are produced by combing any / two of these of
colors.

Credits to Prof. Brenfred Romero

 2. Secondary colors: green, violet, orange

Credits to Prof. Brenfred Romero

 These colors can be produced by combining two of the primary
colors.

3. Intermediate colors. Yellow-orange, red-orange, red-violet, blue-

violet, blue-green and yellow-green

These can be produced by mixing in equal amount of primary and

secondary colors.

4. Tertiary Colors. Orange-yellow, violet-green, orange-green

These can be produced by combining all equal mixture any two
secondary colors.

▪ Warm Colors (advancing colors). Red, orange and yellow are the warm
hues. These are associated with objects like the sun, fire and other
sources of heat. They are conspicuous, cheerful and stimulating,
vivacious, joyous and exciting.

▪ Cool Colors (receding colors). Where blue predominates. They suggest

distance, calm, sober, restful, inconspicuous

▪ Denotation. The meaning of a word is taken from books, dictionaries,

etc. It refers to the universal definition of a word.

▪ Connotation. The meaning is varied and is subject to the person’s

personal encounter, tastes, ideologies and preferences. Hence, a single
picture worth a thousand words.

The Language/Connotations of Colors

Color is a form of non-verbal communication. It is not a static energy and
its meaning can change from one day to the next with any individual - it all
depends on what energy they are expressing at that point in time.

The meaning of colors can vary depending on culture and

circumstances. Each color has many aspects to it but one can easily learn the
language of color by understanding a few simple concepts.

Blue is the color of trust, peace, and responsibility. It can suggest loyalty
and integrity as well as conservatism and frigidity. This color is one of trust,
honesty and loyalty. It is sincere, reserved and quiet, and doesn't like to make
a fuss or draw attention. It hates confrontation, and likes to do things in its own
way. From a color psychology perspective, blue is reliable and responsible. This
color exhibits an inner security and confidence.

Green is the color of balance, harmony, and growth. It can mean both
self-reliance as a positive and possessiveness as a negative, among many
other meanings. This is the color of balance and harmony. From a color
psychology perspective, it is the great balancer of the heart and the emotions,

Credits to Prof. Brenfred Romero

 creating equilibrium between the head and the heart. From a meaning of colors
perspective, green is also the color of growth, the color of spring, of renewal
and rebirth. It renews and restores depleted energy. It is the sanctuary away
from the stresses of modern living, restoring us back to a sense of well−being.
This is why there is so much of this relaxing color on the earth, and why we
need to keep it that way.

Orange is the color of adventure and social communication and

optimism. From a negative color meaning it is also a sign of pessimism and
superficiality. The color orange radiates warmth and happiness, combining the
physical energy and stimulation of red with the cheerfulness of yellow. It relates
to 'gut reaction' or our gut instincts, as opposed to the physical reaction of red
or the mental reaction of yellow. Orange offers emotional strength in difficult
times. It helps us to bounce back from disappointments and despair, assisting
in recovery from grief. The color psychology of orange is optimistic and uplifting
as it rejuvenates one’s spirit. On the whole, orange is sociable, optimistic,
enthusiastic, cheerful, self-confident, independent, flamboyant, extroverted and
uninhibited, adventurous, the risk-taker, creative flair, warm-hearted, agreeable
and informal.

Red is the color of energy, passion, action, ambition and determination.

It is also the color of anger and sexual passion. This color is a warm and positive
color associated with our most physical needs and our will to survive. It exudes
a strong and powerful masculine energy. Red is energizing. It excites the
emotions and motivates us to take action. It signifies a pioneering spirit and
leadership qualities, promoting ambition and determination. It is also strong-
willed and can give confidence to those who are shy or lacking in will power.
On the other hand, red would also means aggressive and domineering, over-
bearing, tiring, angry and quick-tempered, ruthless, fearful and intolerant,
rebellious and obstinate, resentful, violent and brutal.

Yellow is the color of the mind and the intellect. It is optimistic and
cheerful. However it can also suggest impatience, criticism and cowardice. This
color relates to acquired knowledge. It is the color which resonates with the left
or logic side of the brain stimulating our mental faculties and creating mental
agility and perception. Being the lightest hue of the spectrum, the color
psychology of yellow is uplifting and illuminating, offering hope, happiness,
cheerfulness and fun.

Psychology of Roses
The presence of flowers triggers happy emotions, heightens feelings of
life satisfaction and affects social behaviour in a positive manner far beyond
what is normally believed.”

Rose is considered to be the world’s universal flora of love. Each color

and number of rose means something

▪ One rose for simplicity

▪ Two roses for ready to settle down
▪ Three roses for I love you
Credits to Prof. Brenfred Romero
 ▪ Red rose for I love you
▪ Pink rose for friendship and thank you
▪ Yellow rose for jovial relationship
▪ Coral/orange rose for desire
▪ Whiter rose for secret affection
▪ Green rose for eternal love
▪ White and red roses to apologize

Color Harmony is the correct combination and arrangement of colors so that

they will appear pleasing to the eyes.

1) Related Color Harmony

a. Monochromatic Harmony. It employs one color with its tints and
shades. It is made up of several tones in one hue.
b. Adjacent /Analogous Harmony. It is the use of colors which possess
one common color in all their mixture. These colors are found near
each other in the color chart

2) Contrasted Color Harmony. Is a group of color harmonies which is

controlled because the colors are selected and arranged in such a way
that the colors involved are found opposite each other in the color chart.

6.3 TEXTURE. It is the element that deals more directly with the sense of touch,
thru hands. It identifies the characteristic of surfaces which can be rough or
smooth, fine or coarse, shiny or dull, plain or irregular.

6.4 PERSPECTIVE. It deals with the effect of distance upon the appearance of
objects, by means of which the eye judges spatial relationships.

Credits to Prof. Brenfred Romero

 2 Kinds of Perspective
1. Linear Perspective. It is the representation of an appearance of distance
by means of converging lines and diminishing sizes.

Foreshortening. A facet of linear perspective which is applied chiefly to

the human figure. It is the representation of objects or parts of the body
as smaller from the point of view of the observer.

2. Aerial Perspective (top-view or bird’s eye view). It is the representation

of relative distances of objects by gradations of tone and color. Objects
become painter in the distance due to the effect of the atmosphere.

Credits to Prof. Brenfred Romero

 6.5 SPACE. It refers to interior and exterior spaces.

6.6 FORM. It applies to the over-all design of an artwork. It describes the

structure or shape of an object. “Form follows function.”

6.7 VOLUME. It refers to the amount of space occupied in three dimensions. It

refers to the solidity and thickness. It is said that there should be equal
solidity/thickness in an architecture so as to acquire unified interpretation from
a recipient.

Credits to Prof. Brenfred Romero

 LEARNING TASKS

Tertiary colors Cool colors Curved line Navy blue Hue

Line Intensity Warm colors Secondary colors Intermediate colors
Value Color Maroon Contrasting line Color harmony
Sky blue Primary colors Texture Perspective Form
Contrasted color Related color Foreshortening Volume Pink
harmony harmony

Part I. Remember Me? Identify what is being referred to in each statement. Use
the pool above as your reference. Write your answers on the space before each
number.

1 Gives color its name

2 Combining two secondary colors of equal
amount.
3 The advancing colors
4 Solidity and thickness.
5 Lightness and darkness
6 Red, yellow, blue
7 It happens when a curved line cuts across a
corner from an opposition line to another.
8 Combining one primary color and one
secondary color of equal amount.
9 Property of light.
10 The shade of red.
11 Linear perspective for human figure.
12 Deals with sense touch (smoothness or
roughness).
13 Effect of distance upon the appearance of
objects of which the eye judges spatial
relationships.
14 Correct combination and arrangement of
colors.
15 The receding colors.
16 It follows function.
17 Brightness and darkness.
18 Combination of colors which are in opposite
positions in the color wheel.
19 Composed of a series of points
20 The tint of blue

Credits to Prof. Brenfred Romero

 Part II.CAN YOU MATCH ME WITH? Match the concepts with their denotations.
Write only the letter on the blank before the number.

A. Lines
1. straight line A. Action and movement
2. curved line B. Quiescence and calmness
3. horizontal line C. Balanced and forceful
4. vertical line D. Buoyancy and grace
5. diagonal line E. Steadiness and force
F. Repose and movement

B. Colors
1. red A. Joy and jealousy
2. yellow B. Young and virgin
3. blue C. Death and end
4. green D. Love and war
5. black E. Earth and passion
F. Noble and peace

C. Roses
1. one rose A. Desire
2. white and red roses B. Thank you
3. two roses C. I love you
4. pink rose D. Simplicity
5. coral/orange rose E. Secret affection
F. Apologizing

Credits to Prof. Brenfred Romero