ELEMENTS OF

VISUAL ARTS

Prof. RR Cabantac
 WHAT IS ELEMENT ?

• an abstract part or
aspect of something,
especially one that is
essential or basic.
• What happens to the medium
after the techniques are applied?

ELEMENTS are created.....

1. Line
is a series of dots that are
interconnected.
Line is an important element at the disposal of every artist.

It is the most widely

utilized element in visual
arts
• It always has direction
• It has two kinds:

1. Actual … created by writing/painting

implements

2. Implied ... lines within objects

3. Imaginary … traceable by sight

4. Contour ... created by the outer egde of

objects
Imaginary … traceable by sight
Line direction may be suggestive of ....

... a man usually lies prone or on his back when asleep or

resting

or stands erect
when in action

Man understands that

certain emotional states
find expression in definite
positions.
 2. SPACE
... 3-dimensional volume that is either empty of filled.

... has height, width and depth

... refers to those areas around, in between and within

objects.
 SPACE
2 KINDS:
A...in painting
1. Open
2. Closed

B...in sculpture
1. Positive... occupied
2. Negative... unoccupied
ACTUAL LINES:

1. straight line ... the basic framework of many

forms but it lacks flexibility and softness

a. horizontal
b. vertical
c. diagonal

2. curved line

*** jagged or crooked

A. Horizontal line manifests stability and and
senenity
Horizontal lines are found in reclining persons, in
landscape, calm bodies of water and in the
distant meeting of the earth and sky which is
called horizon.
B. Vertical line suggests poise, balance, dignity,
force, aspiration, exaltation, dynamism and
potentiality
C. Diagonal line expresses life, action
and movement.

Almost every
action
assumes a
diagonal
posture.
D. Curved line suggests grace, instability,
subtlety, movement, direction, flexibility
and joyousness.
 Crooked or Jagged Lines

... expresses energy, conflict, violence and

struggle
 Crooked or Jagged Lines:

1. Lines which follow or repeat one another.

2. Lines which contrast with one another.

3. Transitional Lines which softens or modify the

effect of other lines and provide a
harmonizing effect.
 3. COLOR

... has the most aesthetic appeal of all

the elements of visual art.
... appeal of color and the delight it brings
to man is a natural occurence.
... product of light.
Monochromatic
The light of the sun contains all the colors
of the spectrum:

violet, indigo, blue, green,

yellow, orange and red
 Dimension of Colors
• 1. Hue ... that which gives its name.
• 2. Intensity ... the purity and brightness of hue.
• 3. Value ... the lightness or darkness of a hue ... also
known chiaroscuro
WARM HUES

Red, Orange and Yellow

... associated with the sources of heat.
WARM HUES
• •They tend to impart warmth to any composition in which
they are used
• •They are conspicuous, cheerful, stimulating, vivacious,
joyous and exciting
• •They are suggestive of impetuous or instinctive action
• •They are called advancing colors because they have an
effect of advancing or coming towards you
 RED
• Color of fire and blood
• Warmest, most vigorous,
and most exciting of the
colors
• It stands for passion and
energy
ORANGE
... suggests deliciousness and warmth
• Color of light
• •Most brilliant, cheerful,
and exultant of the YELLOW
colors
• •It suggests
cheerfulness,
magnificence, life and
splendor
• It serves to balance the
warm colors like red
and orange
GREEN
• color for
vegetation
and symbolizes
life
and
freshness.
BLUE
• Color of the sky and of
deep and still water
• It arouses the feelings of
peace and quietness
• Coolest and the most
tranquil of the colors
VIOLET / PURPLE

... represents shadows and mysteries

BLACK
... represents despair, pain, sorrow and
death.
 PSYCHOLOGY OF COLORS
•BLACK - Is associated with death and gloom
•WHITE - Stands for purity and innocence
•BLUE - Deemed the color of heaven

“The Language of Roses”

By Sarian J.

Red is for ‘I love you’; pink conveys a ‘Thank

you’, white says ‘you are heavenly’; coral
speaks of desire.
Two colors may be both blue but one is more intense than the other
4. VALUE
TINTS are values above the normal
Pink is a tint of Red
Sky Blue is a tint of Blue

SHADES are values below the normal

Maroon is a shade of Red
Navy Blue is a shade of Blue
VALUE

... a quality which depends on the amount of light and dark

in color

They give the expression of depth and solidity and lend

form to paintings: IMAGINARY

Sculpture: REAL
5. FORM (3D)
• ... describes volume and mass.
• directs the movement of the eye.
• the third dimensional aspects of objects that
take up space

a. Real ... in sculpture

b. Imagined... that is achived thru chiaroscuro
Imagined Form (CHIAROSCURO)
• strong contrast between
light and dark that
suggests volume and is
used in modelling 3D
objects.
6. SHAPE (2D)
• 2-dimensional • Organic
representation of objects • Geometric
• Free Form
7. TEXTURE

• refers to the way the

surface feels
• can be
perceived/simulated or
real
• During the 19th to 20th centuries, a high
premium was placed on very smooth surfaces
and forms.

• But a group of painters including Cezzane,

Picasso, and others emphasized texture by
purposely making portions of the paintings
rough.
• Texture is being used in sculpture, architecture,
paintings, and any other forms of art.
8. SUBJECT

• It answers the what...

• what is the object

depicted by the artist.

• LITERAL
Content
• it refers to the message
that the artist wants to
convey thru his work as a
whole.

• needs interpretation

• FIGURATIVE or
SYMBOLIC