Elements of Arts: Visual Shape

- Two dimensional: height and width

Atoms
- defined as the units or “building blocks” of matter Form
- Three dimensional: height, width and depth
Elements of Art
- The aspects of an artwork that can be isolated from each Two Categories:
other when they are joined together, they have the ability
to create an artwork elements of art are the necessary ● Geometric
precondition for the creation of art. ○ These shapes find origin in mathematical
- They are needed propositions. As such, its translation and use are
often man-made. These include shapes such as;
These are the; line, shape and form, space, color and texture. ■ Square
■ Triangle
Line ■ Cube
- It refers to a point moving at an identifiable path it has ■ Circle
length and direction. It also has width, it is one - ■ Sphere
dimensional, but has the capacity to either define the ■ Cone
parameters of the artwork (edges) and/or become a
substantial component of the composition. ● Organic
○ These are readily occuring in nature, often
Keith Haring irregular and asymmetrical
He first executed the public mural “Todos juntos podemos ○ Example is the design of a vase which made use
parar el sida” (together we can stop AIDS) in Barcelona in 1989. In of morning glories
2014, it was recreated at the foyer of the Museu D’ Art
Contemporani de Barcelona (Barcelona Museum of Contemporary ○ Design by louis comfort Tiffany and made by
Art) to commemorate it. Tiffany Furnace

Types of Line Space

Horizontal ● It is usually inferred from a sense of depth, whether it is
- (Left to right) and vertical (from top to bottom) real or simulated.
- Refers to the orientation with rest or calm. Landscapes ● Real space is three dimensional sculpture and is a perfect
often contain these elements as works like these often example of artwork that bears this element. However, this
connote a visual sense of being parallel to the ground. It can only be manifested in two-dimensional artworks
also alludes to the position of the reclined body at rest. through the use of different techniques. Or the use (or
non-use) of the area around a drawing or picture.
Vertical
- Connote elevation or height, which is usually taken to ● In two dimensional artworks they may be implied
mean exaltation or aspiration for action.
■ Positive space - is the space where
Diagonal the shadow is heavily space
- Convey movement and instability, although the ■ Negative space - identified with the
progression can be seen. white space is the negative space.
■ Three dimensional space - can be
Crooked stimulated through a variety of
- Or jagged lines, on the other hand, are reminiscent of techniques such as shading an illusion
violence, conflict or struggle. of this can be achieved into a two
dimensional work.
Curved
- These are lines that bend or coil, they allude to softness, Anish Kapoor’s “Cloud Gate (2004)”
grace, flexibility or even sensuality. This is located in Chicago, Illinois. It considerably
occupies space. Shaped like a bean, hence its other referent, the
Francisco De Goya “Porque Esconderlos?” (Why Hide Them) public sculpture was unveiled in 2004. The dent in the middle offers
De Goya is known for his prints, a master of etched works a gap in which people can pass through and gaze at the sculpture in
and use of aquatint. He uses this medium to articulate his grotesque a different perspective.
political views about the ills of societies, war scenes and even
dreamlike while still engaging with what was happening around him. Color
● It is perhaps one of the elements that enhances the appeal
Theodore Gercaults “The Raft of Medusa” of an artwork. Its effect has range, allowing the viewer to
In the artwork, it can be seen that lines may not make responses based on memory, emotion and instinct.
necessarily be explicit or literally shown. The position and orientation
of the bodies that are aboard the raft are predominantly diagonal in ● This element is a property of light, as its reflected off the
direction. This creates not only movement but also tension in the object. Color is not intrinsic to an object and without light,
scene, this painting depicts the 1816 wreckage of the french one cannot perceive color.
government ship called Medusa.
Color Wheel Courtesy of Jaime Costiglio
Shape and Form
These two are related to each other in the sense that they Properties of Color
define the space occupied by the object of art. ● Hue - this dimension of color gives its name. It can be
subdivided into:
 a. Primary colors - red, yellow & blue touched. Some of the words used to describe texture are
b. secondary color - green (yellow & blue), orange the following: rough or smooth, hard or soft, hairy, leathery,
(red & yellow), violet (blue & red) sharp or dull.
c. Tertiary colors - six in total, and achieved when ● Surface texture - refers to the texture of the
primary and secondary colors are mixed. three-dimensional (sculpture) art object.
● The elements of art make it possible to engage with the
● Value visual and tactile qualities of the artwork through a
○ It refers to the rightness of darkness of color “common language” that may be widely understood.
often, this is used by artists to create the illusion
of depth and solidity, a particular mood, Frans Pourbus The Younger, “Margherita Gonzaga, Princess of
communicate a feeling, or in establishing a Mantua”
scene. In this portrait, Garb is adorned in Opulent bead and stitch
○ Light Color are taken as the source of light in work that are befitting her rank.
the composition
○ Dark colors are the lack of even absence of light PLANES AND PERSPECTIVES
○ Tint is the lighter color than normal value (pink
for red) Picture Plane
○ Shade is a darker color than the normal (maroon - Actual surface of the painting or drawing, where no illusion
for red) of a third dimension exists.
- Chiaroscuro was developed during 15th Century
● Intensity (Renaissance Period)
○ It refers to the color's brightness or dullness. It is - It made use of light and dark contrasts and tones in which
identified as the strength of color, whether it is paintings not only looked three dimensional, but also more
vivid or muted. dramatic
○ Bright or warm colors - positive energy
○ Dull or cool colors - sedate/soothing, Linear Perspective
seriousness or calm. - Changed the way pictorial representation was done
○ To better understand intensity of color, color - Its early proponents include
hormones are to be considered, color harmonies 3 in 15th Century
are also integral consideration not only for 1. Leon Battista Alberti
pictorial arts but also for other art forms 2. Paolo Uccello
3. Architect Filippo Brunelleschi
Classification of Harmonies
● Monochromatic Harmonies G. Herbert & Horace C. Bayley, Photographer Parlington - New
○ Use the variation of Hue Railway Viaduct, Interior, Negative, May 1893
■ Claud Monet’s “Houses of Parliament”
3 Types of perspective based on Vanishing Points
● Complementary Harmonies
○ Involve two colors opposite each other in the ● One point perspective
color wheel since they are contrary positions, the ○ Depicting roads, tracks, hallways or rows of
reaction is more intense, in this piece, saint lucy, trees: this type of perspective shows parallel
patron of the blink, whose red and green garb lines that seem to converge at a specific and
beautifully showcases an example of this lone vanishing point, along the horizon line.
harmony ● Two-Point Perspective
■ Cima de Conegliano’s “Three Saints” ○ two vanishing point, often used in depicting
Roch, Anthony Abbot and Lucy” structures
○ Painting or drawing that makes use of two
● Analogous Harmonies vanishing points, when can be placed anywhere
○ Make use of two colors beside each other in the along the horizon line.
color wheel ○ It is often used in depicting structures such as
■ Edgar Degas “Before the Race” (1882 - houses or buildings in landscape that are viewed
1884) from a specific corner.

● Triadic Harmonies ● Three-point perspective -

○ Make use of three colors from equidistant sites ○ Looking at a scene above or below; drone shot
within the color wheel. ○ It makes use of the three - vanishing points, each
○ Edward Munch’s “The Scream” would bring corresponding to each axis of the scene.
oneself to ask did munch depict a romantic
sunset of a warning of a coming horrors? The ELEMENTS OF AUDITORY
clue is in the face of the main himself that is
prominent in the painting, meaning, color and Music
imagery work together to deliver a message. Sound organized in a specific time. It is considered to
implement cultural activities, answering a specific role or functions. If
Texture there is an important quality that music has, it is having the capacity
● Can be either real or implied this can be experienced to transcend barriers even that of differences in language or
through the sense of touch (and sight). This element conventions in sound.
renders the art object tactile.
● Texture in the two-dimensional plane (paintings) - can be Rhythm
implied using one technique or a combination of other - Elements of music that situates it in time. It is the pulse of
elements of art by creating the visual quality in the artwork, the music
one cna imagine how the surface will feel if it was to be
 ● Beat Timbre
○ The basic unit of music ● It is often likened to the color of music. It is a quality that
● Tempo distinguishes a voice or an instrument from another.
○ Speed (beats per second) Depending on the technique, the timbre may give a certain
● Meter tone or characteristic to music, much like how a painter
○ Can be organized into a recognizable recurrent evokes different effects or impressions onto the canvas.
pattern.
Texture
Classical terms are used to refer to the variation in tempo. ● The number of melodies, the type of layers, and their
relatedness in a composition is the texture of music.
● Largo
○ Slowly and broadly ● Monophonic
● Andante ○ Single melodic line
○ Walking pace ● Polyphonic
● Moderato ○ Two or more melodic line
○ At moderate speed ● Homophonic
● Allegro ○ Main melody accompanied by chords
○ Fast
● Vivace PRINCIPLES OF ART
○ lively
● Accelerando These principles will provide explicit ways in which elements of art
○ Gradually speeding up are used, how they are manipulated, how they interact, and how
○ opm they inform the overall composition of artwork to assist the artist in
● Rallentando conveying his intention. It influences the effect achieved by the
○ Gradually slowing down elements, and the linkages of other principles.
● Allargando
○ Getting slower Balance, scale and proportion, emphasis and contrast, unity and
● Rubato variety, harmony, movement, rhythm, and repetition and pattern.
○ “Robbed time”, rhythm is played freely for
expressive effect. 1. Balance
● refers to the distribution of the visual elements in
Dynamics view of their placement in relation to each other.
- loudness or quietness of music. (Example: distribution of lines and colors)

Classical terms are used to refer to the different levels 3 Forms of Balance
pertaining to:
a. Symmetrical
★ Pianissimo (PP) - Very quite, whispery, soft i. Most stable visual sense
★ Piano (P) - quiet, standard, soft ii. Equal distribution
★ Mezzo Piano (MP) - Moderately quiet, middle b. Asymmetrical
★ Forte (F) - Loud, strong, have force i. Not the same on each side
★ Fortissimo (FF) - very loud ii. Putting heaviness on one side
iii. unequal distribution
Crescendo c. Radial
- increase in loudness i. Central point in the composition
Decrescendo
- decrease or diminuendo in loudness. 2. Scale and Proportion
★ Scale
Melody ○ size in relation to what is normal for the
● refers to the linear presentation (horizontal) of pitch. When figure or object in question. Sculptures
you say horizontal, it means that in musical notation, it is exaggerate scale are common all over
read in succession from left to right. the world. In the Philippines,
● Pitch ○ Arturo Luz
○ Is the highest or lowness of musical sound ■ Created an enormous
● Horizontal sculptural version of the paper
clip. Which occupied a
Harmony prominent spot entrance
● Vertical museum, of the at the ayala
● Arises when pitches are combined to form chords. ★ Proportion
● Chord ○ size of the components, or of objects in
○ several notes are simultaneously played. relation to one another when taken as a
composition or a unit. This can also
● Can be described in terms of its “harshness” refers to values such as amounts or
numbers of elements or objects
Dissonance composition.
- Harsh sounding combination
Classification of Proportion
Consonance ● Natural
- Smooth sounding combination ○ Realistic proportion of size
○ Figurative artworks.
 ○ Accuracy in relation to the real world that the which in turn imbues the feelings of
artist is after, this is now referred to as the security and calmness.
principle of scale.
Combined or Hybrid Art
● Exaggerated ● Combined Arts
○ Unusual size relations of visual elements, ○ Two or more art forms and styles combined as a
deliberately exaggerating the immensity or product of development in a complex world.
minuteness of an object. ○ Some examples are dance, theater, installation
art, video art, documentary, photography,
● Idealized puppetry, designs and other forms of production.
○ Most common to those that follows canons of
perfection, the size - relations of elements or ● Hybrid Arts
objects, which achieve the most ideal size ○ emerged on the frontiers of science and
relations technology. They are driven by such expansion
of the imagination and what is possible through
3. Emphasis and Contrast the “blistering pace of scientific and technological
● Emphasis development”.
○ allows the attention of the viewer to a
focal point (s), accentuating or drawing ○ Referencing into the fields of robotics, artificial
attention to these elements or objects. intelligence, biotechnology, natural
This can be done through the telecommunications, and information, computer
manipulation of the elements or through digital sciences, and interface technologies ,
the assistance of other principles , artists whose works tread under this movement
especially that of contrast. disrupt the norms in terms of what is considered
as an art.
● Contrast
○ the disparity between the elements that
figure into the composition. One object
may be made stronger compared to
other objects (emphasis). This can be
done in many ways using the elements
of art. (Example; the use of negative
and positive space and the use of
complementary colors in a work.

4. Unity and Variety

● Unity
○ Sense of accord or completeness from
the artwork.
● Variety
○ Principle that aims to retain the interest
by allowing patches or areas that both
excite and allow the eye to rest.

5. Harmony
- Unity and variety is related to the principle of
harmony, in which the elements or objects
achieve a sense of flow and interconnectedness.

6. Movement
- refers to the direction of the viewing eye as it
goes through the artwork, often guided by areas
or elements that are emphasized. These focal
points can be lines, edges, shape, and color
within the work of art, among others.

7. Rhythm
- This is created when an element is repeated,
creating implied movement. Variety of repetition
helps invigorate rhythm as depicted in the
artwork.

8. Repetition and Pattern

● Repetition
○ Recurring manner of lines, shapes,
colors and other elements that may
appear in an artwork.
● Pattern
○ The image was created out of
repetition. With repetition, there is a
sense of predictability that is conveyed,