Chapter III : The Visual Arts

The beginning of the Visual art goes back in the time to

the period of the early humans. (Homo sapiens)
Likewise in Caves like Altamira in Spain and Lascaux in
France, figures of animals and humans, some apparently
carrying spears, have been recorded.

Abstract figures craved on the surface of rock-shelters or on

rocks and stony outcrops.
Two common media of visual arts in the era were
paintings and petroglyphs.
For painting, natural pigments like
clay, mud, and reddish iron ore,
hematite, were used.

The cave painting in Spain and France

suggest that they were applied by
blowing pigments against a wall.
Petroglyphs (from the Greek petros,
meaning rock or stone and glyphos,
meaning etching and writing) are incised
onto rock using a harder material than the
rock surface.

Petroglyphs consist of abstractions of

human and animal forms and repetitive
patterns like whorls and waves.
Elements of the Visual Arts
The elements of art are components or parts of a work of
art that can be isolated and defined. They are the building
blocks used to create a work of art. 
LINE
Line is the most basic of the elements.
Early humans used lines to incise
prehistoric petroglyphs stone.

Lines may be thick or thin, light or dark.

Tone pertains to the lightness and darkness
of a line, the light and dark values used to
draw realistic object.
Lines have movement, they are
either straight or curve.

-spiral, wavy, zigzag or jagged.

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. Lines often
define the edges of a form.
Lines can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal, straight or curved,
thick or thin. They lead your eye around the composition and can
communicate information through their character and direction.
Horizontal lines suggest a
feeling of rest or repose
because objects parallel to the
earth are at rest. In this
landscape, horizontal lines also
help give a sense of space.
Vertical lines often
communicate a sense of
height because they are
perpendicular to the earth,
extending upwards toward
the sky.
Horizontal and vertical lines
used in combination
communicate stability and
solidity.
Diagonal lines convey a
feeling of movement.
Objects in a diagonal
position are unstable.
The curve of a line can
convey energy. Soft, shallow
curves recall the curves of
the human body and often
have a pleasing, sensual
quality and a softening effect
on the composition.
Line have perspective, in a work
that create illusion of depth.

Focused on the vanishing point.

COLOR
Hue (red, green, blue, etc.)
Value (how light or dark it is)
Intensity (how bright or dull it is).

Color has three main characteristics: 

Colors can be described as warm (red, yellow) or
cool (blue, gray), depending on which end of the
color spectrum they fall.
Value describes the brightness of color. Artists use color value to create different moods.
Dark colors in a composition suggest a lack of light, as in a night or interior scene. Dark
colors can often convey a sense of mystery or foreboding. Light colors often describe a light
source or light reflected within the composition.
Intensity describes the purity or strength of a color. Bright colors are undiluted
and are often associated with positive energy and heightened emotions. Dull colors
have been diluted by mixing with other colors and create a sedate or serious
mood. 
PSYCHOLOGY OF COLORS

Colors are known to have

varied psychological and
emotional connotations. It is
wise to be familiarized to the
psychological connotations of
colors as an artist.
THE
LANGUAGE OF
ROSES

Red Rose – ‘I love you.’

Coral or Orange Rose – speaks of enthusiasm
or desire
Deep pink rose – gratitude and appreciation
Light pink rose – expresses sympathy,
grace and gentility
White Rose – for secret affection; innocence;
purity; reverence; and humility
Red and White Roses – Unity
Colors can be described as warm (red, yellow) or
cool (blue, gray), depending on which end of the
color spectrum they fall.
Color Wheel
Primary Colors
– Basic colors that
can produced another
colors.
Secondary Colors - is a color made by
mixing of two primary colors in a
given color space.
Tertiary Colors -
Tertiary colors are
combinations of primary
and secondary colors. 
Complementary Colors -
are two colors that are on
opposite sides of the color
wheel.
Analogous Colors - are groups
of three colors that are next to
each other on the color wheel,
sharing a common color, with
one being the dominant color.
Texture and Pattern
Texture
Texture represents the characteristics
of a surface.
The surface quality of an object that we sense through touch.
All objects have a physical texture. Artists can also convey
texture visually in two dimensions.
In a two-dimensional work of art, texture gives a visual sense of how an object
depicted would feel in real life if touched: hard, soft, rough, smooth, hairy, leathery,
sharp, etc. In three-dimensional works, artists use actual texture to add a tactile quality
to the work.
 Texture is the visual or tactile surface
characteristics and appearance of something.
Texture may be actual or tactile and
virtual or visual.
Actual or Tactile, that is, we
can feel the texture.
Tactile means touch. Tactile texture is the
actual (3D) feel of a surface. This is of
paramount importance to three-dimensional
design but of only moderate interest in two-
dimensional design.
Visual or Virtual, that is, it
appears to our eyes as textured
but in fact it is not.
Patterns
Pattern refers to repeated visual form.
Shape and Volume
Shape and Volume define objects in space. Shapes have two
dimensions–height and width–and are usually defined by lines.
Forms or shapes with volume exist in three dimensions, with
height, width, and depth. 
Shape
Shape refers to a two-
dimensional work.
Shapes are regular if they follow a
geometric shape while irregular if has no set
pattern.
Shape has only height and
width. Shape is usually,
though not always, defined
by line, which can provide
its contour.
Geometric shapes and forms include mathematical, named shapes
such as squares, rectangles, circles, cubes, spheres, and cones.
Geometric shapes and forms are often man-made. 
Organic shapes and forms are typically irregular or asymmetrical.
Organic shapes are often found in nature, but man-made shapes can also
imitate organic forms. This wreath uses organic forms to simulate leaves
and berries.
Volume
Volume refers to three-
dimensional work.
Volume can be simulated or virtual.
It has depth as well as
width and height. Three-
dimensional form is the
basis of sculpture,
furniture, and decorative
arts. 
Space
Space as used in art refers to
the element that allows the art
work to be perceived as a
whole.
All artworks take up space and what
surrounds them is as important as the work
itself. The area around can enhance or ruin a
work of art.
Space in a work of art
refers to a feeling of depth
or three dimensions. It can
also refer to the artist's use
of the area within the
picture plane.
The area around the primary objects
in a work of art is known as negative
space, while the space occupied by
the primary objects is known as
positive space.
Positive and negative space
The relationship of positive to negative space can greatly affect
the impact of a work of art. 
The illusion of space is achieved through
perspective drawing techniques and shading.
Principles of Composition

Composition comes from the Latin word

cum, meaning with; and ponere, to put.
Principles of Composition

Balance, Rhythm, Scale, and Proportion

Balance
Balance involves placing elements
of the composition so that their
visual weight is distributed evenly.

Balance can be asymmetrical or

symmetrical.
Symmetrical Balance
Symmetrical Balance
Also called Formal Balance
Asymmetrical Balance
Asymmetrical Balance
Also called Informal Balance
Ikebana
Radial Balance

It occurs when elements or objects in art

are positioned around a central point.
Rhythm
Rhythm can be found in music
and poetry but in the visual arts
it refers to recurring motifs and
designs separated by intervals.

Rhythm can be regular,

alternating, eccentric, and
progressive.
Regular Rhythm
Alternating Rhythm
Eccentric Rhythm
Progressive Rhythm
Proportion and Scale
Proportion
Proportion refers to the size of
one part relative to another
within an art work.
Harmonious proportion is
achieved when one part of an
object does not seem too big or
too small for the other parts.
Scale
Scale is the size of component
in relation wo what we consider
normal.
Large-scale figures are
named “heroic”.
 Emphasis

This is the focal point of an

image, or when one area or
thing stand out the most.
 Unity

When all the elements

and principles work
together to create a
pleasing image.
Variety
The use of differences
and change to increase
the visual interest of the
work.
Artist and Their Works
Orazio Gentileschi
He is known to have
very dramatic and
realistic artwork in
rendering a biblical
scene.
Giorgio Vasari

One of the most known

artists in the
Renaissance Era.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini

He designed the St.

Peter’s Basilica’s
colannade in Rome.
Leandro V. Locsin

He is a national artist in
Architecture and among
his signature works are the
state palace of Brunei and
the CCP Complex.
Leandro V. Locsin

Church of the Holy

Sacrifice in University
of the Philippines
Leandro V. Locsin

Church of the Holy

Sacrifice in University
of the Philippines
End of the slide.