ENG 102: Art Appreciation

Module 5: ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF VISUAL

ARTS
Intended Learning Outcomes:

 Define elements and principles of art;

 Identify the elements of visual arts;
 Recognize the principles of visual
arts, and
 Exhibit the elements and principles of
visual arts.
 Elements vs. Principles
When we talk about ELEMENTS, we
are talking of the basic components
that make up the artwork. Elements are
observable parts of the artwork,
particularly with visual arts, which are
directly seen by the eyes or directly
felt by the sense of touch.
 Elements vs. Principles
On the other hand, the PRINCIPLES
are the rules that the artist follow or
defy from. Principles cannot be seen
immediately, rather have to be reflected
upon, because these are decisions that the
artist has made so s/he could achieve
what is ought to be exhibited or
portrayed in the work.
 Elements vs. Principles

 Take the artwork above as an example—The Great Wave of Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai. One element we
could pick out from this whole image is the lines that make the wave. However, the lines are curved, in which,
by principle, means change and fluidity. This is the reason why the artist incorporated the line element and at the
same time chose to have the lines curved so he could portray rightfully the nature of the wave.
The Visual Art Elements and their
Underlying Principles
 Element #1: LINE

LINES are used to control where the

eyes will lead and focus, or are used
to delineate shapes and indicate
texture whether it is rough, smooth,
thin or thick. Lines are important
because they indicate movements and
directions.
 Element #1: LINE
• Horizontal line: expresses serenity, rest,
stability in general
• Vertical line: implies growth, authority,
confidence and poise
• Diagonal line: growth, pursuit, persistence,
Dynamism
• Curved line: connotes change, direction,
movement, femininity,
uncertainty, grace
• Jagged line: expresses erraticism, anxiety,
turmoil, inconsistency
 Element #2: SHAPE
SHAPES are two-dimensional, flat elements that are
generally enclosed spaces. Shapes in art can be used to
control how the viewer perceives a piece. There are two
major classifications of shape which are the organic and
the geometric shapes.

Organic shapes are those with a natural look and a

flowing and curving appearance.
Geometric shapes are circles, rectangles, squares,
triangles and so on, that have the clear edges one
achieves when using tools to create them.
 Element #3: FORM
FORM connotes something that is
three-dimensional and encloses
volume, having length, width, and
height, versus shape, which is two-
dimensional, or flat. A form is a shape
in three dimensions, and, like shapes,
can be geometric or organic.
 Element #4: COLOR
COLOR is the element of art that involves light.
It is produced when light waves strike an object
and are reflected into our eyes. It consists of three
properties: hue, intensity, and value.

• Hue simply refers to the name that is given to a

color, such as red, yellow, blue, purple, green,
orange, etc.
• Intensity (or saturation) refers to the purity or
dullness of a color.
• Value is the lightness or darkness of a color.
 Element #4: COLOR
THE COLOR WHEEL (sometimes called
a color circle) is a handy tool often used by
artists and interior decorators as a visual
aid in understanding the relationship
between colors.

The color wheel is a circular chart divided into 12

sections with each sector showing a different color.
It is made up of three different types of colors –
primary, secondary, and tertiary.
 Element #4: COLOR

Primary colors are red, yellow, and

blue. These colors are equally distanced
apart on the color wheel. There only three
primary colors and they are the most
basic colors on the wheel. They cannot
be created by mixing any other colors
together and can only be derived through
natural pigments.
 Element #4: COLOR
Secondary colors are orange, green, and purple (or
violet). These colors are created from mixing equal parts
of any two primary colors together.

Tertiary colors are red-purple, red-orange, blue-

green, blue-purple, yellow-green, and yellow-orange.
There are six tertiary colors and they are the result from
mixing equal parts of a primary color with a secondary
color. The proper way to refer to tertiary colors is by
listing the primary color first and then the secondary
color. That’s why tertiary colors are referred to by a two
word name.
 Element #5: TEXTURE
TEXTURE refers to the surface quality in
a work of art. We associate textures with
the way that things look or feel. Everything
has some type of texture. We describe
things as being rough, smooth, silky, shiny,
fuzzy and so on.

Texture is experienced in two ways —

with touch (tactile) and with our eyes
(visually).
 Element #6: VALUE
VALUE is a basic element of art that refers to the
gradual change of lightness or darkness of a
color. It is created when a light source shines
upon an object creating highlights, form shadows
and cast shadows.

Colors can have value too. In painting, value

changes can be achieved by adding either black or
white to the chosen color. Some colors, like
yellow and orange, are naturally light in value.
 Element #7: SPACE
SPACE refers to the distance between or the area
around and within shapes, forms, colors and lines.
Space can be positive or negative. It includes the
background, foreground and middle ground.

There are two types of space that exist within art

— positive space and negative space. Positive
space is the actual objects or shapes within an
artwork and negative space is the space around
and between those objects.
Element #7: SPACE Let’s Test Your Mind!

The point here is you should have to be

careful as Answer:
an artist in creating your
artwork that
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As an audience or viewer be critical in
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evaluating the artwork. Do not jump into
conclusion Renew your mind, if you
immediately.
see another thing.
 Module 5: Activity and/or Quiz
The students’ tasks as agreed by all Art Appreciation instructors are:

 As an Activity, the COFFEE PAINTING deadline is set after Module 6;

 As a quiz, showcasing the God-given Talents and Potentials thru Art (recorded
video; individual or a group work) deadline is set after Module 6. Students will
choose which of the Module 5 and 6 they are very interested at as their talent, and
they will video themselves not more than 3 minutes showcasing their God-given
talents;

 As Performance Task in the Midterm, Photo Appropriation (PIT) deadline is set

before Midterm Exam.