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. Understanding formal elements of art and how to use them is like having a toolbox full of different tools. Everything you need is there, and you can choose which tools work best for the job--your artwork.. Breaking down visual language into specific formal elements and design principles will help you translate your idea into the visual language that expresses it most effectively and influences the viewer’s response.
LINE
WHAT IS A LINE? Geometrically, it connects two points. A line is a path traced by a moving point, (a pencil point or other tool). We see lines all around us. Line is a vital element of any artwork. TYPES OF LINES Actual lines are marks or objects that are real lines; they exist physically. Examples of actual lines include lines painted on a highway, tree branches, lines incised on the surface of gravestone, telephone poles, neon signs, and words on a page. Implied lines are not actual lines. Lines are implied by the path of shapes, colors or values. Outlines are the outer lines that describe the outer edge of a shape and appear flat. Contour lines define all the lines and edges of objects giving it shape and volume. Expressive lines are made to express a mood, emotion, idea or quality (aggressive, calm, etc.). |
LESSON: Lines
Project # 1
Step 1: Research the element of line in art. Look at 3 different artists who use line as the main element in their work. You are looking for inspiration, an idea or something that's sparks your imagination. Create a new page in Weebly and label it "LINE". Include all your research notes on this page. What do you like about the artwork? Describe the types of lines. What ideas do you have? Also, include images of the artist's work. `
Step 2: Create your own artwork that uses line as the main element. The size of your art should be 13" x 19" at 300 dpi.
Step 2: Create your own artwork that uses line as the main element. The size of your art should be 13" x 19" at 300 dpi.
Vasilj Godzh sketch book www.behance.net/gallery/13550319/linesketchbook
Skills Assignment
Using one of the lines grids below, create a variety of different lines.
introducing_line-2.jpg | |
File Size: | 847 kb |
File Type: | jpg |
Project # 2
Optical illusions - OP ART
Combine art and math to create optical illusions. The dominant element of art used was lines, geometric shapes and complimentary colors.
Research popular Op Artists Bridget Riley and Victor Vasarely.
Create an Op Art painting or drawing that clearly creates an optical illusion of movement or shifting perspective using lines and complimentary color or black and white.
Combine art and math to create optical illusions. The dominant element of art used was lines, geometric shapes and complimentary colors.
Research popular Op Artists Bridget Riley and Victor Vasarely.
Create an Op Art painting or drawing that clearly creates an optical illusion of movement or shifting perspective using lines and complimentary color or black and white.
SHAPE
Artists use all kinds of shapes. Geometric shapes are precise and regular, like squares, rectangles, and triangles. They are often found in human-made things, like building and machines while organic shapes are found in nature. These shapes may look like leaves, flowers, clouds—things that grow, flow, and move. Organic shapes are often rounded and irregular, unlike most geometric shapes.
Click on the link below to explore a wider variety of shapes.
Click on the link below to explore a wider variety of shapes.
Skills Assignment
Save the shape grid file to your computer. Open file in the preview window. Export the file to a jpeg. Now, you can open the jpeg shape grid in Painter. Fill in the grid with shapes that match the labeled descriptions.
shape_grid.jpg | |
File Size: | 591 kb |
File Type: | jpg |
Project #1
Cut-outs
An artist that loved to explore the possibilities of mixing geometric and organic shapes was Henri Matisse. In the last few decades of his artistic career, he developed a new form of art-making: the paper cut-out. Immersed in the power of color and shape, he devoted himself to cutting hand painted colored papers and arranging them in designs. “Instead of drawing an outline and filling in the color…I am drawing directly in color,” he said. Matisse was drawing with scissors!
Your assignment is to recreate Matisse's cut-out style using digital tools and the element of shape. Your work will have a concept. The shapes and colors you choose should match your concept. Your composition should also include at least 6 background shapes.
An artist that loved to explore the possibilities of mixing geometric and organic shapes was Henri Matisse. In the last few decades of his artistic career, he developed a new form of art-making: the paper cut-out. Immersed in the power of color and shape, he devoted himself to cutting hand painted colored papers and arranging them in designs. “Instead of drawing an outline and filling in the color…I am drawing directly in color,” he said. Matisse was drawing with scissors!
Your assignment is to recreate Matisse's cut-out style using digital tools and the element of shape. Your work will have a concept. The shapes and colors you choose should match your concept. Your composition should also include at least 6 background shapes.
- Concept
- Shapes
- Color
- 10 or more background shapes
- 13 x 19 or 19 x 13 inches with resolution of 300 dpi
FORM
Form is the three-dimensional version of a shape. Form has height, width and depth. Form is either three-dimensional, as in a work of sculpture, or has the illusion of three-dimensions, as in a painting of a bowl of fruit.
Skills Assignment
You will create a value scale from black to white. Having areas of light and dark give a two-dimensional drawing the illusion of form, or being three-dimensional.
digital_art_value_scale_practice.jpg | |
File Size: | 53 kb |
File Type: | jpg |
Project
You will paint a still life of an apple. Your objective is to give the apple the illusion of having form by using 5 different values, a surface and a background.
TEXTURE
Texture is used to describe the way a three-dimensional work actually feels when touched. Actual texture can be smooth, rough, wet, cold, etc. In two-dimensional work, such as painting, texture refers to the visual "feel" of a piece. This "visual feel" is implied texture. In many cases, when you touch a painting of a snowy landscape, it does not feel cold. The icy cold texture of snow is implied. However, there are many painters and mixed media artists who combine both actual and implied texture in their work.
Skills Assignment #1
1. You will fill a page with 4 different types of textures using a different color for each of the textures.
2. Extra credit - Create your own paper texture.
Publish and label these two assignments to your website under the category, TEXTURE.
2. Extra credit - Create your own paper texture.
Publish and label these two assignments to your website under the category, TEXTURE.
Skills Assignment #2
In class demonstration on how to create shiny gem stones.
Project
1. CHALLENGE
You will create a 10" x 10" digital painting that demonstrates implied texture. You may choose to paint anything, a landscape, a still life or a close-up focusing on texture. There are many different ways to solve this problem of creating texture. Go to the TEXTURE page under Digital Studio Art to see some examples.
2. CHOOSE your project.
3. Decide on a CONCEPT/idea for the project. What are you trying to accomplish in addition to texture?
You will create a 10" x 10" digital painting that demonstrates implied texture. You may choose to paint anything, a landscape, a still life or a close-up focusing on texture. There are many different ways to solve this problem of creating texture. Go to the TEXTURE page under Digital Studio Art to see some examples.
2. CHOOSE your project.
3. Decide on a CONCEPT/idea for the project. What are you trying to accomplish in addition to texture?
VALUE
The Visual Element of Value defines the lightness or darkness of a color. The tonal values of an artwork can be adjusted to alter its expressive character.
Value can be used:
Value can be used:
- to create a contrast of light and dark.
- to create the illusion of form.
- to create a dramatic or tranquil atmosphere.
- to create a sense of depth and distance.
- to create a rhythm or pattern within a composition.
Project
ATMOSPHERIC PERSPECTIVE: Use value to create depth and distance.
SHATTERED VALUES: Create rhythm in a design by using a gradation of dark to light value with small shapes.
COLOR
Skills Assignment # 1
Fill in the Color Wheel
color-wheel-template-printable-free.jpeg | |
File Size: | 788 kb |
File Type: | jpeg |
Skills Assignment # 2
Choose a color scheme: analogous, complimentary, monochromatic, or triad. Use this color scheme to create a painting.
Project 1: Kooky Creatures
Project 2: Endangered Animals
Create a digital painting of an endangered animal using the element of color as the main objective. Your second objective is to have a concept for the drawing. Do you want to show the mortality of the species by using symbolic color? Do you want to show beauty? Do you want to shock the audience into paying attention to the issue?
SPACE
PROJECT # 1
COLOR/SPACE COMPOSITIONS