VISUAL ARTS

1
Visual Arts

Module 4 Basic Elements and Principles of Art

Welcome to the third module on the Visual Arts

It is believed that life is how you make it and that the quality of one’s life can
be developed, enriched, and made productive through finer things in life’s is
limitless and that we only have to exert time and effort for the arts to work
for us.
At the end of this module you are expected to:
1) Identify the Basic Elements of the Arts
2) Identify the Principles of Art

Basic Elements of the Arts

Subject, medium, line, color, texture, volume, perspective, form and style

Elements of Music
 Rhythm, melody, dynamics, harmony, texture, form, color, style

Elements of Literature
 As to poetry, as to novels, as to short story, as to essay

“What makes any work of art great?”

1) Sincerity- satisfies the questions on whether the artist’s intention is
perfectly honest of if he/she is striving for effect either by sentimentality
or sensation. Subjects of artwork like in the case of “Spoliarum” are
fraught with frustration and sentimentality/
2) Universality- is the quality of artwork that should answer the elements of
truth in the artwork which is something permanent and not just of the
momentary value. Like in the case of the sculpture of Our Lady of Peace of
Edsa. It speaks of man’s universal belief in the power of prayer in fighting
for a cause.

Course Module
 3) Magnitude- is a criterion that tells about the scope and significance of a
work of art. A very good example is the work of Micheleangelo which is
the Sistine Chapel and Juan Luna’s “spolarium. These pieces can be seen
several times and yet one cannot exhaust the depth and extent of its
meaning.
4) Craftmanship- is perceived from the point of viewof a master or a group
of artists who represents a style that reflects period and form of elements
and technical skills.

Principles of Art
Composition is a process- the act of composing or organizing the elements of art.
Artistic composition takes place according to aesthetic principles such as proportion and
scale, unity, balance, and rhythm. Through the use of these principles of organization,
beautiful works are created by artists.
1) Proportion- is the comparative relationship of the parts of or composition to
each other and to the whole. Much of classical Greek Parthenon was constructed
according to the principle of the golden section, which states that a small part
must relate to a larger part as the lager part relates to the whole.

Scale- is the relative size of an object compared with others of its kind, its
setting, or human dimensions.

2) Unity/Harmony- is oneness or wholeness. A work of art achieves unity when its

parts are necessary to the composition. In the visual arts, it is achieved by
establishing a pleasing relationship between the different elements. There is
unity and harmony if the various parts of a design will give an appearance of
belonging together.

Organic Unity and Unity in Variety. This means that each element in a work of
art is necessary to its value. It must be unified and must “hang together” as one
entity. Each element of the art used is essential to the work.

Repetition of angles and curves, shapes, lines and color will give a harmonious
effect. If overdone though, repetition may become monotonous and it may fail to
hold the attention and interest of observers.

3) Balance- A work of art possesses balance when its visual or actual weights or
masses are distributed in such a way that they achieve harmony. Balance gives a
feeling of stability and rest

Balance may either be formal or informal

Formal Balance- It is also called symmetrical balance. This is achieved by
making both sides exactly alike. Objects of the same size and shape when
arranged on two sides of center will produce formal balance.
 VISUAL ARTS
3
Visual Arts

Informal or asymmetrical balance – It is called occult balance. It is more

difficult to achieve than formal balance however, the results are more
interesting. It is achieved when objects of unequal weight or unequal attractions
are placed at object with a stronger attraction is placed near the center while the
smaller object or the one with less striking attraction is moved farther out from
the center.
4) Rhythm-is the regular repetition of sensory impressions. A series of units
repeated one after another produces rhythmic movement. Rhythmical pattern
help the eye to move easily from one part of the room to another or from one
part of a design to another. Therefore, rhythm helps to create harmony in a
design or a room. It is used as the most effective way of creating aesthetic unity
in prose, music, dance, painting, architecture and sculpture.

5) Emphasis- means giving the proper importance to the parts or to the whole.
Emphasis is the most noticeable in the art of advertising. The aim is to call
attention to a particular product or object. It is therefore necessary to emphasize
one feature in an advertisement so that it will stand out from the rest.

Color is also used to create emphasis. Contrast of colors can be used to produce a
center of interest. A black object placed against a white background will easily
catch the attention. A brightly colored accessory like a belt or a brooch used with
a dress of neutral color catches more attention than we used with a dress of
intense color. Emphasis is important because it relieves monotony. It can also be
used to call attention to pleasing center of interest.

References and Supplementary Materials

Books and Journals
1. Fernandez, Steven Patrick (2010) Making Theatre; The Craft of the Stage. Iligan City:
MSU – Iligan City: MSU Iligan Institute of Technology, Mindanao State University
2. Lucivila L. Marcos,Ph.D, Marilyn B. Ferianiza, Pedrito Jose V. Bermudo,Ph.D, Antonio
Jan Yango,Ph.D (2010) Introduction to the Humanities Visual and Performing Arts:
Mindshapers Co.,Inc.
3. Linda R. Bascara, Ph.D, Adela T. Avillanoza,M.A- Rex Bookstore Inc.

.Online Supplementary Reading Materials

1. http://www.saylor.org/courses/arth101b
2. http://www.sbctc.edu
3. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sac-artappreciation/part/context-and-
perspectives/

Course Module