Binalonan, Pangasinan

MODULE 3
Elements of Art
Course Title :___Art Appreciation_______________________________________________________
Course Code : ___GE 6_____________________
Date and Time Allotment: September 08, 2022; 1.5hrs

Introduction
This module entitled Elements of Art is about the different elements of art and its importance that would lead
to a composition of art. This includes also the different classifications and examples of each element that an
artist engaged in making an artwork.

I. Objectives
At the end of the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
a. Identify the elements of art in selected works;
b. Learn how art communicates colors, quality of shapes, line movements, and quality of perspective,
and many more elements; and
c. Apply these elements for the creation of an artwork.

II. Lecture
ELEMENTS OF VISUAL ARTS
These are the building blocks of all art. The artist uses art elements and combines them in different ways to create
a unique piece of art. The elements of art are like the ingredients in a recipe. Sometimes artworks contain only
one or two elements. Sometimes they have all the elements of art. One thing is certain, however. There would be
absolutely no art without the seven elements of art.
1. LINE
It is a series of connected dots or a prolongation of a point
to show the shape or form of any piece of art. It is an
important element of visual arts because all painters,
sculptors, and architects use lines as springboard of their
finished products.
Lines are classified according to position, direction, and
shapes, they carry meaning by themselves.
 CLASSIFICATION OF LINES
A. VERTICAL LINES – show height or stature, poise, balance, force, strength, dignity, and dynamism. A tall tree,
a standing man, a bird poised for flight and a flagpole are presented with vertical lines.
B. HORIZONTAL LINES – indicate width, rest, repose, quietness, calmness, serenity, infinity, contemplation and
inaction. A dead or reclining man, a serene sea, a resting animal and a cemetery are presented with horizontal
lines.
C. DIAGONAL LINES - manifest movement, action, and direction. A running man, a flying bird, a galloping horse,
a flowing river, and fireworks display diagonal lines.
D. BROKEN OR JAGGED LINES - connote chaos, confusion, tension, disturbance, violence or war.
E. STRAIGHT LINES – exhibit steadiness, stillness, inactivity, and force. Inanimate objects like buildings and
bridges are shown with straight lines.
F. CURVED LINES – whether concave (inward) or convex (outward) indicate movements that are smooth. A wide
smile, a graceful belly dancer, and a flowing hair are shown with curved lines. They may be scroll – like (s-form) or
spiral like (winding round).
G. REPEATING LINES – are a succession of vertical (lllllllll), horizontal (------------), diagonal (/////////) or (\\\\\\\\\) or
curved (CCCCCC) lines. They are used to show rhythm.
H. CONTRASTING LINES – are a combination of vertical and horizontal lines (LLLLLLLL) or a combination of
diagonal lines (XXXXXXX or <<<<<< or >>>>>>>) in opposite directions.
I. MODIFIED LINES – are a combination of straight and curved lines ([{}}) or a combination of lines of varying
shapes ({>O<}).
2. TEXTURE
An element of visual arts associated with the sense of touch; the surface characteristic of an area. An artwork may
be smooth or rough, fine or coarse, glossy or dull, regular or irregular. In sculpture, marble and ivory have a smooth,
glossy finish. On the other hand, wood and stone have rough, dull finish if they are not painted.
3. SHAPE
It is the external appearance of clearly defined area. It contributes to the final form of the artwork. Circle and polygons
(triangles, squares, rectangles, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, etc. are put together to make up the whole object.
CLASSIFICATION OF SHAPES:
A. STATIC OR REGULAR – circles and polygons
B. NATURAL – things of nature
C. NON-OBJECTIVE - do not refer to any recognized object
4. SPACE
It is the area or the surface occupied by the artwork. A painting covers a flat surface such as a wall. Because a
sculpture has a volume, it occupies not only the area on which it stands, but also the area from the top to the bottom,
and from the left to the right side of the object.
The space around objects is often called negative space; negative space has shape. Space can also refer to the
feeling of depth. Real space is three-dimensional; in visual art, when we create the feeling or illusion of depth, we
call it space.

5. VOLUME
It is allied to space, it is the amount of space occupied by an object in three dimensions.
Pertaining to solidity and thickness, it is perceived in two ways:
a. by contour lines or outlines of shapes of objects;
b. by surface lights and shadows

6. PERSPECTIVE
It is synonymous with point of view, angle of vision or frame of reference. It is the point where the artist stands to
view his subject as he creates his artwork. It refers to the location and distance upon the appearance of an object
by which his eyes judge spatial relationships.
Perspective is manifested in two situations:
a. that nearer objects appear bigger and taller than the farther objects and;
b. that parallel lines seem to meet at the farthest end.

7. FORM
It refers to the overall composition of the artwork. It describes the entire shape or organization of the thing or
object created. This includes sphere, cylinder, pyramid, cone, rectangular prism, etc.

8. VALUE
It refers to the amount of light or shades of light on the flat surface
Light source - area in which light is originating from
Value scale - a guide to creating a range of value, good pieces of art have a
full range of value
Tints - light values
Shades - dark values
Highlights - areas on an object where light is hitting
Shadows- areas on an object where light does not hit

9. COLOR
It is the most important and most noticeable of all the elements of visual arts. Dependent on the presence of light, it
is that property of an object that makes it appealing to the visual sense.
A. THREE DIMESIONS OR CATEGORIES OF COLORS:
1. HUE- the color itself; the name of the color
MONOCHROMATIC – it means the object has only one hue
POLYCHROMATIC – when the object has two or more hues
2. VALUE - the darkness or lightness of color
3. INTENSITY – the dullness or brightness of color
B. THREE CLASSIFICATIONS OF COLORS

1. PRIMARY – main colors of red, yellow, blue

2. SECONDARY – mixture of primary colors (violet, green, orange)

3. TERTIARY, INTERMEDIATE, OR QUARTENARY – mixture of primary

and secondary colors (RV, BV, BG, YG, YO, RO)

CLASSIFICATION OF COLORS:
A. POSITIONS IN THE COLOR
WHEEL
1. ADJACENT COLORS – are those colors situated next to each other in the color wheel. Examples are red and
red-orange, yellow and yellow-green, and blue and blue-violet.
2. ANALOGOUS COLORS – are three or four neighboring colors with one color in all mixtures.
When used as a color scheme, analogous colors can be dramatic. Ex. Blue, blue-green, green, and yellow-green;
red, red-purple, purple, blue-purple

3. COMPLEMENTARY COLORS – are those colors situated opposite to each other in the color. Examples are
red and green, blue and orange, yellow and violet. Double complementary colors are two parts of opposite colors
Ex. Blue and orange, red and green, yellow-green and red-purple.

4. SPLIT COMPLEMENTARY COLORS - are any three colors forming a Y in the color wheel. Double split
complementary colors are any two sets of three colors forming a Y in the color wheel.
Ex Blue, yellow-orange and red-orange. Red-orange, red-purple, green.

5. TRIADIC COLORS – are set of three colors forming a triangle in the color wheel.
Ex. Red, blue and yellow or orange, green and purple.
color triad

B. EFFECT ON THE VISUAL SENSE.

6. COOL COLORS – are those colors that are inconspicuous and not striking to the eyes. Also called receding
colors, they suggest distance, tranquility, sobriety and restfulness. Examples are violet, green, and blue, the coolest
and calmest of all colors.
7. WARM COLORS – are those colors that are conspicuous and striking to the eye. Also called advancing colors,
they suggest warmth, vivacity, cheerfulness, exultation, stimulation, instinctive action and excitement. They are
usually associated with heat such as sun, fire and light. Examples are orange, yellow, and red
C. VALUES OF COLOR
8. LIGHT COLORS/TINTS – are those colors with values lower than the normal value. For example, pink or fuchsia
is a tint of red and azure (sky blue) is a tint of blue.
9. DARK COLORS/ SHADES – are those colors with values higher than the normal value. For example, maroon
is a shade of red and navy blue is a shade of blue
D. OTHER CLASSIFICATION OF COLORS:
10. RAINBOW OR PRISMATIC COLORS – are those colors that form a rainbow or a prism. These are red, orange,
yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet (ROYGBIV).
11. NEUTRAL COLORS – are those which serve to balance colors. Examples are white, gray, black, brown,
peach, cream, gold, silver, and bronze. White is the absence of all colors, while black is the presence of all colors.
Gray is produced by combining black and white.
COLORS AND THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL AND OTHER CONNOTATIONS
WHITE – used to connote purity, chastity, holiness, mourning, surrender, meekness and goodness.
BLACK – used to signify death, mourning, darkness and evil
BLUE – used to indicate the sky, the heaven, the sea, serenity, sadness, peace and masculinity.
GREEN – used to connote life, nature, good health and well-being
YELLOW – used to signify jealousy, divinity, deceit, degradation, and lately Ninoy Aquino. It means also joy or
happiness.
BROWN – used to mean the earth, spiritual death and renunciation of the world.
ORANGE – used to indicate food
GRAY – used to signify old age, gloom, and decay
PINK – used to mean love and femininity