LESSON 6:

Elements
and
Principles
of Art

PREPARED BY:
MENDEZONA, MONDEJAR,
MONTER, MONTILLA
 Learning Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the students are
expected to:

1. Identify the elements of art.

2. Analyze the various elements present in
visual, auditory, and combined arts.
3. Identify the principles of design.
4. Define and translate principles of
design in artwork.

Discussion
What are the forms of art?

1. Literary Arts- are those presented in the written

mode and intended to be read. These include prose
and poetry. (e.g. novels, short stories, sonnet,
ballad, epic, essay)

2. Visual Art- are those forms perceived by the

eyes. These include painting, sculpture, and
architecture
a. Graphic Arts- are those visual arts that have
length and width; they are also called two-
dimensional arts. They are describe as flat arts
because they are seen of flat surfaces.
b. Plastic Arts- are those visual arts that have
length, width, and volume; thus, they are also called
three-dimensional arts.

3. Audio Visual Art- are those forms perceived by

both ears (audio) and eyes (visual). They are called
performing arts in as much as the artists render a
performance in front of an audience.
What are the elements of art?

I. Color
- gives meaning, value, intensity and saturation to
an object. It has series of wave lengths which strikes
our retina.
- "element that is produced when light strikes an
image"
- Its properties includes:
1. Hue refers to the names we assign a color,
such as yellow, blue, green.
2. Saturation refers to the vividness of color.
3. Value refers to the lightness or darkness of
the color.

Figure 1: The Color Wheel

Classification of colors:

Primary colors- colors that cannot be formed from

mixtures because they are pure colors. Example: red,
blue and yellow.

Secondary colors- colors form out of combination of

two primary colors. Example: Blue + Yellow = Green;
Red + Blue = Violet; Red + Yellow = Orange

Intermediate colors- colors form out of mixing one

primary and one secondary. Example: Yellow + Green
= Yellow green; Red + Violet = Red violet; Red +
Orange = Red orange

Tertiary colors- form out of combination of two

secondary colors. Example: Orange + purple = russet;
Orange + green = citron; Purple + green = olives
II. Line
- one or two dimensional art that indicates direction,
orientation, movement, and energy. It is considered as
the oldest, simplest, universal element.

Types of Lines:
1. Solid line: used to define forms
2. Broken lines: used to suggest hidden forms

Direction of Line:

Vertical line- basic framework of all forms, power,

strength, stability, simplicity, and efficiency.

Horizontal line- creates an impression of serenity

and perfect stability. Rest, calmness, peace, and
reposed.

Diagonal line- it shows movement and instability.

Portrays movement action.

Jagged line- it shows violence, zigzag, confusion, and

conflict.

Curve line- it shows a gradual change of direction

and fluidity. It signifies subtle form.
III. Form
“includes shape and perceived volume”*
In 3D figures, the form is exemplified in its height,
width, and depth*
Shape which the expression of content takes
The personal ways of handling tools to form shapes
is allows an artist to create his own unique
technique.
Material, on the other hand, is the substance used in
art and what is manipulated in a distinct technique

IV. Space
Provided by the artist for specific purposes*
Includes the foreground, background, middle ground*
It also includes the area between objects, which can either be
positive space or negative space;* positive space refers to the
focal objects in the work of art, while negative space refers to
empty space surrounding the objects.

Two types of perspective:

1. Atmospheric: utilizes the properties of light and air in
depicting the illusion of distance
2. Linear: involves the use of vanishing points and receding
hidden lines
V. Texture
“denotes the smoothness, ruggedness of the image or the
object.”*

Can either be:*

1. Real- can be felt
2. Implied- artificial

VI. Shape and Mass

Refers to an area with boundaries identified or drawn using lines

Two types of shapes:

1. Organic shape- based on natural or living forms and can be
irregular
2. Geometric shape- based on measured forms
Principles of Art

Emphasis- the composition refers to

developing points of interest to pull the
viewer’s eye to important parts of the
body of the work.

Balance- it is a sense of stability in the

body of work. It can be created by
repeating same shapes and by creating a
feeling of equal weight.

Harmony- achieved in a body of work by

using similar elements throughout the
work, harmony gives an uncomplicated
look to your work.

Proportion or scale- refers to the

relationships of the size of objects in a
body of work. Proportions give a sense
of size seen as a relationship of
objects. Such as smallness or largeness.

Unity- is seen in a painting or drawing

when all the parts equal a whole. Your
work should not appear disjointed or
confusing.