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The 7 Elements of Art
The 7 Elements of Art
Introduction
Every time you create an artwork there are 7 elements, or
components, that your artworks consists of. More often than
not we just take these elements for granted, or don't even give
them a second thought.
One that will be easier to look at as the person's eye will flow
through your artwork more fluently. You will have control over
how their eye moves through your painting - you will be able to
lead them through the painting.
Long or short
Thick or thin
A thick line gives emphasis and advances while a thin line
recedes.
Straight
Straight lines on the other hand are more mechanistic and
dynamic and rarely found in nature.
Curved
Curved lines change direction gently with no sharp angles and
suggest comfort and ease to the viewer. Curved lines most
often relate to the natural world.
Zigzag
Zigzag lines alter direction fast and create feelings of unrest,
turmoil and movement.
Diagonal
Diagonal lines, give movement and dynamism to a
composition.
Horizontal
Horizontal lines create the feeling of stability and calm.
Vertical
Vertical lines give the impression of height and strength and
often have a spiritual connotation.
Imaginary
Lines can be imaginary or implied; for example line of sight
can be a very strong albeit invisible line along which the
viewer’s eye travels. Also a pointing finger can send the
viewers eye on a journey through the painting.
Three Dimensional
Lines alone can also be used to create a three dimensional
effect, (depth, in a 2-dimensional artwork. Hatching lines
(straight or curved) are used to turn shape into form using
value as seen the works of the masters like Rembrandt.
Depict texture
Element 2 - Shape
When a line meets up to enclose a space, a shape is formed.
Geometric or organic.
Shapes are 2-dimensional, i.e. they have height and width but
no depth e.g. a square. The best way to remember the shape
element is to think of an outline.
Positive or Negative Shapes
The object you draw on your page is a shape enclosed in a
frame. This frame may be a box you drew to designate the
edges of your drawing area or the edge of the page if you didn’t
draw a box. The object you draw is the positive shape. The
rest of the space in your box (or if you didn’t draw a box then
the rest of the page) is called negative shape.
Element 3 - Form
Form is the next step up from shape as we now add depth to it
to create a three dimensional form.
Here you can see how shading has been used to create the
illusion of 3-dimensional objects on a flat wall:
Like shapes, forms can be geometric or organic.
Element 4 - Space
Space is what lies between, around or within an object.
Size
Smaller objects look as if they are further away than larger
objects. Notice how much smaller the house is in relation to
the flowers.
Detail
The further away an object, the less detail is visible to the
viewer. By purposely reducing the amount of detail in an object
it will appear further away than an object with greater detail.
Colour and Value
Objects in the distance usually appear cooler (bluer) and
lighter in colour. Close up objects appear warmer and darker in
value.
Perspective
Can be used to create the feeling of depth on a 2-dimensional
surface. The most commonly used perspective types are linear
and 2-point perspective.
Negative Space
Space can be either positive or negative in the same way as
shapes can.
All choices which will affect how the viewer sees the overall
composition.
Element 5 - Value
Value is how light or dark something is.
The focal point of a painting is where you want to add the most
contrast as this high contrast automatically draws the
viewer’s eye.
If a painting is done on the lower (darker) edge of the value
scale it is called a “low key” painting. Low key paintings give
rise to a heavy, mysterious, dramatic, sometimes brooding
feeling in the viewer.
By contrast “high key” paintings take their range of values
from the upper end of the value scale and create emotions of
lightness, quickness, spirituality etc.
Most paintings however use the full range of values from light
to dark.
Value is what artists use to portray light and form. The further
from the light the darker the value.
How value changes determines the form of an object.
Element 6 - Colour
Colour is created when light is reflected into the viewer’s eye.
Colour is described by its hue – red, green etc. (Hue the name
we give a colour.)
Colours also have value. Value is how light or dark the colour
is, as discussed in Element 5 above. Each colour falls on the
value scale from light to dark. Yellow would be near the top
(light end) of the scale while purple would be found near the
bottom end. To change the value of a colour you follow
the Colour Mixing Rules.
Element 7 - Texture
Actual texture is the way an object feels to the touch.
Conclusion
I think you will agree that you have been using many of the
seven elements throughout your artworks without even
realising it.
Now that you are however aware of these elements, you can
look out for them as well as look out for ways to incorporate
more of them into your artworks.