The Elements of Visual Arts
and inquietude; this is evident in
The elements of visual arts are line,
color, texture, perspective, space, form,
volume, light and shadow.
LINE
Line is an important element at
the disposal of every artist. Through the
lines as in painting or sculpture, the
artists represent figures and forms.
Line always:
 Have direction
 Moving
 Being used in any works
of art
 May either be straight or
curved
LINE IN ASSOCIATION WITH
CERTAIN EMOTIONS
Straight lines suggest:
efficiency, simplicity and
strength. It depicts flexibility,
buoyancy and grace. It moves in
one direction only. It may either
be horizontal, vertical or
diagonal.
Horizontal Lines – are lines of
repose and serenity. They express
ideas of calmness and
quiescence. They are found in
reclining persons, in landscapes,
calm bodies of water and in the
distant meeting of the earth and
sky, in what is common called
the horizon.
Vertical Lines – are lines that
denote action. They suggest
poise, balance, force, aspiration,
exaltation and dynamism. It is
seen in a man standing straight,
a tall tree, and in statues of
saints and heroes, give an
impression of dignity. It also
tends to express as well as
arouse emotions of exaltation
monumental architecture.
Diagonal Lines – suggest action,
life and movement. They give
animation to any composition in
which they appear. Almost every
object in an action assumes a
diagonal line. A running person
makes a diagonal line with his
body and legs
The degree of action is shown by
the angle the diagonal makes in
relation to the ground.
Curved Lines – grace,
subtleness, direction, instability
in movement, flexibility,
joyousness and grace. They are
never harsh or stern since they
formed by gradual change in
direction. They tend to impart
these qualities to any work
where they are used.
Crooked or Jagged Lines –
express energy violence conflict,
struggle.
Lines may also be classified into
three groups:
1. Lines which follow or repeat
one another
2. Lines which contrast with one
another
3. Transitional lines which
modify or soften the effect of
others.
Repetition occurs when two or more
lines are drawn within a corner. Lines
that are in opposition to each other
form a contrast. When a curved line
cuts across a corner from an opposition
line to another, it forms transitional
lines. Transitional lines modify the
sharpness of vertical and horizontal
lines in giving a harmonizing effect.
 fie or coarse, shiny or dull, plain or
In painting, there should be an organic irregular. Texture is best appreciated
unity of lines to produce n]balance and when an object is felt with the hands.
symmetry, proportion of lengths and
widths and rhythm. Texture is found in all the visual arts. A
painting, a building, or a piece of
COLOR sculpture have textures which can be
felt and described in a variety of ways.
Texture is due primarily to differences
Of all the elements of visual arts,
in medium. In architecture, the varied
color has the most aesthetic appeal.
feels of wood, concrete and metal
Delight in color is a universal human
determine the texture of building. The
characteristic. Color is the property of
sculptor can also produce differences in
light. When light goes out, color goes
texture in works. He can leave a mark
with it.
on the surfaces of a statue or he can
The light of the sun contains all
polish it to give it a shiny and smooth
the colors of the spectrum: violet,
texture. Together with the other
indigo. Blue, green yellow, orange, red.
elements, texture can contribute to the
These colors are so blended that they
total effect of the finished work of art.
yield no appearance of color. When the
beam of light passes through a prism,
In painting, texture is exhibited through
the different rays of colors are
the representation of the skin, clothes,
separated so we are able to see and
jewelry and others. Texture can add
identify them from each other. When
richness and vitality to paintings.
light strikes a surface, some of the color
Contemporary painters have realized
rays are absorbed while others are
the important effects of texture on their
reflected. Others ass through especially
work.
when the object is transparent. Most
surfaces absorb all the color rays
The aesthetic value of texture lies, first
except those which yield a single-color
of all, in the fact that it makes the
sensation and therefore appeal to be of
gradation of color possible. Texture
that color.
gives an evenness to a surface which
causes the color of the surface to be
Contrasted color harmonies
broken into gradations of light and
Colors which lie directly opposite shade.
to each other in the color wheel are
Texture is very real to the sculptor and
called complementary colors. Red and
architect because wood, stone, brick,
green, orange and blue, violet and
concrete and metal feel differently. To
yellow are complementary colors. They
the painter, texture is an illusion. He
contrast with each other strongly;
must make an object look the way it
therefore they are more difficult to use
would feel when one touches it. This is
harmoniously than related color
the so called, implied texture.
combinations.
PERSPECTIVE
TEXTURE
Texture is an element that deals Perspective deals with the effect
more directly with the sense of touch. It of distance upon the appearance of
has to do with the characteristics of objects, by means of which the eye
surfaces which can be rough or smooth, judges the spatial relationships. It
enables us to perceive distance and to shaped as spheres, trees, mountains
see the position of objects on space. and flowers are cones. The trunk of
Two kinds of perspective: trees and human arms or legs, and
pencils are cylinders. Architecture is
Linear perspective – the also concerned with shapes of planes,
representation of an appearance of openings and silhouettes of building
distance by means of converging lines. forms.
The tracks of a railroad appear to the
viewer as seeming to rise and meet in
the distance. Linear perspective Auditory Arts
involves the direction of the lines and
the size of the objects. -arts that is heard at one particular
time.
Aerial Perspective – method
creating the illusion of depth or This includes: Music and Poetry
recession in a painting or
drawing by modulating color to ELEMENT OF AUDITORY ARTS
stimulate changes effected by the
atmosphere on the colors of Poetic devices such as;
things seen at a distance. Rhythm
(Britannica.com) Image
Metaphor
SPACE
Properties of musical instruments such
In painting, s in architecture, as;
space is of great importance. The Pitch
exterior of a building is seen as it Duration
appears in space, while interior is Volume
seen by one who is inside an Timbre
enclosure. Painting does not deal with Dynamics
space directly. It represents space only
on a two-dimensional surface. COMBINED ARTS
Sculpture involves very little space
relationship or perception space. Is where different art forms interact and
create something new and exciting
FORM across outdoor arts Canival festivals,
spectacle, inter-disciplinary works, live
Form applies to the overall art and participatory arts and social
design of a work of art. It describes arts practice.
the structure or a shape of an object.
Form directs the movements of the Examples: Dance. Theater, Live Art,
eyes. Since form consists of size and Installations arts, fim, video art, mime,
volume, it signifies visual weight. Every documentary, masks photography,
kind of form has its own aesthetic puppetry and design
effect. All the visual arts are concerned
with form. Sculpture and architecture Other elements also include:
deal with three-dimensional forms.
Form
Triangles, circles and rectangles Shape
are favorite designs used by painters. Line
Tables, buildings, picture frames and Color
furniture are usually composed of Value
cubes and rectangular solids. Oranges, Space
electric bulbs, lakes and domes are Texture

COLOR
Of all the elements of visual
arts, color has the most aesthetic
appeal. Delight in color is a universal
human characteristic. Color is the
property of light. When light goes
out, color goes with it.
The light of the sun contains all
the colors of the spectrum: violet,
indigo. Blue, green yellow, orange, red.
These colors are so blended that they
yield no appearance of color. When the
beam of light passes through a prism,
the different rays of colors are
separated so we are able to see and
identify them from each other. When
light strikes a surface, some of the color
rays are absorbed while others are
reflected. Others ass through especially
when the object is transparent. Most
surfaces absorb all the color rays
except those which yield a single-color
sensation and therefore appeal to be of
that color. A blue dress absorbs all the
color rays except the blue ray which it
reflects. The red ray A red ball accepts
all the color rays except the red ray
which it reflects. The color of an object
therefore is determined by the rays
which are reflected to the eyes of the
beholder. Objects that appear to be
black absorb practically all the color
rays and reflect none, while objects that
appear white reflect all the color rays
equally. Gray is due to the partial
reflection of the color rays. While gray
and black have no color quality. They
are called neutral colors.
Three-Dimensions of Colors
Color has three dimensions or
attributes: hue, value and intensity.
HUE – is the dimension of color that
gives color its name. When we say that
the flower is yellow, we’re naming its
hue. Blue, red and yellow are the
primary hues. If these primary hues are
mixed in equal parts the secondary
hues are produced. The secondary hues
are orange, green and violet: orange is
produced by mixing red and yellow;
green by mixing yellow and blue; and
violet by mixing blue and red.
Color may either be warm or cool.
Red, orange and yellow are the warm
hues. They associated by objects like
the sun, fire and other sources of heat.
They tend to impart warmth to any
compositions in which they are used.
They are conspicuous, cheerful,
stimulating, vivacious, joyous and
exciting. They are suggestive of
impetuous or instinctive action. They
are called advancing colors because
they have an effect of advancing or
coming towards you. The cool colors are
those where blue predominates like
green, blue-green, blue and blue violet.
They cause surfaces covered with them
to appear or recede. They suggest
distance. They are calm, sober, restful
and inconspicuous.
Red, the color of fire and blood, is the
warmest, most vigorous and most
exciting of the colors. It stands for
passion and energy.
Yellow, the color of light is the most
brilliant, cheerful and exultant of the
colors. It suggests cheerfulness,
magnificence, life and splendor. Its
serves to balance the warm colors like
red and orange.
Green, is the color for vegetation and
symbolizes life and freshness.
Violet, represents shadows and
mysteries;
Black, is despair, death and pain
Orange, deliciousness and warmth.
Blue, the color of the sky and of deep
and still water, is the coolest and most
tranquil of colors. It arouses the feeling
of peace and quietness.
VALUE – sometimes called
Chiaroscuro, refers to the lightness or
darkness of a color. It is a quality which
depends on the amount of light and
dark in color. They give the expression
of depth and solidity and lend form to
paintings.
TINTS are value above the normal
and shades are values below the
normal. Pink is a tint of red. Sky blue
is a tint, navy blue is a shade.
The value of hue can be changed. We
raise hue by adding more light so that it
reflects more light it can reflect.
INTENSITY, another dimension of
color, refers to its brightness or
darkness. It gives color strength.
Difference in intensity maybe described
as full intensity, two-thirds intensity
and two-thirds neutral. Two colors may
be both blue but one is more intense
that the other. When it is dulled, it is
said to be partly neutralized. The more
black or white is added, the weaker the
intensity becomes.
In adjacent or neighboring harmony,
two or three neighboring hues on the
color cycle are used together. For
example, tones of green, yellow and
orange can produce delightful harmony.
They have something in common
because there is yellow in green and
orange. Good adjacent harmonies can
be produced by using other groups of
neighboring colors like yellow, orange
and red orange, red and violet.
Contrasted color harmonies
Colors which lie directly opposite
to each other in the color wheel are
called complementary colors. Red and
green, orange and blue, violet and
yellow are complementary colors. They
contrast with each other strongly;
therefor they are more difficult to use
harmoniously than related color
combinations.

Color plays an important role in the

works of artists. Painter use one color
to balance and enrich the other to
awaken the emotional responses of the
viewer. Although painting is known as
the art of color, color is also important
in sculpture and architecture.
Buildings are painted; bronze is
selected for its rich brown color and
marble for its whiteness.

Color Harmonies
There are two kinds of color
harmonies: related color harmonies
and contrasted color harmonies.

Related color harmonies

Related color harmonies may
either be monochromatic or adjacent.
Monochromatic harmony is made up of
several tones of one hue: orange, tan,
brown and other tones from the orange
family. Monochromatic harmonies are
simplest and easiest to use. Different
tones of the same hue all have
something in comm0on so it is easy for
them to agree.