ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES

OF ART
ELEMENTS OF ART
VISUAL AUDITORY
Elements of art Together with
are akin to the literature, music as an
art form is classified
atoms that are as auditory art. Either
defined as the way, music, much like
units or “building the visual arts, has its
blocks of matter own building blocks or
elements.

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ELEMENTS OF ART; VISUAL
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LINE
A line refers to a point moving an identifiable path– it has
length and direction. It is one-dimensional, however it
has the capacity to either define perimeters of the
artwork (edges) become a substantial component of the
composition.

HORIZONTAL and VERTICAL LINES- refers to the orientation

of the line. Horizontal lines are normally associated with rest or
calm. Landscapes often contain these elements as works like
these connote a visual sense of being parallel to the ground.
Vertical lines on the other hand, connote elevation or height,
which taken to mean exaltation or aspiration for action.

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KEITH HARING
“TODOS JUNTOS PODEMOS PARAR EL SIDA”
which means TOGETHER WE CAN STOP AIDS

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DIAGONAL AND CROOKED LINES
Diagonal lines convey movement and instability,
although the progression can be seen. Crooked or
jagged lines, on the other hand, are reminiscent of
violence, conflict or struggle.

CURVED LINES
These are lines that bend or coil. They
allude to softness, grace, flexibility, or
even sensuality.

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PORQUE
ESCONDERLOS
× - FRANCISCO de GOYA

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THE RAFT OF MEDUSA
By Theodore Gericault

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SHAPE AND FORM
These two are related to each other in the sense that
they define the space occupied of art. Shape refers to
two dimensions: height and width, while form refers to
three dimensions: height, width, and depth.

GEOMETRIC
These shapes find origin in mathematical propositions.
As such, its translation and use are often man-made.
These shapes such as squares, triangles, cubes,
circles, spheres, cones, among others.

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COMPOSITION WITH COLOR PLANES
AND GRAY LINES
By Piet Mondrian

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ORGANIC
Organic shapes are those readily
occurring in nature, often irregular and
asymmetrical.

THE MADONNA OF THE MEADOWS

BY RAPHAEL

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 SPACE
× Related to shape and form is space. It is usually
inferred from a sense of depth, whether it is real or
simulated. Real space is three-dimensional. Like
what has been previously mentioned, sculptures are
a perfect examples of artworks that bear this
element. However this can be manifested in two-
dimensional artworks through the use of different
techniques, or the use of area around a drawing or
picture.

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CLOUD GATE

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POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE SPACE
Usually identified with the white space is negative
space. The positive space, on the other hand, is the
space where shadow is heavily used,

THREE-DIMENSIONAL SPACE
Can be simulated through a variety of
techniques such as shading. An illusion of
three- dimensionality can be achieved in two-
dimensional work.

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COLOR
Color is perhaps one of the elements that enhances the
appeal of an artwork. Its effect has range, allowing the
viewer to make responses based on memory, emotion,
and intrinsic among others. The element is a property of
light, as it is reflected off the object.
HUE – this dimension of color gives its name. It
can be subdivided into:
• Primary colors- red, yellow, and blue
• Secondary colors- green, orange and violet
• Tertiary colors- six in total, these hues are
achieved when primary and secondary colors
are mixed
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VALUE
This refers to the brightness or darkness of color. Often,
used by artist to create illusion of depth and solidity, a
particular mood, communicate a feeling, or in establishing
a scene. (e.g., day and night).

• Light colors- taken as the source of light in the

composition

• Dark colors- the lack or even the absence of light

• Tint- this is a lighter color than the normal value

• Shade- this is a darker color than the normal value

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INTENSITY
× This is the color’s brightness or dullness. It is
identified as the strength of color, whether it is
vivid or muted. To achieve a specific intensity of
a color, one may add either gray or its
complementary color.
• Bright or warm colors- positive energy

• Dull or cool colors- sedate/ soothing,

serious or calm.

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Monochromatic Harmonies
Use the variations of a hue.

HOUSES OF
PARLIAMENT
By Claud Monet

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 Complementary
harmonies
Involve two colors opposite each
other in the color wheel. Since they
are at contrary positions, the
reaction is most intense.

“Three Saints: Roch, Anthony Abbot,

and Lucy

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Analogous
harmonies
Make use of two
colors beside each
other in color wheel

“ Before the Race”

By: Edgar Degas

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THE SCREAM

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TEXTURE
Like space, texture can be either real or
implied. This element in an artwork is
experienced through the sense of
touch (and sight). This element renders
the art object tactile.

“Margherita Gonzaga, Princess of

Mantua”
By: Frans Pourbus the Younger

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Textures in the two-dimensional plane
Texture can be implied using one techniques or a
combination of other elements of arts. By creating
the visual quality in the artwork, one can imagine
how the surface will have if it was to be touched.

Surface Texture
Refers to the texture of the three-
dimensional art object

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PLANES AND PERSPECTIVE
PICTURE PLANE is the actual surface of the painting or
drawing, where no illusion of a third dimension exist. Here,
the elements lay flat, as if one was looking through a
window into what lies on the side of glass.

LINEAR PERSPECTIVE

× As forms and objects recede, the smaller they become.

× We were taught that parallel lines never meet.
However, when they, too seem to converge when they
recede into a distance, at a point, they both disappear.
This point of disappearance is called the vanishing
point.

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RAILWAY

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THREE TYPES OF PERSPECTIVE
ONE-POINT PERSPECTIVE

Often used in depicting roads, tracks, hallways, or rows

of trees; this type of perspective shows parallel lines
that seem to converge at a specific and lone vanishing
point, along the horizon line.

TWO-POINT PERSPECTIVE

Pertains to a painting or drawing that makes use of two-

vanishing points, which can be placed anywhere along
the horizon line. It is often used in depicting structures
such as houses or buildings in the landscape that are
viewed from a specific corner. 27
THREE-POINT PERSPECTIVE
In this type of perspective,
the viewer is looking at a
scene from above or below.
As the name suggest, it makes
use of the three-vanishing
point, each corresponding to
each axis of the scene.

Chanon Building 28
ELEMENTS OF
ELEMENTS OF ART;
ART;
AUDITORY
AUDITORY
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RHYTHM
Often associated to the term beat, meter, and tempo,
rhythm is the element of music that situates it in time. It is
the pulse of the music. Beat is the basic unit of music while
tempo refers to its speed. Beats can be organized into a
recognizable recurrent pattern, which is called the meter.

Largo- slowly and broadly Accelerando- gradually speeding

Andante- Walking pace up
Moderato- at moderate Rallentado- gradually slowing
down
speed Allargando- getting slower,
Allegro- fast broadening
Vivace- lively Rubato- literally “robbed time”,
rhythm is played freely for
expressive effect.
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DYNAMICS
The element of music that refers to the loudness or
quietness of music is dynamics. Classical terms are
used to refer to the different levels pertaining to
this:

• Pianissimo (pp)- very quite

• Piano (p)- quite

• Mezzo-piano (mp)- moderately quite

• Mezzo- forta (mf)- moderately loud

• Forte (f)- loud

• Fortissimo (ff)- very loud 31

MELODY
Melody refers to the linear presentation (horizontal) pitch. By
horizontal, it means that in musical notation, it is read in
succession form left to right. Pitch is the highness or lowness of
musical sound.

HARMONY
If melody is horizontal, harmony is vertical. It arises when pitches
are combined to form chords. When several notes are
simultaneously played, this refer to a chord.

Harmony can be described in terms of its ‘harshness”: dissonance

is the harsh- sounding combination while consonance is the
smooth-sounding combination.
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TIMBRE
Timbre is often likened to the color of music. It is a
quality that distinguishes a voice or an instrument form
another. Dependent on the technique, the timbre may
give a certain tone of impressions onto the canvas.

TEXTURE
The number of melodies, the type of layers, and their
relatedness in a composition is the texture of music. It
may be:

• Monophonic- single melodic line

• Polyphonic- two or more melodic lines

• Homophonic- main melody accompanied by chords

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PRINCIPLES OF ART;
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BALANCE
This principle
refers to the
distribution of the
visual elements in
view of their
placement in
relation to each
other.

“CUBE” 35
SYMMETRICAL
The elements used on one side are reflected to the
others. This offers the most stable visual sense to any
artwork.

ASYMMETRICAL
The elements are not the same (or of the same
weight) on each side, putting the heaviness on one
side

RADIAL
There is a central point in the composition, around
which elements and objects are distributed
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SCALE AND
PROPORTION
Scale pertains to the
size in relation to what
is normal for the
figure or object in
question.

PLAINTOR 37
PORPORTION
Is the size of the components, or
of objects in relation to one
another when taken as a
composition or a unit. This can
also refer to values such as
amounts or number of elements
or objects in the composition.

da VINCIVIRTRUVIAN
MAN
BY LEONARDO 38
Proportions can be:
a. Natural- relates to the realistic size of visual
elements in the artwork, especially for figurative
artworks. When it is the accuracy in relation to
the real world that the artist is after, this is now
referred to as the principle of scale.
b. Exaggerated- refers to the unusual size of
relations of visual elements, deliberately
exaggerating the immensity or minuteness of an
object
c. Idealized- most common to those that follow
canons of perfection, the sized-relations of
elements or objects, which achieve the most
ideal size-relations
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EMPHASIS AND CONTRAST
EMPHASIS allows the attention of the viewer
to a focal point accentuating or drawing
attention to these elements or through the
assistance of other principles, especially that of
contrast.

CONTRAST is the disparity between the

elements that figure into the composition. One
object may be made stronger compared to
other objects (hence, emphasis). This can be
done in many ways using the elements of art.
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UNITY AND VARIETY

Unless intended to be otherwise,

compositions are intended to imbue a sense
of accord or completeness from the
artwork. This is unity.

Variety, on the other hand, is the principle

that aims to retain the interest by allowing
patches or areas that both excite and allow
the eye to rest
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HARMONY
Like what is hinted above, unity and variety is related to the
principle of harmony, in which the elements or objects
achieve a sense of flow and interconnectedness

MOVEMENT
This refers to the direction of the viewing eye as it goes
through the artwork, often guided or elements that are
emphasized. These focal points can be lines, edges, shape
and color within the work of art among others.

RHYTHM
This created when an element is repeated, creating
implied movement. Variety of repetition helps invigorate
rhythm as depicted in the artwork
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REPETITION AND PATTERN
Lines, shapes, colors, and other elements may appear
in an artwork in a recurring manner. This is called
repetition. In addition, the image created out of
repetition is called pattern. With repetition, there is a
sense of predictability that is conveyed, which in turn
imbues the feelings of security and calmness.

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