Lesson 1:

Elements of Visual Arts

Made by
Czarina Cloe H. Lucas and Haxaine Szummer P. Yu
 What is a LINE?
 Line is a path left by a moving point.
 Line is basic to art.
 Lines portray spaces.
 Lines can be divided into static and dynamic lines.
 There are two kinds of lines according to direction – straight or
curved
 TWO KINDS OF LINES
Straight Lines Curved Lines

• Imply emotional states or • Curved Lines result in a

arouse emotional responses. gradual change of direction

• There are four kinds of straight • There are four (4) kinds of
lines – horizontal line, Vertical curved lines – scroll or S line,
lines, Diagonal line, Jagged Convex, spiral and concave
line line

Lines
 Four Kinds of Straight Lines
• Horizontal lines
• Vertical line
• Diagonal line
• Jagged line

Lines
 Four Kinds of Straight Lines
Horizontal Line Vertical Line
• Depicts perfect stability, • Exemplifies height, stability,
calmness, peace and society vision, strength, dignity,
uprightness and assurance
Ex:
Ex:

Lines
 Four Kinds of Straight Lines
Diagonal Line Jagged Line
• The most dynamic line of all, • Suggests violence and
gives a feeling of unrest, disorderliness
uncertainty and instability
Ex:
Ex:

Lines
 Four Kinds of Curved Lines
• Scroll or S - Line
• Spiral Line
• Concave line
• convex line

Lines
 Four Kinds of Curved Lines
Scroll or S - Line Spiral line
• Denotes continuity • Expresses fascination

Ex: Ex:

SSSS

Lines
 Four Kinds of Curved Lines
Convex Line Concave line
• Circular V-shape line • Cave like-shaped line
• Denotes happiness • Opposite of convex line
• Denotes sadness
Ex:
Ex:
c
c

c
c
c

c
Lines
 Lines can also be divided into
• Static lines
• Dynamic lines

Lines
Ex:
Static Line
It appears to be at
rest

Lines
Ex:
Dynamic line
It implies
movement

Lines
 What is a FORM?
 Form is the structural element, plan , or design of a work of art.
 it denotes shapes that may either be flat or have length, width and
depth as in 3-dimensional work.
Shape
is a two dimensional area with identifiable
boundaries.

Definite Forms Non-objective shapes

• Regular forms like square, • Pyramid and box-like
triangle and other geometric buildings and cylindrical
shapes domes

Form
 Mass
• Is a three dimensional solid with
identifiable boundaries.

Forms
Geometric Shapes Organic Shapes

• Besed on lines drawn – square, • Based on the forms of nature –

circle, triangle, rectangle and rounded, irregular and curving
oblong.

Forms
 What is a SPACE?
 Space in an artwork is not empty
 has Two-dimensional space and Three – dimensional space
Two - Three-
dimensional dimensional
space space
Refers to the space in
 has only height and width architecture, sculpture and
but no actual depth. other forms of mass.

Perspective
 the system for depicting the illusions
of three-dimensional space on a two-
dimensional surface
There are 3 kinds of perspective

Space
 Perspective
Atmospheric Perspective Isometric Perspective

• Refers to perceiving forms as • Refers to making of distant

far as the distance is misty , forms smaller but not
blurred and indistinct. converging parallel lines.

Linear Perspective

• The visual depth of the natural

world is portrayed realistically
in two dimensions.

Space
 What is What is
LIGHT ? VALUE?
 is responsible for  refers to relative degree
shadows and reflections on of lightness and darkness
their surface and gives of an object
solidity and depth to forms

What is
COLOR ?
 is a property of light
 VALUE
Value Scale High-key

• It ranges from the lightest • Refers to the light values in an

color to the darkest color with artwork.
several gradations in between.

Low-key Chiasroscuro

• Refers to the dark values in an • A technique of value contrasts

artwork. used in drawing and painting.

Light, Value and

Color
 COLOR
Primary colors Secondary colors

• Red, yellow, blue • Orange, green, and violet

• These colors cannot be made • Each of these colors is a
by any mixture of other colors combination of two primary
colors

Tertiary colors

• When a primary color and a

adjacent secondary color is mixed

Light, Value and

Color
Properties of Color

Hue, values, and intensity are the properties of Color.

Properties Of Color
 Hue Values Intensity
• Indicates how light
or dark a Color is. • Is also
• Is the basic name • All hues have called saturation or
normal value. chroma.
or identity
• Tint refers to • It refers to
of colors. 
a Color lighter than the brightness or
the hue’s normal dullness of colors
value. or their relative
• Shade refers to purity. 
a Color darker than
the hue’s normal
value.
 Color Harmonies

• Is also called color scheme.

• It is the combination of colors or the selective use of two or
more colors in a single composition.
 Harmonies of Color
Related
• The use of one color with
different shades as light,
medium, and dark color is
called monochromatic.
• The use of neighboring
colors in the color wheel is
called analogous.
Contrasting
• A combination of two
opposite color is called
complementary.
• A combination of two
adjacent colors and their
complements is called
double
complementary.
• A combination of three
colors in a Y-form is called
split complementary.
• A combination of three
adjacent colors and its
complementaries is called
double split
complementary.
• The colors in a triangle
form are called triad.
Optical Effects of Color

• Warms hues are colors which create illusions of large size and
which appear to "advance".
• Color hues are colors which create illusions of small size and
which appear to "recede".
• Simultaneous contrasts is a phenomenon which plays tricks on
the eyes when you perceive color combinations.
• An instant "still life" is created when two colors spark against each
other and is an eye sore.
• A combination of complementary colors creates an after image
effect, a usually visual sensation continuing after the stimulus
causing it has ended.
Texture
• Refers to the quality of a surface – it may be smooth or rough,
bumpy or flat, or coarse or fine.
• Brings life to an artwork.
• Refers to the characteristics of an object that can be felt or touched.

Its classifications are:

1. Tactile – natural or original

2. Artificial – man-made
3. Visual- a pictorial representation of the natural texture
• Painters use the impasto technique which
uses thick layers of paint laid in such a way
that some areas are thicker than the other. 
• Textures in paintings are called visual
textures.
• Texture is a surface treatment in
architecture.
Thank you for Listening!