Elements of

Art
Arts and Culture
Colour in Art
Main aspects of colour:
o Colour wheel
o Different colour schemes
o Primary, secondary and tertiary
colours
o Complimentary and analogous colours
o Hues, tones, tints, shades, intensity
and value
o Colour temperature
Value in Art

Value- intensity of the colour The lightness and darkness of a

colour
 Line in Art
o Line- the continuous mark made on a
surface by a moving point
o Types of lines- horizontal, vertical,
diagonal, short, long, curved and zig-zag
o Provides different effects like movement,
rhythm or emphasis
Shape in Art
o Shape- a flat and 2-dimensional
image
o Ranges from square, circular,
triangular or rectangular
o More two-dimensional, geometric
or organic
Form in Art

Form is 3-dimensional and can be Ranges from cubic, spherical, Can be geometric or organic
created by adding different shapes pyramidal or conical
together
Texture in Art
• When a painting looks like how it
would feel
• Called the “surface quality” of
artworks
Space in Art
• The depth created in a composition
• Consists of positive and negative
space
• Can be utilised to create different
effects
Line
o Outline- a line that joins itself to
create shapes
o Contour lines- defines edges or
edges of shapes within a form
o Qualities and emotions
o Have a psychological effect
o Horizontal lines- feeling of peace and calm
o Vertical lines- feeling of strength and power
o Diagonal lines- feeling of movement and restlessness
Texture
o Can be coarse, smooth, slimy, bristly, furry, matted, scratchy,
wrinkled…
o Simulated texture- found in two-dimensional artworks; can be
seen but not felt
o Tactile texture- actual part of the work that you can feel
Colour
o Primary colours- can’t be made by mixing other colours
o Secondary colours- made by mixing two primary colours
together
o Tertiary colours- made by mixing a primary and a secondary
colour
o Tints- colours mixed with white
o Shades- colours mixed with black
o Intensity- relates to the brightness or dullness of colours
Complementary
colours
o Colours opposite each other on the
colour wheel, which makes each
other stand out
o When placed side by side, they
contrast strongly and often appear
to vibrate
Monochromatic
o Uses variations of one colour only.
A colour is used with black and/or
white or mixed with black and/or
white
Analogous
o Consists of colours adjacent to one
another on the colour wheel, each
containing the same colour
Polychromatic
o Random use of hues and their
variations
Warm and Cool
colours
o Colour has a psychological effect
o Warm- red, orange and yellow;
creates a feeling of excitement
o Cool- blue, green and purple; have
a calming effect on the viewer
Composition
o Composition- final result of composing a
drawing, painting or sculpture and is also
a combination of art elements to form a
pleasing whole
o Arrangement of colours, forms etc.; must
form a visually pleasing or stimulating
unity
o Principles of composition- the way in
which one organises the elements of art
in an artwork to achieve a specific result
and effect
Balance
o The arrangement of the elements to
create stability in an artwork
o Symmetrical balance- created when both
sides are similar in visual weight and
almost mirrored; looks more stiff and
formal
o Asymmetrical balance- created when
both sides are similar in visual weight but
not mirrored; creates more interesting
compositions
o Radial balance- like a daisy or sunflower
with everything arranged around a circle
Rhythm/movement
o Repeating of shapes and colours
and alternating lights and darks in
an an artwork
o Ways of combining art elements to
produce the sense of flow or
movement in an artwork
 Developing points of interest to
pull the viewer’s eye to
important parts in the work; also
refers to focal points

Emphasis
Focal points- area of interest to
which the viewer’s eye is drawn
when viewing the artwork
Unity/harmony
o The wholeness which results from
the successful combination of the
elements of an artwork
Contrast
o The arrangement of opposite
elements
o Creates visual interest, excitement
and drama
Proportions
o The size relationship of parts to a
whole and to one another
Pattern
o Pattern is the repetition of motifs