A basics introduction into the elements of art

Firstly before we begin the elements of art are the basic building blocks of any design or composition you make; may it be drawings, sketches or even painting the list goes on. Getting to know the elements of art will and can only assist in improving your drawing and compositional skills. In addition the elements of art do not show you how to draw the only name and explain what you have drawn.

The elements of art, which we will discuss basically in this article, are:

Shape; Form; Line; Tonal value; Texture; Space; Colour - hue and intensity.

Shape

Everything we see or touch has a particular shape, size and structure that help us to recognise what it is. Shape refers to two-dimensional, flat areas.

The types of shape:

There are an infinite variety of shapes; we will be considering the following and giving a basic explanation of each: Organic shape; Geometric shapes; and Positive and negative shape.

Organic shape: Organic shapes are shapes that occur in nature for example flowers, rocks or plants.

Geometric shapes: A geometric shape is a shape that usually has precise measurements. Geometric shapes are man-made.

Positive and negative shape: We can identify certain shapes on a picture plane¹ as being positive or negative shapes. A shape or mark suggested on a page is called positive shape, the shapes and space around this object is called the negative shape. We also speak of the positive and negative relationship in terms of the space that surrounds the object in your drawing; this is known as negative space. For example, if you draw a scene with a row of two or three buildings, the space between the buildings would be the negative space. Please note: ¹A page is flat and we use visual shapes and marks to create the impression of real space, this flat surface is called the picture plane.

Form

The difference between shape and form is that shape is thought of as being two-dimensional, while form is three-dimensional. When a flat shape is suggested to have three-dimensional qualities, we refer to it as form. Form is generally understood to be the two-dimensional rendering of a three-dimensional shape.

Line

We can identify two general types of line that have different qualities and characteristics, namely: Lines of free action – these seem to be lines that are made by accident or are created loosely. A sketchy action will produce lines that are free. These lines seem to convey emotion, activity, vitality and drama.

Lines of deliberate precision: Theses lines are ordered and regular. They are deliberately controlled and proceed from point to point; these lines are firm and precise.

The types of lines:

There are an infinite variety of lines; we will be considering the following and giving a basic explanation of each: Silhouettes; Contour lines; Organic lines; Geometric lines; and Decorative lines.

Silhouettes: An outline is the boundary of a shape or form; this can be called a silhouette. Very often, we see a silhouette of a form when we look at something against the light.

Contour lines: Contour lines describe the fullness of forms; a contour line expresses form by means of a line that moves over, around and into the form it is describing.

Organic lines: Organic objects are natural objects like plants or animals. Organic objects are generally associated with varying lines because they usually have irregular outlines and contour lines.

Geometric lines: A geometric line is a line that is usually made with the ad of technical drawing equipment and utensils, to be precise in its measurements. Geometric lines are use to describe man-made forms.

Decorative lines: Decorative lines are lines that make a work look visually appealing, they can be flat or suggest three-dimensions.

Functions of lines:

Lines can describe shapes; Lines can suggest space; and Lines can describe emotion.

A line may be two-dimensional, as you will find in a pencil or ink drawing – if something is two-dimensional, it only has the dimensions of a flat piece of paper; length and width.

A line may also be three-dimensional, for example, wire or string – a three-dimensional shape is one that exists in real space, meaning that it has length, width and an added dimension height or thickness.

Tonal value

Tone is the effect that light has as it falls across an object. The term ‘tone’ refers to the relative lightness and darkness of an area. The way that light falls on an object will determine its tone and we call the different shades of light and dark tonal values.

Space

We speak about the three-dimensional imaginary space that shapes and forms occupy in the picture, this space is called pictorial space.

There are various ways that designers create the illusion of space on the picture plane, namely:

Receding scale into depth; Overlapping shapes; Casting shadows; Using atmospheric perspective; and Using mathematical perspective.

Receding scale into depth: As objects recede – get further away – the objects seem smaller and closer together in the background. The strategy of making objects that are closer larger, and objects that are further away smaller, will suggest distance.

Overlapping shapes: Designers use overlapping objects to suggest space. When an object overlaps another object, the object in the foreground will seem larger than the object in the middle or background even though it might be the same size causing or suggesting distance.

Casting shadows: All realistic scenes have a specific light source, this means that the light has to come from somewhere – in front, behind, on top or below the object. Adding shadow indicates that there is depth in the drawing adding to the suggestion of distance.

Using atmospheric perspective: If you have ever been foggy or misty weather, you would have noticed that you could only see objects that were directly in front of you. As objects moved into the distance you could not clearly make out detail, and even less, clear colour. This phenomenon is called atmospheric perspective. Atmospheric or aerial perspective is based on the principle that because of atmospheric conditions, the colour and value of objects appear to lose intensity and depth of tone as they recede.

Using mathematical perspective: We have various types of mathematical or linear perspective, namely one-point perspective; two-point perspective and three-point perspective. All perspectives are seen as though they are receding into certain areas of your drawing this illusion creates distance.

Colour

We are able to see colour because the material of which an object is made reflects those colours to us and absorb the other colour of which white light is made up. Colour may be thought of in three different ways; hue which is the quality that distinguishes one colour from another example red from blue, hue is simply another word for ‘colour’. Tone is the lightness or darkness of a colour and chroma which is the brightness or dullness of a colour, chroma also refers to the hues intensity, or its degree of purity – purity refers to its amount of one pigment of colour more than another.

This was just a basic introduction into the elements of art. It is good to get to know what the elements and or phenomenon of art are, when one wants to study art or design. Thank you for reading this article.

published 2 years ago

Elouise

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