ELEMENTS OF DESIGN

R E M E M B E R Y O U E A R N A N A R T C R E D I T F O R T H I S C L A S S

WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF DESIGNLineColorShapeTextureSpaceValueForm

LINE• Used to define shape, contours, and

outlines• Suggests mass and volume• Can be a continuous mark, or implied by

edges of shapes and forms

Characteristics of linesWidth Thick, thin, tapering, unevenLength Long, short, continuous, brokenDirection Horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curving, perpendicular, oblique, parallel,

radial, zigzagFocus Sharp, blurry, fuzzy, choppyFeeling Sharp, jagged, graceful, smooth

Types of line:OutlinesContour linesGesture linesSketch linesCalligraphic linesImplied line

Outlines:Lines made by the edge of an object or its silhouette

Contour linesLines that describe the shape of an object and the interior

detail

Gesture linesLines that are energetic and catch the movement and gestures

of an active figure

Sketch linesLines that capture the appearance of an object or impression of

a place

Calligraphic linesGreek word meaning “beautiful writing”.Precise elegant handwriting or lettering done by handArtwork that has flowing lines like an elegant handwriting

Implied lineLines that are not actually drawn but created by a group of

objects seen from a distance.The direction an object is pointing to, or the direction a person

is looking at

COLORColor comes from light; if it weren’t for light we would have no

colorLight rays move in a straight path from a light source Within light rays are all the rays of colors in the spectrum Shining a light into a prism will create a rainbow of colors because it

separates the color of the spectrumWhen light rays hit an object our eye responds to the light that

is bounced back and we see that color For example a red ball reflects all the red light rays

Categories of colorPrimary Colors: cannot be mixed to be made Red, yellow and blueSecondary color: made by mixing two primaries Orange, violet, greenIntermediate Colors: mixing a primary with a secondary Red orange, yellow green, blue violet, etc.Complementary colors: opposite each other on the color wheel

Color harmoniesWhen an artist uses certain combinations of colors that create different looks

or feelingsAnalogous colors Next to eachother on the color wheelComplementary Colors Opposite eachother on the wheelTriadic harmony Three equally spaced colors on the color wheel are usedMonochromatic One color but in different values and intensityRectangle (tetradic) colors Four colors arranged in two complementary pairsSquare Color scheme Four colors spaced evenly around the color circle

Warm colors vs. Cool colorsSeparated by a line through the color wheel Cool on left, warm on rightGive the feeling of their name

SHAPEWhen a line crosses itself or intersects with other lines to

enclose a spaceTwo-dimensional Heights and width but no depth

Categories of shapesGeometric Circles, squares, rectangles and trianglesOrganic Leaf, seashells, flowers

Free flowing, informal and irregularPositive Solid forms in a designNegative Space around the positive shapeStatic Appear stable and restingDynamic Appear moving and active

SPACERefers to the arrangement of objects on the picture plane

(surface)Illusion of depth created by using perspective

Categories of spacePositive space Like positive shapeNegative Space Like negative shapePicture plane Flat surface of your drawing paper or canvasComposition Organization and placement of the elements on your picture planeFocal point Object or area you want the viewer to look at first

Types of perspectiveNon-linear perspective is the method of showing depth that

incorporates the following techniques Position

Higher = farther back Overlapping

Object on top = closer Size

Smaller = further Color

Bright = closer Value

Lighter = farther back

Types of perspective continuedLinear Perspective is the method of using lines to show the

illusion of depth in a picture One-point

Lines create by the sides of tables or building look like they are point to the distance and they all meet at one point on the horizon

Two point Lines meeting at two points on the horizon

TEXTURESurface quality of an objectThe way a picture is made to look rough or smoothCategories of texture: Real texture Implied texture

VALUERange of lightness and darkness within a pictureCreated by a light source that shines on an object creating

highlights and shadows. Light source illuminates the local or actual color of the subjectCreates depth within a picture making an object look three

dimensional with highlights and cast shadows, or in a landscape where it gets lighter in value as it recedes to the background giving the illusion of depth

Categories of valuesTint Adding white to color paint to create lighter valuesShade Adding black to paint to create darer valuesHigh-key Picture is all light valuesLow-key Picture is all dark valuesValue contrast Light values are placed next to dark values to create contrast or strong differencesValue scale Scale that shows the gradual change in value from its lightest value, white to its

darkest value black

FORMThree dimensionality of an object Using value can imply form

Shading a circle in a certain manner can turn it into a sphereFive basic forms Sphere, cube, cone, cylinder, pyramid