ELEMENTS OF ART

Line

An element of art that is the path of a moving point through space.

Types of Lines

Vertical

|Horizont

al

__

Diagonal

/Curve

d

(

Zigzag

Z

What types of lines do you see? What do the lines do?

Van Gogh – Thatched Cottage in Cordeville

Describe the lines in this work. How are they different from the lines Van Gogh used?

Piet Mondrian – Kompositsioon A

Shape

A defined two dimensional area. Has height and width. May be geometric or free form.

Shape is used in this work to make a striking statement. How do you think people reacted to this sort of art when it was new?

Ellsworth Kelly – White Black

Describe how shape is used in the work of art.

Georgia O’Keefe

Form

An object with three dimensions. Has height, width, and depth. May be geometric or free form.

What kind of form would you describe this as? Geometrical or free form? Why?

Richard Sweeney – Paper Sculpture

This sculpture uses a mixture of both Geometrical and Free Forms. Why do you think the artist gave it this title?

Richard Deacon – Between Fiction and Fact

Notice the symmetry. This is a very complex form that uses repeated shapes to create a three dimensional structure.

Example 1

This piece is quite different. Also symmetrical, there is a very fine balance that allows it to be supported by one “foot” at the far end. What does this form remind you of?

Example 2

This is a completely different approach. This artist had a definite form in mind that is based on reality. You can see the roof lines, the staircases, door, and windows of this Japanese Pagoda.

Example 3

Another sculpture intended to depict a form from everyday life. Aside from color, this artist has used paper to depict a very life-like representation of this truck.

Example 4

Texture The element of art that refers to how

things feel, or look as if they might feel if touched.

Rough

Smooth

Matte Shiny

Concerning Texture, what do you think this painting would look like in person? Why?

Anselm Kiefer – The Unknown Painter

Space

The elements of arts that refers to the emptiness or area between, around, above, below, or within objects. Shapes and forms are defined by space around and within them.

How is space being used in this portrait?

Vermeer – Girl with a Pearl Earring

Value

The element of art that describes the darkness or lightness of an object.

What do you notice about the value of the light in this painting? How does it help set the mood or the work?

Francisco de Goya – Saturn Devouring his Son

Color

An element of art that is derived from reflected light. The sensation of color is aroused in the brain by response of the eyes to different wavelengths of light.

Black absorbs all color wavelengths. Objects appear to be the color of waves they reflect.

Color Terms

Primary – Red, Yellow, Blue Secondary – Orange, Green, Purple (Violet) Intermediate (Tertiary) – Mixed colors of Primary and

Secondary Intensity – Hue is full intensity Hue – Pure color Shade – Pure + Black = Duller Tint – Pure + White = Brighter

Primary

Secondary

Tertiary/Intermediate

Color Harmony

Analogous – colors next to each other on the wheel

Complementary – colors across the wheel

Analogous

Colors next to each other on the wheel

Complementary

Across the color wheel

Triadic

Triadic colors are high-energy colors that are found by choosing three colors that are separated by 120 degrees on the color wheel. The primary (red, blue, and yellow) and secondary (purple, orange, green) colors are examples of triadic colors

How would you describe the use of color in this print?

Andy Warhol – Shot Orange Marilyn

Summary

Write a 2-3 sentence summary

Look at the painting to the right (The Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso). Think about what you see specifically the subject/object, use of elements of art, the mood/meaning, and your judgment of the work. As a class we’ll discuss it using the steps of art criticism.

Art Criticism