The Elements of DesignThe Elements of DesignWhether you have taken art before or not, it is important to Whether you have taken art before or not, it is important to learn and frequently review some of the building blocks for learn and frequently review some of the building blocks for creating ART! creating ART!

These basic building blocks are called:These basic building blocks are called:

The Elements of Design.The Elements of Design.

One easy way to remember the Elements of Design is to One easy way to remember the Elements of Design is to remember this phrase: “remember this phrase: “T.V. ST.V. Shows hows C.F.L. SC.F.L. Seasoneason” for…” for…

Texture Value Shape Texture Value Shape

Colour Form Line SpaceColour Form Line Space

T T is for…is for… TextureTextureTexture refers to the surface quality or “feel” of an object Texture refers to the surface quality or “feel” of an object (smooth, rough, soft, etc). Two kinds of texture are seen in (smooth, rough, soft, etc). Two kinds of texture are seen in art… art…

Actual textureActual texture is real and is real and can be touched in art can be touched in art pieces.pieces.

Simulated textureSimulated texture is the is the illusion of texture, perceived illusion of texture, perceived by our sense of sight.by our sense of sight.

V V is for…is for… ValueValueValue is the Value is the lightness or darknesslightness or darkness of a non-coloured object of a non-coloured object (grey-scale). There can be gradual transitions of value or (grey-scale). There can be gradual transitions of value or sudden transitions that create contrast. sudden transitions that create contrast.

Value can be created by an artist through smooth shading, Value can be created by an artist through smooth shading, hatching, cross-hatching, pointillism as well as many other hatching, cross-hatching, pointillism as well as many other techniques which depend on the techniques which depend on the mediummedium (e.g. pencils, pastels, (e.g. pencils, pastels, paint, etc.) you are using.paint, etc.) you are using.

S S is for…is for… ShapeShapeShape is an enclosed space defined and determined by Shape is an enclosed space defined and determined by elements such as line, colour and value. It is flat or 2-elements such as line, colour and value. It is flat or 2-dimensional. dimensional.

Shape can be Shape can be geometricgeometric (such as circles, squares, (such as circles, squares, or triangles) or…or triangles) or…

……organicorganic (that is non- (that is non-geometric shapes, often geometric shapes, often seen in nature like puddles seen in nature like puddles or a leaf). or a leaf).

C C is for…is for… ColourColourColour is the reflection of light off of a pigment. Three aspects Colour is the reflection of light off of a pigment. Three aspects of colour are: of colour are: huehue (the pure colour’s name), (the pure colour’s name), intensity intensity (the (the brightness or dullness of a colour), and brightness or dullness of a colour), and valuevalue (the lightness or (the lightness or darkness of a colour). darkness of a colour).

• The The primary primary colourscolours are: red, blue are: red, blue and yellow.and yellow.

• The The secondary secondary colourscolours are: green, are: green, orange and violet. orange and violet.

• The The tertiary colourstertiary colours are: yellow-orange, are: yellow-orange, red-orange, red-red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, purple, blue-purple, blue-green, and blue-green, and yellow-green (the yellow-green (the primary colour is primary colour is always named first).always named first).

Some colour schemes (combinations) that we often use in Some colour schemes (combinations) that we often use in art include…art include…

Monochromatic: Monochromatic: One colour plus tints One colour plus tints (adding white) and shades (adding white) and shades (adding black).(adding black).

Analogous: Analogous: 3-5 colours side-by-side on the 3-5 colours side-by-side on the colour wheel.colour wheel.

Complementary: Complementary: Two Two colours which are opposite colours which are opposite on the colour wheel.on the colour wheel.

Split-Complementary: Split-Complementary: A colour A colour plus the two neighbours of its plus the two neighbours of its complementary colour.complementary colour.

Warm Colours: Warm Colours: Using Using mostly yellows, oranges, mostly yellows, oranges, and reds.and reds.

Cool Colours: Cool Colours: Using mostly Using mostly blues, greens, and violets.blues, greens, and violets.

F F is for…is for… FormFormForm is the same as the element of shape Form is the same as the element of shape exceptexcept that it is that it is always always 3-dimensional 3-dimensional therefore it shows a sense of therefore it shows a sense of depthdepth ((the 3rd dimension after length and widththe 3rd dimension after length and width), ), volumevolume ( (space space within the formwithin the form) and ) and massmass ( (bulk / size of the formbulk / size of the form). Form can ). Form can also be also be geometricgeometric or or organicorganic..

L L is for…is for… LineLineLine is often an outline, contour, or Line is often an outline, contour, or silhouette. Line can be 2-silhouette. Line can be 2-dimensional (like pencil lines) dimensional (like pencil lines) created by a continuous mark created by a continuous mark made on a surface with a moving made on a surface with a moving point. Line can also be 3-point. Line can also be 3-dimensional (like wire sculptures). dimensional (like wire sculptures).

S S is for…is for… SpaceSpaceSpace refers to the Space refers to the distance or area between, distance or area between, around, above or below, or around, above or below, or within objects. Space can within objects. Space can refer to the actual space refer to the actual space that an art piece occupies that an art piece occupies (such as a large or small (such as a large or small sculpture), but space can sculpture), but space can also be the illusion of also be the illusion of space or depth in a space or depth in a drawing or painting. It can drawing or painting. It can be described as 2D or 3D. be described as 2D or 3D.

There are six ways to create the illusion of depth in 2D (flat) There are six ways to create the illusion of depth in 2D (flat) art such as drawings and paintings: art such as drawings and paintings:

1)1) sizesize (closer objects appear larger, more distant objects (closer objects appear larger, more distant objects appear smaller)appear smaller)

2) different planes2) different planes (foreground, middle ground, background) (foreground, middle ground, background)

3)3) overlappingoverlapping (when objects are placed in front of one (when objects are placed in front of one another to show depth)another to show depth)

4)4) contrasted contrasted value value (high value in foreground, low value in (high value in foreground, low value in background) or contrasted background) or contrasted intensityintensity (more intense colours in (more intense colours in foreground, less intense in background) – sometimes called foreground, less intense in background) – sometimes called “ “atmospheric perspectiveatmospheric perspective.”.”

5)5) colour temperaturecolour temperature (warm colours appear (warm colours appear to be closer than cool to be closer than cool colours)colours)

6) linear perspective6) linear perspective (1 point, 2 point, 3 point perspective – (1 point, 2 point, 3 point perspective – a mathematical way to give the appearance of depth.)a mathematical way to give the appearance of depth.)