Elements of ArtElements of Art LineLineShape Shape ValueValueFormFormColorColor

TextureTextureSpaceSpaceTimeTime

MotionMotion

LineLine

Line is at once the Line is at once the simplest and most simplest and most complex of the complex of the elements.elements.

Line is one dimensional. Line is one dimensional. It is measured mainly by It is measured mainly by length. If a line becomes length. If a line becomes wide enough to measure wide enough to measure width, it becomes a width, it becomes a shape.shape.

“Composition with Red, BlueAnd Yellow”, Piet Mondrian,Oil on canvas, 1930

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://

Expressive Qualities of LineExpressive Qualities of Line The expressive characteristics of a The expressive characteristics of a

line may be perceived as delicate, line may be perceived as delicate, tentative, assertive, elegant, forceful tentative, assertive, elegant, forceful and even brutal.and even brutal.

“Lavender Mist Number 1”, 1950 Jackson Pollock,Oil On Canvas

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/pollock/lavender-mist/

Types of lineTypes of line Contour Line-Contour Line- these lines describe these lines describe

the outline shape of an the outline shape of an object. It is the edge object. It is the edge between the positive between the positive and negative spaceand negative space

Actual line-Actual line- This is a This is a non-interrupted line. non-interrupted line. The points that make The points that make up this line are up this line are connectedconnected

Implied Line-Implied Line- This This could be a dotted or could be a dotted or dashed line that your dashed line that your eye completes. - - - - - - eye completes. - - - - - - ……………………………..……………………………..http://www.public.iastate.edu/~kjansen/art130.htm

Functions of LineFunctions of Line To outline a shape (this helps To outline a shape (this helps

simplify shape for the viewer)simplify shape for the viewer) To create depth and texture. Vincent To create depth and texture. Vincent

Van Gogh uses line to describe.Van Gogh uses line to describe.

“Starry Night”, 1889, Vincent van GoghOil on Canvas

http://www.harley.com/art/abstract-art/vangogh.html

Functions of LineFunctions of Line To suggest To suggest

direction and direction and movement- movement- horizontal lines horizontal lines tend to tend to communicate communicate stability and stability and calm, vertical calm, vertical lines suggest lines suggest strength and strength and authority authority (architecture), (architecture), and diagonal and diagonal lines tend to lines tend to represent represent movement. movement.

“Harriet Tubman Series, No. 4”, 1939-40Jacob Lawrence, Casein tempera on gessoed hardboard

http://www.phillipscollection.org/lawrence/tubmanpanel4.html

ShapeShape

Two types of shapes- organic (biomorphic) Two types of shapes- organic (biomorphic) and geometricand geometric

Biomorphic shapes are natural- leaves, Biomorphic shapes are natural- leaves, rivers, stones, mountains, sponges, animalsrivers, stones, mountains, sponges, animals

Geometric shapes are manmade, they are Geometric shapes are manmade, they are regular and predictable. Squares, trapezoidregular and predictable. Squares, trapezoid

Some shapes are amorphous- not easily Some shapes are amorphous- not easily defined as organic or geometricdefined as organic or geometric

Shapes are two-dimensional. They are Shapes are two-dimensional. They are measured by length and widthmeasured by length and width

FormForm Forms refer to Forms refer to

three-dimensional three-dimensional shapes.shapes.

Forms are Forms are measured by measured by length, width and length, width and depth. This depth. This sculpture by sculpture by David Smith is a David Smith is a good example of good example of geometric forms.geometric forms.

The Guggenheim The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Museum in Bilbao, Spain, 1997 is an Spain, 1997 is an organic form.organic form.

“Cubi XVIII”, David Smith, polished stainless steel,1964http://faculty.evansville.edu/rl29/art105/img/smith_cubixviii.jpg

Shape, Form, SpaceShape, Form, Space

Volume is the related amount of space a form uses.Volume is the related amount of space a form uses. Positive and negative space refer to the areas Positive and negative space refer to the areas

where objects are and where there is only air.where objects are and where there is only air. Positive indicated filled space, Negative indicates Positive indicated filled space, Negative indicates

empty space. Together these two form Figure-empty space. Together these two form Figure-ground relationshipsground relationships

Figure-ground reversals create optical illusions that Figure-ground reversals create optical illusions that contradict our perceptions of positive and negative.contradict our perceptions of positive and negative.

Mass- the mass of an object refers to its bulk. A Mass- the mass of an object refers to its bulk. A solid work made out of steel the same dimensions solid work made out of steel the same dimensions as a sculpture made out of cotton would have more as a sculpture made out of cotton would have more mass. mass.

Squares with Two Circles (Monolith), Barbara Hepworth, 1963 (cast 1964). Brown with green patina. 124 x 65 x 30 in.

http://www.dukemagazine.duke.edu/dukemag/issues/050603/collector2.html

“Paysage” , 1961, Jean Arphttp://surrealists.classifieds4u.co.uk/viewPicture/13/

Light and ValueLight and Value

Value- is the relative lightness or darkness of an Value- is the relative lightness or darkness of an art element. art element.

The value of a color is the lightness or darkness The value of a color is the lightness or darkness of that color’s surface.of that color’s surface.

Value is determined by the amount of light Value is determined by the amount of light reflected by the surface.reflected by the surface.

Chiaroscuro- the gradual shifting from light to Chiaroscuro- the gradual shifting from light to dark through a successive gradation of tones dark through a successive gradation of tones across a curved surface.across a curved surface.

By using many gradations, objects portrayed on a By using many gradations, objects portrayed on a flat surface can be given a rounded, three-flat surface can be given a rounded, three-dimensional appearance.dimensional appearance.

“The Sleeping Gypsy”, 1897, Henri RousseauOil onCanvas

Old Woman with a Candle1661, Gerrit Dou Oil on oak, 31 x 23 cmhttp://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/d/dou/2/oldcandl.html

Chiaroscuro

89 Seconds at Alcazar, Eve Sussman, 2004, Single channel video, video stillEve Sussman's 89 Seconds at Alcázar, 2004, is a High-Definition video tableau inspired by Diego Velázquez’ famous painting Las Meninas, 1656, at the Museo del Prado. The video is an artistic revisioning of the moments leading up to and directly following the approximately eighty-nine seconds in time when the royal family and their courtiers would have come together in the exact configuration in Velázquez’ painting.

ColorColor Light broken down into wavelengths.Light broken down into wavelengths. The wavelength of light determines its The wavelength of light determines its

hue.hue. Hue=colorHue=color The value of color is its degree of The value of color is its degree of

darkness or light. Yellow is the lightest darkness or light. Yellow is the lightest color and violet is the darkest.color and violet is the darkest.

Color saturation is the pureness of a Color saturation is the pureness of a color. Pure hues have the greatest color. Pure hues have the greatest intensity, or brightness. The saturation, intensity, or brightness. The saturation, or intensity, decrease when another hue, or intensity, decrease when another hue, black , gray or white are added to it.black , gray or white are added to it.

Artists produce shades of a hue by Artists produce shades of a hue by adding black and tints of a hue by adding adding black and tints of a hue by adding white.white.

Complementary colors are opposite each Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel. Analogous other on the color wheel. Analogous colors are three (or more) colors in a row colors are three (or more) colors in a row on the color wheel.on the color wheel.

“Folklore”, Victor Vasarely, print editionhttp://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/Surrealism/1421

“The Night Café”, 1888, Vincent Van Gogh, oil on canvashttp://www.cssh.qc.ca/ecoles/simon/museedesenfants.quebec/st-simon1/Students/Antoine/van_gogh/

ColorColor

Primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. Primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. They can not be produced by mixing two They can not be produced by mixing two other colors together.other colors together.

Secondary colors are violet, orange and Secondary colors are violet, orange and green. They are created by mixing two green. They are created by mixing two primary colors together.primary colors together.

Local vs. Optical- Local color is the color that Local vs. Optical- Local color is the color that an object has in normal lightan object has in normal light

Optical color is the color produced by our Optical color is the color produced by our visual perception. “Haystack at Sunset Near visual perception. “Haystack at Sunset Near Giverny”, Claude Monet is a great example Giverny”, Claude Monet is a great example of optical color.of optical color.

Mme Matisse: Madras Rouge (The Red Madras Headress) Summer 1907 (120 Kb); Oil on canvas,

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/matisse/

TextureTexture

Actual texture- is tactile, it is more than just visual Actual texture- is tactile, it is more than just visual information. Texture can be rough, smooth, or information. Texture can be rough, smooth, or something in between.something in between.

Think of the texture of glass versus a Triscuit cracker.Think of the texture of glass versus a Triscuit cracker. Visual texture- is the illusion of texture in artwork. Visual texture- is the illusion of texture in artwork. Trompe l’oeil (“fool the eye”) is a method of art that is Trompe l’oeil (“fool the eye”) is a method of art that is

intended to create a realistic illusion of texture and intended to create a realistic illusion of texture and depth in a work of art.depth in a work of art.

Subversive texture- contradicts our past visual Subversive texture- contradicts our past visual experience by using texture in a way that is experience by using texture in a way that is unexpected.unexpected.

““Object” by Meret Oppenheim is a good example of Object” by Meret Oppenheim is a good example of this.this.

`”Object” by Meret Oppenheim, fur covered cup, saucer, and spoon, 1936http://www.moma.org/ecards/write_ecard.php?object_id=80997

SpaceSpace

No subject exists in and of itself. No subject exists in and of itself. When nearby objects are placed in front of When nearby objects are placed in front of

more distant objects they obscure part or all more distant objects they obscure part or all of the distant objects. When objects overlap of the distant objects. When objects overlap this gives us a sense of perspective.this gives us a sense of perspective.

Perspective is a sense of depth (created as Perspective is a sense of depth (created as an illusion in art to give a sense of a three an illusion in art to give a sense of a three dimensional object on a two-dimensional dimensional object on a two-dimensional picture plane)picture plane)

Linear perspective is a mathematical system Linear perspective is a mathematical system for organizing space in a convincing way. for organizing space in a convincing way.

PerspectivePerspective

http://faculty.evansville.edu/rl29/h340/f05/renaissancepainting.html

Time and MotionTime and Motion

Actual motion is live movement. A work of kinetic Actual motion is live movement. A work of kinetic art like Alexander Calder’s mobiles actually art like Alexander Calder’s mobiles actually moves when we see it in person.moves when we see it in person.

Implied Motion and Time- is a non-moving image Implied Motion and Time- is a non-moving image that shows movement through the attributes that shows movement through the attributes present in the image. Good examples of this are present in the image. Good examples of this are found in Bernini’s “Apollo and Daphne”found in Bernini’s “Apollo and Daphne”

The Illusion of Motion is what we experience when The Illusion of Motion is what we experience when we see a movie or series of shapes that note a we see a movie or series of shapes that note a passage of time. A movie is a series of still frames passage of time. A movie is a series of still frames that do not contain actual motion, but when that do not contain actual motion, but when shown in a time sequence, create an illusion of shown in a time sequence, create an illusion of motion.motion.

Giacomo Balla, Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash, 1912. Oil on Canvas

Calder’s MobilesCalder’s Mobiles

http://students.washington.edu/brandond/Page0004.html