Elements and Principles of Art

General Art will be tested on the Elements and Principles of Art.

The test will include:

• The comparative relationship of one part to another with respect to size, quantity, or degree.
• When all the elements and principles work together to create a pleasing image.
• A regular repetition of elements to produce the look and feel of movement.
• The focal point of an image, or when one area or thing stands out the most.
• The parts of an image are organized so that one side mirrors the other.
• The Surface quality or "feel" of an object.
• A 3-dimensional object; or something that is 2-dimensional yet appears to be 3 dimensional.
• They way the elements are arranged to create a feeling of stability in a work.
• Consists of Hue, Intensity, and Value.
• A Large difference between two things to create interest and tension
• Repetition of a design.
• The use of differences and change to increase the visual interest of the work.
• When one side of a composition does not reflect the design of the other.
• The lightness to darkness of a color.
• A continuous mark made on a surface by moving a point.
• An enclosed are defined and determined by other art elements.
• The Building blocks or ingredients of art.
• Consists of Hue, Intensity, and Value.

A word bank will be provided on the test, but check your spelling, as spelling counts!

You can find all this information in the following notes:

The Elements of Art

The Building blocks or ingredients of art.

• Line:
  • A continuous mark made on a surface by moving a point.
  • A mark made by a pointed tool; a dot in motion.
  • Contour: can be the outer edge/line of an image, object, or shape. Can be a line that varies in thickness
• Shape:
  • An enclosed are defined and determined by other art elements.
  • 2-dimensional
  • An area contained within an implied line or change of color/value
  • Geometric: circles, triangle, rectangles, etc...
  • Organic/Freeform/Natural: clouds, leaves, a blob, etc...
• Form:
  • A 3-dimensional object
  • Something that is 2-dimensional yet appears to be 3 dimensional.
  • Ex: a sphere, a cube, diamond, etc...
• Color:
  • Consists of Hue, Intensity, and Value.
  • Hue: color.
  • Intensity: The brightness or dullness of a color.
  • Value: The lightness to darkness of a color.
  • Primary: one color - red, yellow, and blue
  • Secondary: when two primary colors are mixed together - orange, green, violet
  • Tertiary/intermediate: a color in between a primary and a secondary -
    • yellow-orange, red-orange, red-violet, blue-violet, blue-green, yellow-green
  • Complimentary: two colors found opposite of each other on the color wheel -
    • red and green, blue and orange, yellow and violet
  • Analogous: three colors next to each other on the color wheel
  • Tint: Add white (changes the color's value, making it lighter)
  • Shade: Add black (changes the color's value, making it darker)
  • Tone: Adding a small amount of a color's complement can reduce its intensity (also known as neutralizing a color).
• Texture:
  • The Surface quality or "feel" of an object.
• Space:
  • The distance or area between, around, above, below, or within things.
  • Foreground: near space
  • Mid-ground: middle space
  • Background: far space
• Value:
  • The lightness to darkness of a color.
  • Value scale: a scale that shows the change of a color from light to dark
  • Contrast:
    • A Large difference between two things to create interest and tension.
    • Light against dark
    • Opposites Ex: smooth and rough textures, large and small shapes, plain areas against areas of patterns.

The Principles of Art:

• Pattern:
  • Repetition of a design.
  • Repetition of the elements of art.
• Emphasis:
  • The focal point of an image, or when one area or thing stands out the most.
  • Main idea; that "grabs" your attention
• Variety:
  • The use of differences and change to increase the visual interest of the work.
  • An assortment of lines, shapes, colors and other elements of art in the art work.
• Unity:
  • They way the elements are arranged to create a feeling of stability in a work.
  • How the elements work together, fit together, so the art work looks complete
• Balance:
  • When all the elements and principles work together to create a pleasing image.
  • Distribution of visual weight
  • Symmetrical:
    • The parts of an image are organized so that one side mirrors the other.
    • Same design on both sides of a mid-line.
  • Asymmetrical:
    • When one side of a composition does not reflect the design of the other.
    • A balance that is not even.
  • Radial: when elements radiate from a center point that is repeated several times, creating a circle. No matter how you rotate it, it looks the same on both sides of a dividing line.
• Rhythm & Movement:
  • A regular repetition of elements to produce the look and feel of movement.
• Proportion:
  • The comparative relationship of one part to another with respect to size, quantity, or degree.
  • How parts fit together to make a whole - Size relations, including scale and exaggeration.