Do Now: Introduction to the Elements of Art

Heading: Elements of Art

List the seven Elements of Art, describe each with its different types, and illustrate them with drawings.   

What are the elements of art? 

The Elements of Art are the basic tools artists use to create artworks. 

Just like words build sentences, elements build artworks.

What are the Principles of Art? 

The Principles of Art are the ways artists organise and arrange the Elements of Art to create effective artworks. 

Just like grammar helps organise words into clear sentences, principles organize the elements to create strong artworks. 

Elements = what you use

Principles = how you use them 

The 7 Elements of Art

1️⃣ Line

• A mark that moves across a surface

• Can be straight, curved, thick, thin, jagged

🗣️ Artists use line to show movement, emotion, and detail.

2️⃣ Shape

• A flat, enclosed area

• Can be geometric (circle, square) or organic (free, natural)

🗣️ Shapes help organise ideas and create images.

3️⃣ Form

• A shape that looks 3D

• Has height, width, and depth

🗣️ Form makes objects look solid and realistic.

4️⃣ Value (Light & Dark) ⭐ very important

• How light or dark something is

• Creates contrast and depth

🗣️ Value helps artworks look more dramatic or realistic.

5️⃣ Colour

• Made up of hue, value, and intensity

• Can show mood and emotion

🗣️ Colour can change how an artwork feels.

6️⃣ Texture

• How something looks like it feels

• Can be actual or visual

🗣️ Texture adds interest and detail.

7️⃣ Space

• The area around, between, or inside objects

• Includes positive and negative space

🗣️ Space helps artworks feel balanced or deep.

Independent task: 

Students will create a visual poster that explains the Elements of Art using:

• Title your work "The Elements of Art" 

• Draw up a range of small boxes (7 boxes required) on your page to limit the size your are working in. *Leave room for written notes around the sketches. 

• Experiment the design elements and principles by drawing in each box. 

 Clean up: Clean up tables and floor and sort colour pencils.    

👉 This can be done in a visual diary page or on A4/ A3 paper.

For EACH element, students must show:

1. Element name

2. Short definition

3. Visual examples 

EXAMPLE// VALUE

Use pencil to shade in your subject as realistic as you can -or- create a value scale inside your design that blends from light to dark. 

EXAMPLE// TEXTURE

Use yarn and fabric to create actual textures on your box. Use a glue bottle to attach the fibers to the paper. Explore contrasting colors and fill the entire area. 

Another option is to create implied 2d textures in this section using an art tool of your choice. For example, make the leaf look like it has a brick texture by implying this appearance with pencil.

EXAMPLE // SHAPE

Create a geometric shape paper mosaic using cut pieces of colored paper. Glue down with a glue stick. Keep the spacing fairly uniform between each shape, so you don’t have big “empty” chunks. Avoid overlapping shapes. Explore contrasting colors to define your design.

EXAMPLE // FORM

Use a tool of your choice to render the illusion of 3-dimensionality on your subject. Explore shadows, highlights, and depth.