Elements of Art

Elements of art are stylistic features that are included within an art piece to help the artist communicate. The seven most common elements include line, shape, texture, form, space, color and value. When analyzing these intentionally utilized elements, the viewer is guided towards a deeper understanding of the art work.

Line is a mark made using a drawing tool, brush, or sculpture media. There are many types of lines: thick, thin, horizontal, vertical, zigzag, diagonal, curly, curved, spiral, etc. and are often very expressive. Lines are basic tools for artists—though some artists show their lines more than others.

Shape is created when a line is enclosed. We typically think of a shape as a closed contour. So, if you take a line and enclose it, then you will have created a shape. Shapes can play important roles in the creation of art. They help to create complex drawings and paintings, affect composition, and contribute to the balance within a work.

Shape is a two-dimensional area that is defined by a change in value or some other form of contrast.

All shapes are two-dimensional, meaning that they have only length and width.

All shapes will fall into one of two categories. Geometric shapes or regular shapes are easy to recognize. Math can be used to find information about these shapes and these shapes generally have a specific name associated with them. Examples include: circle, triangle, square, and trapezoid.

Organic or free-form shapes are shapes that seem to follow no rules. Organic shapes generally do not have a name associated with them and are typically not man-made.

We can learn to see the world around us as shapes. Recognizing the shapes that we see will lead to improved drawing and painting.

Shapes defined by objects are positive shapes (space). Shapes defined around objects are negative shapes (space).

Space is the area around, above, and within an object.

Positive Space - the shapes or forms of interest

Negative Space - the empty space between the shapes or forms

3-D Space can be defined as the space over, under, through, behind, and around a form. Architecture, sculpture, weaving, ceramics, and jewelry are three-dimensional art forms

Texture refers to the way an object feels to the touch or looks as it may feel if it were touched.

3-D Texture - refers to the way an object feels to the touch

2-D Texture- refers to the way an object looks as it may feel

Rough textures - reflect light unevenly

Smooth textures - reflect light evenly

Matte - surface that reflects a soft, dull light. Shiny surfaces are the opposite of matte.

Impasto - a painting technique in which the paint is built up on the surface to create a texture