Back to the BasicsElements of Art

Principles of Design

October 2013

Elements of Art The Building Blocks

LineShapeColorValueFormTextureSpace

Elements of Art The Building Blocks

LineColorShapeFormSpaceTextureValue

LineLine is the path of a point moving through space.

How Can Lines be Described?

LineLine is the path of a point moving through space.

How Can Lines be Described?

Thick Thin Straight Dotted Diagonal Rough Horizontal

Zig-zag

The ObviousActual Lines

Dionysius, 1944, Barnett Newman

67x49in

Yellow Painting, 1949

Barnett Newman

Untitled (The Cry),

Barnett Newman 36x24in.,

ink on paper

Lines can be implied . . .

Not actually drawn, but guide one’s eye around the artwork – can be found in …

Line of sight,

Posture of people or animals

By areas of shadow and light

In folds of fabric, curtains or clothing

In streams of light and

In the organization of items in artwork….

Lines can be implied . . .

The Flower Carrier, 1935, Diego Rivera, 48x48 in.

Where are the Implied Lines?

Lines can be implied . . .

Note: lines

implied by directional

gazes

The Flower Carrier, 1935, Diego Rivera, 48x48 in.

Lines can be implied . . .

Still Life (The Blue Vase), 1920Giorgio Morandi

Oil on canvas

Where are the Implied Lines?

Lines can be implied . . .

Still Life (The Blue Vase), 1920Giorgio Morandi

Oil on canvas

Where are the Implied Lines?

A VENETIAN WOMAN,1882John Singer Sargent

oil on canvas93 3/4 x 52 1/2 in

Which are the actual lines?

Where are the implied lines?

A VENETIAN WOMAN,1882John Singer Sargent

oil on canvas93 3/4 x 52 1/2 in

Lines used to create emphasis

Lines can curve . . .The Great Wave Off Kanagawa, 1823-29

Katsushika HokusaiColor woodcut, 10 x 15 in.

Johann KoerbeckeThe Ascension, 1456/1457

tempera on panel (36 1/2 x 25 1/2 in.)

What kinds of lines can you find?

Curved, smooth

Jagged

Jagged, zig-zag

straight

Johann KoerbeckeThe Ascension, 1456/1457

tempera on panel (36 1/2 x 25 1/2 in.)

Le déjeuner des canotiers, 1880–1881Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Oil on canvas, 129.5 × 172.7 cm

Shape Shape has length and width, but is flat. It is perceived as two-dimensional.

(Form has depth, length, and width. It is perceived as three-dimensional.)

There are two TYPES of shapes:Geometric shapes -- circles, rectangles, squares,

triangles and so on -- have the clear edges one achieves when using tools in order to create them.

Organic shapes have natural, less well-defined edges (think: leaves, seashells, flowers, an amoeba, or a cloud – things found in nature). Also known as “free form”.

These are Shapes These are Forms

Shape Shape has length and width, but is flat. It is perceived as two-dimensional.

(Form has depth, length, and width. It is perceived as three-dimensional.)

There are two PARTS of a shapes:

Positive shapes – the solid parts. The objects in a painting

Negative shapes – the space in between the objects/people in the painting.

Which is which

Shape Shape has length and width, but is flat. It is perceived as two-dimensional.

(Form has depth, length, and width. It is perceived as three-dimensional.)

Confusion sometimes arises from the terms “shape” and “form.”  A “shape” is an area which stands out because of a defined boundary (a line) or change in color, value or texture. A shape implies a flat, two-dimensional surface.

Here we see come circular shapes combined with curving and diagonal lines. By applying charcoal in varying degrees of value (chiaroscuro), an artist can create the illusion o a three-dimensional form (the baseball) where none actually exists (a two-dimensional canvas).

Shapes are simple. Shapes are flat.

Shapes are easy to recognize.

The Parakeet and the MermaidHenri Matisse

Doves by Pablo Picasso

Child with a Dove (1901)Pablo Picasso

The Dove of Peace (1949)Pablo Picasso

BalancementWassily Kandinsky

The Singing FishJoan Miro

Cubism – The Art of ShapesCubist 9Thomas Fedro

The GuitarJuan Gris

Woman with Mandolin Pablo Picasso

Three MusiciansPablo Picasso

Having fun with Shapes

Geometric Mouse Scale A, 1969/1971Claes Oldenberg

Metamorphosis II 1 939-1940

M. C. Escher  woodcut 7.6 in × 153.3

in