Elements of Art- the Building blocks of Art

Review of Vocabulary Words

Line• A mark with length and direction(s). An

element of art- a mark made on some surface by a moving point.

• Types of line: vertical, horizontal, diagonal, straight or ruled, curved, angular, thin, thick or wide, dotted, dashed , broken.

Contour Line

Indicate edges of forms or shapes and describes them in the simplest way.

Horizontal Line

Straight and flat across, parallel to the horizon. The opposite of vertical. The line where the sky and earth appear or meet.

Vertical Line

Straight up and down ; the opposite of (or perpendicular to) horizontal. Suggests strength and stability.

Diagonal Line

Having slanted direction. Any straight edge or line that is neither horizontal nor vertical is diagonal.

Parallel Line

Two or more straight lines or edges on the same plane that do not intersect. Parallel lines have the same direction.

Angular Lines

Having angles or an angular shape.

Zigzag Lines

Having short sharp turns or angles.

Scribble Lines

Not consistent lines.

Outline

A diagram or silhouette, made with one line defining the perimeter (outside edge of a form)

Implied Line

Our eyes often read edges of objects; they are not real lines, but lines made by the eye as it connects a row of similar lines.

Curved Line

Can imply slow or fast movement; have no true organization

Value

Refers to the lightness or darkness of a color/ hue.

Hatching

Line can create values and textures; hatching is the placing of lines next to each other.

Cross-Hatching

Is the crossing of parallel lines.

Stippling

To point, draw, engrave or create value by using dots.

Texture

An element of art, texture is the surface quality or “feel” of an object, it’s smoothness, roughness, softness, etc. Textures may be actual or simulated.