WEEK 5

CONTEMPORARY ARTS FROM THE REGIONS

Introduction
 An element of art that is used to define shape, contours, and outlines, also to suggest mass and volume. It may
be a continuous mark made on a surface with a pointed tool or implied by the edges of shapes and forms.

ELEMENTS OF ART
1. LINE - The elements of art are space, line, shape and form, color, value, and texture. Meanwhile, the principles of
art are proportion, harmony, variety, movement, rhythm, balance, and emphasis. Now, let’s discuss this elements and
principles of art further.
Line may come in two Characteristics:
FORM – curved, dotted, or broken lines; and DIRECTION – vertical, horizontal, or diagonal lines.

INTERPRETATIONS OF LINES
 Horizontal Line creates an impression of serenity and perfect stability.
 Vertical Line creates an impression of strength and perfect stability.
 Diagonal Line creates an impression of action.
 Curved Line creates an impression of gradual change of direction.
 Circular Line creates an impression of unexpectedly change of direction.

Lines can be classified into different types:

Outlines are made by the edge of an object or its silhouette.

Contour Lines describe the shape of an object and the interior

detail.

Expressive Lines catch the movement and gestures of an active figure.

 Sketch Lines capture the appearance of an object or impression of a place.

Calligraphic Lines are the elegant handwriting or lettering done by hand.

Implied Lines are lines that are not actually drawn but created by a group
of objects seen from a distance.

2. SHAPE - Shapes are two dimensional figures with height and width. There are different kinds of shapes and these
are geometric shapes, organic shapes, positive shapes, negative shapes, static shapes, and dynamic shapes

Geometric Shapes are circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, and

other geometric shapes.

Organic Shapes are shapes found in nature and are free

flowing,
informal and irregular
(abstract shapes).

Positive Shapes are the solid forms in a design.

Negative Shapes are the space around the positive shape.

Static Shapes are shapes that appears stable and resting.

Dynamic Shapes are shapes that appears moving and active.
3, COLOR - Colors we see in nature are reflections of light on the surfaces around us. We can classify colors into
primary colors, secondary colors, tertiary colors, analogous colors, complementary colors, monochromatic colors,
warm colors, and cool colors

Primary colors are red, blue, and yellow.

Secondary colors are the resulting colors when the two of the
primary colors are mix.
The secondary.

Tertiary colors are the resulting colors when two of the

primary and/or secondary colors are mix. The tertiary colors
are amber, vermilion, magenta, violet, teal, and chartreuse.

Analogous Colors are colors that lie nest to each other based
on the color wheel. Example of analogous colors are yellow,
orange, and red.

Complementary colors are colors that are opposite to

each other based on the color wheel. Examples
of complementary colors are red and green, blue
and orange, and purple and yellow.

Monochromatic Colors are several values of one color.

one created using only one color, Limiting oneself to a
single color, can spark this same kind of creativity and
encourage an artist to explore other intriguing design
elements.

Warm colors are colors that give the feeling of

warmth. The warm colors are yellow, amber, orange,
vermilion, red, and magenta.
Cool colors are colors that give the feeling of coolness. The cool colors are purple, violet, blue, teal, green, and
chartreuse.

3. SPACE - Space refers to distances or areas around, between or within components of a piece and refers to the
arrangement of objects on the picture plane (two-dimensional).

Positive space refers to a part which is enclosed in a

shape. Meanwhile, negative space refers to the
opposite part which the shape is enclosing. Moreover,
perspective is a technical means by which we
perceive distance in painting.

In one-point perspective, we
perceive that the position of objects
meets at one point on the horizontal
line. Drawing method that shows
how things appear to get smaller as
they get further away

In two-point perspective, we perceive that the position

of objects meets at two points on the horizontal line.

5. TEXTURE - Texture is the element that appeals to our sense

of feel on things, rough or smooth, bumpy or slippery. It is the character of the surface of an artwork

Real texture is the actual texture of an object. Artist may

create real texture in art to give it visual interest or evoke
a feeling.

Implied texture made a piece of art to look like a

certain texture. Like a drawing of a tree trunk may look
rough but in fact it is just a smooth piece of paper.

6. VALUE - Value pertains to the lightness or darkness of a color in a given artwork. Value can be changed by adding
white or black to a color and these described as tint and shade.
Tint pertains to the lightness of a color.

Shade pertains to the darkness of a color.

7. FORM - Form is the three-dimensionality of an object. It has dimensions of height, width, and length

EXAMPLE FORM: height measurement from base

to top.

EXAMPLE FORM: width the measurement from

side to side.

EXAMPLE FORM: length the quantity with dimension distance

According to Mader (2019), the elements of art are the visual tools that the artist uses to create a composition.

PRINCIPLE OF ART
1. RHYTHM - This refers to the repetition of certain elements to produce a pattern.
2. MOVEMENT- Movement is the illusion of motion in a painting, sculpture, or design.
3. BALANCE - Balance refers to the visual weight in a picture. It refers to the even distribution of positions of
elements in an artwork
The principle of balance can be symmetrical or asymmetrical.
Symmetrical balance refers to an artwork wherein its both sides has the same elements in the same position.
Asymmetrical balance refers to an artwork wherein it is balance through the contrast or differences of any of the
elements of art.
4. PROPORTION - Proportion refers to the relationships of the size of objects in a body of work.
5. CONTRAST - This principle shows differences between elements of art in an artwork. It shows how stronger each
element of art in relation to one another.
6. VARIETY - This principle of art refers to the diversity or the different elements used in an artwork to make it more
interesting.
7. EMPHASIS - Emphasis refers to certain element stand out. That has a greater impact or highlight given to a certain
element in an artwork.
8. HARMONY - This principle of art refers to the unity of an artwork. It is also the use of colours, shapes, and other
elements to create a pleasing or balanced effect.

These elements and principles of arts are very important aspects in understanding and appreciating arts. It helps an
artist to make an artistic artwork which conveys their essential ideas or their intent