1.2: The Elements of Art
- Page ID
- 256348
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)The Elements of Art
by Jon McCallum
The Elements of Art are known as the “building blocks” of art. The elements can be likened to the alphabet. Similar to how each letter of the alphabet can be put together to form words which convey meaning, so can each of the Elements of Art be put together to create visual expression. Learning how to look for, recognize, and describe how these elements appear in various works of art is a major goal of this course. Take special note of these elements and begin looking for how they are showing up in your everyday world. If something looks good, think about what is going on with the elements that are creating that goodness. If something looks off or overly-busy, explore what changes could be made to one or more of the elements to create greater harmony or beauty.
Different courses and textbooks may or may not include some of these elements, or they may use different terms for them. There are various complexities that keep the list from being super tidy. For instance, Space can refer to actual space, like the surface of a canvas and how the artist engages that space by applying various other elements. Space can also be the "illusion of space" which regards how an artist creates the illusion of depth, the appearance of things going back in space, even though in actuality the image sits on a flat, thin surface. In the actual use of space, Space is more of an element. In the illusion of space, Space is more of a Principle—Principles pertain to how the elements are handled to create certain qualities. Art is seldom a black-and-white science or mathematical formula. Art often resides in and develops from the tensions of humanity. So it should come as no surprise that the categorizations that make up art are not clear cut.
This course considers the following seven Elements of Art as valid features of artistic exploration:
- Line
- Shape
- Color
- Value
- Texture
- Space
- Time and Motion
Another factor to note is that not all elements will be present in every work of art. This is consistent with our alphabet metaphor—not every word contains every letter of the alphabet. A work of art can still be a great work of art, even if not all of the elements are included. A black-and-white photograph can be a captivating, thought-provoking image even if the element of color is not present. (The question of whether "black" and "white" can be considered colors is another "gray" area in art — some people consider them as colors, others see them as being void of color.) (Ah, art — so wonderfully and yet painfully subjective!)
Now, let's take a closer look at each of the Elements.