ELEMENTS OF ART - Oberlin College and …

1 VOCABULARYELEMENTS OF ART: The visual components of color, form, line,shape, space, texture, and element of art defined by a point moving in space. Linemay be two-or three-dimensional, descriptive, implied, element of art that is two-dimensional, flat, or limited toheight and element of art that is three-dimensional and enclosesvolume; includes height, width AND depth (as in a cube, asphere, a pyramid, or a cylinder). Form may also be lightness or darkness of tones or colors. White is thelightest value; black is the darkest. The value halfwaybetween these extremes is called middle element of art by which positive and negative areas aredefined or a sense of depth achieved in a work of art.

2 ColorAn element of art made up of three properties: hue, value,and intensity. Hue: name of color Value: hue s lightness and darkness (a color s valuechanges when white or black is added) Intensity: quality of brightness and purity (highintensity= color is strong and bright; low intensity=color is faint and dull)TextureAn element of art that refers to the way things feel, or lookas if they might feel if OF ART: Balance, emphasis, movement, proportion,rhythm, unity, and variety; the means an artist uses to organizeelements within a work of principle of design that indicates movement, createdby the careful placement of repeated ELEMENTS in a workof art to cause a visual tempo or way of combining ELEMENTS to add a feeling ofequilibrium or stability to a work of art.

3 Major types aresymmetrical and (contrast)A way of combining ELEMENTS to stress the differencesbetween those principle of design that refers to the relationship ofcertain ELEMENTS to the whole and to each way of combining ELEMENTS by using a series ofgradual changes in those ELEMENTS . (large shapes tosmall shapes, dark hue to light hue, etc)HarmonyA way of combining similar ELEMENTS in an artwork toaccent their similarities (achieved through use ofrepetitions and subtle gradual changes)VarietyA principle of design concerned with diversity orcontrast. Variety is achieved by using different shapes,sizes, and/or colors in a work of principle of design used to create the look and feelingof action and to guide the viewer s eye throughout thework of art.