Art elements and design principles Design

elements and
i:Art element description : . ; :. :1;,Analysis questions principles
Line - The path left by a moving point. Lines can be • Describe the types of line used in the work.
physically represented in an artwork or can be visual • What mood does the line create?
references to space. • How does line assist in forming composition of the
work?
Tone (or value) - The degree of lightness or darkness of • How has tone been used? Is it highly contrasted? Are
aspects of an artwork, such as colour or light. a variety of tones used? Is limited tone used? Is high high key:
key tone used? composed mainly
• How does the use of tone contribute to the mood of of light tones
the image?
Texture - The surface quality of an artwork. It is • Can I identify the different surface qualities of the
how things feel, or look as if they may feel, when shapes in the image?
touched. In an artwork, texture can be 'real', created • How has the artist created texture in the work?
by brushstrokes or the surface quality of materials or • Does the texture contribute to the composition of the
'implied' meaning they are simulated. image?
Shape - A two-dimensional area that can be drawn or • Are the shapes in the image geometric, flat, 3D or
cut. Shapes can be organic or geometric. natural?
• How are the shapes formed?
• What techniques has the artist used to create the
shapes? For example, are they painted? How does
the sculptor create the shapes in the work? How are
the shapes formed in a photograph?
• Do the shapes contribute to the composition of the
work?
Form - An element of art that is three-dimensional. • How has the artist created the appearance of form in
It has height width and depth and encloses space or the work? Is it using particular brushstrokes?
volume. • Have they used light and surface qualities to suggest
form?
• Has the artist used particular materials to create
form?
Colour - The colour wheel consists of primary, • Are the colours bright, warm, dull, cool, contrasting,
secondary and tertiary colours. Secondary colours dramatic, natural, harmonious or complementary
are achieved by mixing the three primary colours and colours?
tertiary colours are achieved by mixing the secondary • What effect does the use of colour have on the mood
and primary colours together. The colours of the colour of the image?
wheel are called hues. • Does the colour have any effect on the composition of
the image?
Space - When an artist arranges the art elements in • How has the artist created depth or space in the
an artwork, they create the artwork in a space. In two- composition? Have they used lines, the placing of
dimensional artworks, three-dimensional space is given objects, perspective or any other element to create
an illusion or is created. In three-dimensional artworks, space?
the artist is working within the three-dimensional space.
Not all two-dimensional artworks have the illusion
of space; often abstract works and works involving
patterning use the space on the picture plane. Often
artists creating installation works are creating the
artwork in a pre-existing space.

CHAPTER 5 Desi911 exµioiation 93

 i
Analysis questions
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Design Principale descriptions

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Composition - An arrangement or combination of the • What does the artist emphasise visually? What first
design elements. attracts the viewer's attention?
• How does the artist emphasise this/these features
visually?
• Is there an underlying rhythm, pattern or geometric
structure to the composition?
• Does the composition seem unified? Do the elements
appear integrated or separate and distinct from each
other? How does the artist achieve this unity?
• What is the viewer's position in relation to the work?
• Is the composition large or small in scale? Is it
horizontal or vertical in orientation?
• How do these characteristics affect the viewer's
perception of this work?
• Is the composition figurative, abstract or realistic?
• How has the artist achieved an emotion or idea by
using the visual elements?
• What are the ideas suggested? How are the visual
symmetrical:
elements arranged t achieve this?
where one
side of an Balance -Affects the composition of an artwork and • How does the contrast of elements in the work create
image mirrors the combinations of the different elements in the work. balance? (E.g. are some shapes larger than others
the other. A Balance can be termed as symmetrical or asymmetrical. are, as though they appear heavier?)
work can have • How is the space in the artwork arranged? Does the
symmetry in placement of objects on the picture plane create a
the way i t sense of balance?
is arranged
Movement - May be created through patterns • What visual movement do you see in the artwork?
without the • Which elements have been repeated to create this
(achieved by repeating shapes or images). The repetition
items in each of shapes, images or forms creates predictable patterns visual movement?
half of the and establishes a rhythm within an artwork, which in • Describe how patterns have been created by shape,
image being turn creates a sense of movement. space or colour.
identical, rather
i t is their size Rhythm (and pattern) - The repetition of elements in an • What visual movement do you see in the artwork?
and position artwork creates a sense of rhythm. The repetition of art • Which elements have been repeated to create this
that creates elements creates a pattern and encourages the viewer's visual movement? Describe how patterns have been
the symmetry, eye to move around the artwork, Rhythm is generally created by shape, space or colour.
creating what created by the ordered pattern of shapes, space and
is known as colour in the work.
'formal balance' Contrast - In an artwork, contrast refers to the use • Which elements have been contrasted in the artwork?
of opposing elements to create interest. This can be Why has the artist used these elements to contrast?
asymmetrical: in colour, tone, line or any other element. Contrast is • How has the artist used contrast with the elements?
opposite of used often in conjunction with other design principles. Is it size, shape or colour?
symmetrical, Contrast can create a focal point in an artwork. Contrast • Does the artist create a focal point with the use of
the objects in can also create variety in an artwork. contrast?
an image are Emphasis (focal point) - The main area of interest in an • What elements have been used to create a focal point
not balanced artwork. The artist will arrange or use certain elements in the artwork?
and each half to draw the attention of the viewer to an area of the • Describe the contrast of elements that have been
of the image artwork. Artists can create focal points using certain used to create a focal point in the artwork.
does not techniques including the contrast within a particular • Where have certain elements been placed to create
resemble element, the size and placement of certain elements and the focal point in the artwork?
the other by using lines and rhythm to draw our attention. • How has rhythm of the elements created the focal
point in the artwork? What elements have been
repeated or how have patterns been created?

94 ART-ISAN Studio Arts for VCE Units 1-4

 • Which elements have been repeated to create
repetition:
Unity -Achieved in an artwork when all the
where elements of
elements work together to create a strong sense unity in the artwork? How have the elements
been repeated? an artwork occur
of connection in the artwork. The elements may
all be used in a similar way, thus creating unity. An • Are the shapes the same size and placed in a more than once,
example of this is repetition. When elements are pattern to create unity? Or are they different often to create
the same size and type and placed in a particular sizes, thus creating variety? Describe the use unity in a work,
pattern they are said to be unified through repetition. of the shapes by the artist. can be repeated
Harmony within elements can also create a sense • Has the artist used contrast with the elements shapes, colours,
of unity, such as the use of harmonious colours in to create variety in the artwork? arrangements or
a work. Often when elements are repeated there even sounds in
will be an aspect that is different to create variety. multimedia works
Generally, the contrast of a particular element will
create variety. harmony:
elements are
For more detailed explanations of art elements and design principles refer to Chapter 12 (pages 205-12). harmonious i f they
are similar, such as
colours {e.g. warm
colours)

variety:
variety is created
by using a different
element in a
repetitive pattern
{e.g. a square in a
position of circles)

contrast:
when two different
forms of the
elements are
used in the same
work specifically
to emphasise the
difference between
them, for example
use of light and
shade or use of
contrasting colours
Bowden, M, D'Aglas, N, Lindley, P, Hannan, Rowena, D'Angelo, G, and Pearman, D (2010) Art-isan:Studio Arts for VCE Units 1-4 like blue and
Port Melbourne, Australia : Cambridge University Press pp 93 - 95 yellow.

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