12 – Painting

Fundamentals of Visual Art

Lines
Lines are marks moving in a space between two points whereby viewer can visualize
the stroke movement, direction and intention based on how the line is oriented. Lines
describe an outline, capable of producing texture according to their length and curve.
There are different types of lines artists may use, including, actual, implied, vertical,
horizontal, diagonal and contour lines, which all have different functions. Lines are also
situational elements, requiring the viewer to have knowledge of the physical world in
order to understand their flexibility, rigidity, synthetic nature, or life.

Shape
A shape is a two-dimensional design encased by lines to signify its height and width
structure, and can have different values of colour used within it to make it appear three-
dimensional. In animation, shapes are used to give a character a distinct personality
and features, with the animator manipulating the shapes to provide new life. There are
different types of shapes an artist can use and fall under either geometrical, defined by
mathematics, or organic shapes, created by the artist. Simplistic, geometrical shapes
include circles, triangles and squares, and provide a symbolic and synthetic feeling,
whereas acute angled shapes with sharp points are perceived as dangerous shapes.
Rectilinear shapes are viewed as dependable and more structurally sound, while
curvilinear shapes are chaotic and adaptable.

Form
Form is a three-dimensional object with volume of height, width and depth. These
objects include cubes, spheres and cylinders. Form is often used when referring to
physical works of art, like sculptures, as form is connected most closely with three-
dimensional works and can be viewed from many angles. In drawn or animated works,
type form is alluded to by adding shading and highlights to two-dimensional shapes,
giving the illusion of depth.

Colour
Colour is an element consisting of hues, of which there are three properties: hue,
chroma or intensity, and value. Colour is present when light strikes an object and it is
reflected back into the eye, a reaction to a hue arising in the optic nerve. The first of the
properties is hue, which is the distinguishable colour, like red, blue or yellow. The next
property is value, meaning the lightness or darkness of the hue. The last is chroma or
intensity, distinguishing between strong and weak colours. A visual representation of
chromatic scale is observable through the colour wheel that uses the primary colours.

Space
Space refers to the perspective (distance between and around) and proportion (size)
between shapes and objects and how their relationship with the foreground or
background is perceived. There are different types of spaces an artist can achieve for
different effect. Positive space refers to the areas of the work with a subject, while
negative space is the space without a subject. Open and closed space coincides with
three-dimensional art, like sculptures, where open spaces are empty, and closed
spaces contain physical sculptural elements.

Texture
Texture is used to describe the surface quality of the work, referencing the types of lines
the artist created. The surface quality can either be tactile (real) or strictly visual
(implied). Tactile surface quality is mainly seen through three-dimensional works, like
sculptures, as the viewer can see and/or feel the different textures present, while visual
surface quality describes how the eye perceives the texture based on visual cues.

Value

The scale between dark (black) and light (white) values.

Value refers to the degree of perceivable lightness of tones within an image. The
element of value is compatible with the term luminosity, and can be "measured in
various units designating electromagnetic radiation". The difference in values is often
called contrast, and ref

erences the lightest (white) and darkest (black) tones of a work of art, with an infinite
number of grey variants in between. While it is most relative to the greyscale, though, it
is also exemplified within coloured images.

Principles of Art
1) Balance
Balance refers to the weight of objects, and their placement in relation to each
other. It’s a sense of stability you might feel from elements in alignment. This
can take three forms: symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial. Symmetrical
balance refers to the exact mirroring of objects across an axis (i.e. an invisible
line on the page). Asymmetrical balance is the opposite of this – when objects
do not mirror each other perfectly, shifting the balance to one side or the other
of the axis. This is often done to highlight an object in relation to another.
Radial balance is when objects are distributed all around a central point.

2) Proportion
Proportion is the size of objects in relation to each other, or within a larger
whole. This could be natural (e.g. a nose which fits onto a face the way you
would expect it), exaggerated (e.g. a nose that is vastly over or undersized),
and idealized, in which parts have the kind of perfect proportion that you just
don’t see occurring naturally.

3) Emphasis
Emphasis is an extension of these first two principles: it is when contrast,
placement, size, color or other features are used to highlight one object, area,
or other elements of the artwork. This is used to draw attention – a focal point
– or accentuate a feature.

4) Harmony
In follow on from variety, harmony is the use of related elements. This might be
similar colors, shapes, sizes of objects, etc. It’s about repetition and a
relationship between elements. This creates a sense of connection between
the objects, creating a sense of flow. Harmony is one of the most important
aspects when it comes to principles of art

5) Rhythm
This can also be thought of as a kind of relationship between patterned
objects. Rhythm is often the use of regular, evenly distributed elements – they
could occur in slow, fast, smooth or jerky intervals, and this tells you
something about the feelings invoked. Like listening to an upbeat pop song
versus a slow ballad, the arrangement of notes creates a kind of pattern you
naturally respond to. The important part is recognizing the relationship
between the objects.

6) Unity
Not to be confused with harmony, unity is the overall cohesion of the work.
You might achieve this through any kind of grouping of objects. Any kind of
similarity will help to strengthen the sense of unity you feel when looking at a
series of objects.

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