ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF ART

OVERVIEW
There is no art without its elements. This formal quality of art in its distinct usage and
arrangement give art beauty and contribute to its meaning. In this topic, this different elements
and principles of art, and how these translate in an artwork will be discussed and examined.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, the students are expected to:

1. Identify the elements of art.

2. Analyze the various elements present in visual, auditory, and combined arts.
3. Identify the principles of design.
4. Define and translate principles of design in an artwork.

COURSE MATERIALS
1. Menoy, Jesus Z. Introduction to the Humanities (A holistic Approach). Books Atbp.
Publishing Corp., 2009
2. Reganio Jr. et al. Art Appreciation: Introductory Reading on Humanities Focus on
Philippine Art Scene. Books Atbp. Publishing Corp., 2013
3. Constantino Jr., Bienvenido B. Arts Across Time and Borders. Books Atbp. Publishing
Corp., 2014

Discussion

What are the forms of art?

1. Literary Arts are those presented in the written mode and intended to be read.  These
include prose and poetry. (e.g. novels, short stories, sonnet, ballad, epic, essay)

2. Visual Art are those forms perceived by the eyes.  These include painting,
sculpture, and architecture 

a. Graphic Arts are those visual arts that have length and width; they are also
called two-dimensional arts. They are described as flat arts because they are
seen of flat surfaces.
b. Plastic Arts are those visual arts that have length, width, and volume; thus, they
are also called three-dimensional arts.
 3. Audio Visual Art are those forms perceived by both ears (audio) and eyes (visual).
They are called performing arts in as much as the artists render a performance in front of
an audience.

What are the elements of art?

I. Color
- gives meaning, value, intensity and saturation to an object. It has series of
wave lengths which strikes our retina.
- “element that is produced when light strikes an image”
- Its properties include:
1. Hue refers to the names we assign a color, such as yellow, blue, green
2. Saturation refers to the vividness of color.
3. Value refers to the lightness or darkness of the color.

Figure 1: The Color Wheel

Classification of colors:
o Primary colors- colors that cannot be formed from mixtures because they are
pure colors. Example: red, blue and yellow.
o Secondary colors- colors form out of combination of two primary colors.
Example: Blue + Yellow = Green; Red + Blue = Violet; Red + Yellow = Orange
o Intermediate colors- colors form out of mixing one primary and one secondary.
Example: Yellow + Green = Yellow green; Red + Violet = Red violet; Red +
Orange = Red orange
 o Tertiary colors- form out of combination of two secondary colors. Example:
Orange + purple = russet; Orange + green = citron; Purple + green = olives

II. Line - one or two dimensional art that indicates direction, orientation, movement, and
energy. It is considered as the oldest, simplest, universal element.
Types of Lines:
1. Solid line: used to define forms
2. Broken lines: used to suggest hidden forms

Direction of Line:

o Vertical line- basic framework of all forms, power,

strength, stability, simplicity, and efficiency.

o Horizontal line- creates an impression of serenity and

perfect stability. Rest, calmness, peace, and reposed.
 o Diagonal line- it shows movement and instability. Portrays
movement action.

o Jagged line- it shows violence, zigzag, confusion, and

conflict.

o Curve line- it shows a gradual change of direction and

fluidity. It signifies subtle form.

III. Form
 “includes shape and perceived volume”*
 In 3D figures, the form is exemplified in its height, width, and depth*
 Shape which the expression of content takes
 The personal ways of handling tools to form shapes is allows an artist to create his
own unique technique
 Material, on the other hand, is the substance used in art and what is manipulated in
a distinct technique
(Left: Seated Youth by Wilhelm Lehmbruck; Right: The Thinker by Auguste Rodin)

IV. Space
 Provided by the artist for specific purposes*
 Includes the foreground, background, middle ground*
 It also includes the area between objects, which can either be positive space or
negative space;* positive space refers to the focal objects in the work of art, while
negative space refers to empty space surrounding the objects.
 Two types of perspective:
1. Atmospheric: utilizes the properties of light and air in depicting the illusion of
distance
2. Linear: involves the use of vanishing points and receding hidden lines

(Above: Linear Perspective; Below: Atmospheric Perspective)

 Background

Middle Ground

Foreground

(Above: Wanderer Over a Sea of Fog by Caspar David Friedrich; Below: Still Life, Jar and Fruits
by Paul Cezanne)

Negative Space

Positive Space
 V. Texture
 “denotes the smoothness, ruggedness of the image or the object.”*
 Can either be:*
1. Real – can be felt
2. Implied – artificial

VI. Shape and Mass

 Refers to an area with boundaries identified or drawn using lines
 Two types of shapes:
1. Organic shape – based on natural or living forms and can be irregular
2. Geometric shape – based on measured forms

Principles of Art

o Emphasis – the composition refers to developing points of interest to pull the

viewer’s eye to important parts of the body of the work.

o Balance – it is a sense of stability in the body of work. It can be created by

repeating same shapes and by creating a feeling of equal weight.

o Harmony – achieved in a body of work by using similar elements throughout the

work, harmony gives an uncomplicated look to your work.

o Variety – refers to the differences in the work, you can achieve variety by using
difference shapes, textures, colors and values in your work.

o Movement – adds excitement to your work by showing action and directing the
viewer’s eye throughout the picture plane.
o Rhythm – a type of movement in drawing and painting. It is seen in repeating of
shapes and colors. Alternating lights and darks also give a sense of rhythm.

o Proportion or scale – refers to the relationships of the size of objects in a body

of work. Proportions give a sense of size seen as a relationship of objects. Such
as smallness or largeness.

o Unity – is seen in a painting or drawing when all the parts equal a whole. Your
work should not appear disjointed or confusing.