SHS

Contemporary
Philippine Arts
from the Regions
Module 4:
Elements and Principles of
Contemporary Art Forms
Lesson
Elements and Principles of
1 Contemporary Art Forms

What makes an artwork? To deeply understand one’s creation, we must be

knowledgeable about the basic concepts of its elements and principles. Knowing
these basic concepts can boost visual literacy. Artists make more powerful
artworks when they utilize the principles and elements of art.

On the other hand, when viewers are more familiar with the elements and
principles of art, they can be more aware of the details and can better appreciate
arts. Below are the definitions of the inseparable concepts to further understand
contemporary art works.

ELEMENTS OF ART- Building blocks of an artwork, tools artist used in creating

an artwork with certain predictable attributes
PRINCIPLES OF ART- Arrangements and organization of elements (building
blocks) -The way (style and strategy) of an artist can organize the elements of art to
create a wide range of effects.

To deepen your understanding of any art form, carefully analyze the table below
about the elements and principles of contemporary art:

ELEMENTS OF HIGHLIGHTS EXAMPLE

CONTEMPORARY
ARTS

1. LINE The most basic visual

element that marks a
distance between two points
or the path of moving point
An art element which is
longer than it is wide. It has
properties of length, width
(thickness) and direction
(vector)

One of the functions of https://brebru.com/art/line.html

lines in art and design is it
serves as an artist
signature. Line is where a
shape begins. This marks
the beginning of one ‘s art
style

https://www.moma.org/collection/works
/78984
2. FORM A visual tool that an
artist uses to compose an
artwork
-
dimensional. It is
measurable by length,
width, height and encloses
volume.
A three-dimensional form
can be seen from any side https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/po
st/meet-moshe-safdie-internationally-
while a three-dimensional acclaimed-architect-designing-new-boise-
form of sculpture does not library#stream/0
only occupy space but can
also contain space

physical nature of an
artwork

3. TEXTURE It is known as the tactile

qualities of a surface. It can
be an actual or illusionary
tactile value.
It can induce different
feelings like pleasure,
discomfort, or familiarity to
the audience. This can be
utilized by the artist to give
emotional responses from
people who view their work https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/211880357
of art. 439907592/

4. SHAPE Shape pertains to an

enclosed shape, a bounded
two-dimensional form with
length and width. It is used
to create images on canvas
and in the audience minds.

(e.g.: square, circle,

triangle, hexagon, etc.) or
organic (such as the shape
of a puddle, blob, leaf, https://www.pablopicasso.org/three-
boomerang, etc.) in nature. musicians.jsp

other elements of art:

3
 Space, Line, Texture, Value,
Color, Form.

5. SPACE It is the distance between

or the area around and
within shapes, forms,
colors, and line.

dimensions (length and

width), such as a floor, or it
may have three dimensions
(length, width, and height).

background, foreground,
and middle ground. Space
refers to the distances or
areas around, between or
http://www.picnicwit.com/literature-
within components of a
arts/art/john-sloans-south-beach-1905
piece.

Positive space refers to the

space of a shape
representing the subject
matter. Negative space
refers to the space around
and between the subject
matter.

6. COLOR One of the most complex

components among the
elements of art. It is
produced when light waves
strike an object which is
reflected into the eyes of an
audience.
Color has tree properties:
Hue- given name of a
particular color
https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/45387
Value- Lightness or 8468671882538
darkness of a color. “Tint” is
created when color white is
added, while “shade” is
created when color black is
added.

4
 Intensity(saturation)-
brightness of a color and
can be measured by
boldness or dullness. It is
also known as purity or
dullness of a color
Color wheel or color
circle- is a tool often utilized
by an artist as visual aid in
understanding the
relationship between colors.
There are primary,
secondary, and tertiary
complementary, analogous,
or cool colors.

7. VALUE Value is known as the

gradual changes of
lightness or darkness of a
color and it indicates the
quantity of light reflected

and adds emphasis

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanitie
s/art-1010/american-art-to-
wwii/symbolism-america/a/tanner-banjo-
lesson

PRINCIPLES OF HIGHLIGHTS EXAMPLE

DESIGNS

1. CONTRAST
difference. It is known as
the arrangement of
opposite elements and
effects. It is a strategy
used by an artist to
break up a work of art.
This is the opposite of
unity. For example: dark
and light colors, smooth
and rough textures, and Caravaggio, Crucifixion of St. Peter, 16
https://artclasscurator.com/principle
large and small shapes s-of-design-examples/

5
2. EMPHASIS Emphasis helps the
audience put the story of
an artwork in their own
interpretation. An artist
way of using visual
elements to draw
attention to a specific
area, usually the focal
point in an artwork. https://artclasscurator.com/principle
s-of-design-examples/

contrasting the elements

of art such as: colors,
shape, size and
dominance, detail,
contrast, and isolation

3. MOVEMENT Movement creates the

impression of action in
an artwork. It is the path
where the eyes of the
audience follow when
they look the artwork. It
also gives the artist https://artclasscurator.com/principle
control over on what the s-of-design-examples/
audience sees next

feeling of motion within a

work of art.

4. RHYTHM A continuing flow or a

feeling of movement
achieved by repetition of
regulated visual
information

arrangement of shapes https://artclasscurator.com/principle

s-of-design-examples/
that creates an
underlying beat.

5. PROPORTION Proportion is the size

relationship between the
various parts of an
artwork. Artists can use
scale and proportion to
create sensations such
as depth, realism,
The human figure is scaled to
disorientation, and
appear larger than the city
drama.

6
 skyline. The proportions could
indicate depth of perspective or
could symbolize the
relationship of laborers in
building a city.
https://artclasscurator.com/principle
s-of-design-examples/

6. BALANCE
visual weight in an
artwork. An equality in
weight, attention, or
attraction of the various
visual elements. https://artclasscurator.com/principle
s-of-design-examples/

art relate to each other

within the composition in
terms of visual weight to
create balance.

7. UNITY It is the totality of Unity is achieved through:

compositional elements
• repetition • simplicity •
producing harmonious,
harmony • contrast• theme
balanced, and complete
and variation • proximity •
whole. It is known as the
continuity
wholeness and
completeness of a picture

by an artist to make the

parts of an artwork go
together as a whole

8. VARIETY Utilization of different

qualities of the visual
element. It is important
to create visual interest
and to complement unity
and harmony. Spice of
an artwork https://artclasscurator.com/principle
s-of-design-examples/
Variety refers to the
elements of a
composition that differ
from one another. Variety
creates visual interest
and energy