Elements

of
Painting
Riza Jean Hitiayon-Bote
 Knowing the different elements of a painting is like
knowing the backbone of a certain structure. Like knowing
the hidden details in a blueprint of a building, these elements
are essential to further understand the composition of each
painting’s techniques and style. With these elements of
painting, an artist will have a comprehensive understanding
of the arts properly in an easy way.
01 Color
Color (or hue) This is the most
important elements in working with arts.
The foundation of all paintings and how one
work of art affects the artist and the
spectator depends on the colors that are
present in the painting. One artist can
determine the right feeling towards art by
simply looking at the colors that were used
to create the art piece.
Color theory is one of the keys to
working with color, especially for painters.
Each new color you introduce to a canvas
plays a vital role in viewers’ perception of
the piece.
02 Line
While we tend to think of lines
when drawing, painters must also focus on it.
After all, every brushstroke you make
creates a line.
Line is defined as a narrow mark made
by a brush, or a line created where two
objects or elements meet. It defines the
subject of paintings and helps us imply
things such as movement.
Painters should also be aware of different
types of lines. Among these are implied
lines, those that are not drawn but are
instead implied by the brushstrokes around
it.
 Tone and value are used
03 Tone
interchangeably in painting. It is,
essentially, how light or dark a paint is
when you strip away the color.
Understanding how to use it can greatly
affect the way your art is perceived.
Every color of paint has an almost
endless variety of tones available to it.
You can mix it with mediums and
neutral paints to adjust its tone however
you like. Some paintings have a very
limited range of tones while others
include stark contrasts in tones
04 Shape/Form Every piece of artwork includes the
element of shape, which ties into line and
space. In essence, a shape is an enclosed area
that is made when lines meet. When that shape
takes on a third dimension (as in sculpture or
some mixed media), we then also have formed.
Artists often train themselves to see the
shapes in everything. By breaking down the
basic shapes of a subject, it creates an accurate
representation of it in paintings and drawings.
Additionally, shapes may be either
geometric or organic. The former are the
triangles, squares, and circles we're all familiar
with. The latter are those shapes that are not
well-defined or those found in nature.
05 Space or Volume
Space or volume is another
crucial element in any art and it can
be used to great effect in paintings.
When talking about space in art, we
think of the balance between positive
and negative space.
Positive space is the subject
itself while the negative space is the
area of a painting around it. Artists
can play with a balance between
these two spaces to further influence
how viewers interpret their work.
 06 Texture
Paintings are the perfect medium to play
with texture as well. This can be interpreted
as a pattern within the painting or the
brushstrokes themselves.
Some paints, particularly oils, are thicker
and how they're applied on the canvas or
board can give the work more depth
because of the texture. For instance, if you
take the color out of a painting by Van Gogh
and view it in black and white, the texture of
his brushstrokes stands out dramatically.
Similarly, impasto painting relies on very
deep textures.
 07 Composition
Composition is the arrangement of
the painting. Where you place the
subject, how the background elements
support it, and every little piece that you
add to the canvas becomes part of the
composition. It is critical to how the work
is perceived.
There are also "elements of
composition" to consider. These include
unity, balance, movement, rhythm, focus,
contrast, pattern, and proportion. Each
plays an important role in every painting,
which is why artists focus so much of their
08 Direction or Paintings Perception
Direction may also be used to refer to
perspective. Where your place objects or how
they're used in proportion to others can direct a
viewer through the art. In this sense, it's related
to movement as well and direction is an
important aspect of design, no matter the
medium.
Painters are also concerned about the
direction of the light in their paintings. All of the
painting's elements must have light falling on
them from the same direction or viewers will be
confused. They may not realize it, but something
will disturb them if highlights and shadows
change from one side of the painting to another.
 Size "Size" refers to the scale of the painting itself
09 as well as the scale of proportions within the
painting's elements.
The relationship between objects can also
unknowingly disrupt a viewer's perception and
enjoyment. For instance, an apple that is larger than
an elephant is not natural. Less dramatically, we
expect someone's eyes, lips, and nose to have a
particular balance in size.
When it comes to determining the size of any
piece of art, painters also have many things to
consider. Oversized paintings can be just as
dramatic as a very small piece and both have their
challenges. Plus, artists must consider what the
intended buyer might have room for.
On many levels, size is one of the biggest
considerations for any artist.
 10 Time/Movement
All of the other elements affect how the
viewer perceives and looks at a painting. This is
where time and movement come into play.
Time can be viewed as the amount of time
a viewer spends looking at a piece. Are there
various elements that continue to capture their
attention? Is it intriguing enough so they stop and
don't keep walking past your art? Admittedly, this
is one of the elements that concern many artists.
Movement is also one of the elements of
composition, though its importance should not be
overlooked in that grouping. This refers to how you
direct the viewer's eye within the painting. By
including various elements in strategic places and
incorporating the other elements of art, you can
keep viewers moving around the painting. This, in
turn, increases the time they spend looking at it.