UNIT 5 ELEMENTS OF ART

Lesson 1: Elements of Visual Arts

This lesson helps students gain understanding of the visual arts through its elements.
Moreover, the knowledge gained from this lesson provides students the opportunity to apply
the elements in their own artwork.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the students must have:

1. Identified and described the elements of visual art;

2. Analyzed the elements of visual arts;
3. Determined the elements of visual arts present in their surroundings

In Focus

ELEMENTS OF THE VISUAL ARTS

Line. It is the basic building block of visual design. By conventional definition, it is

the path left by a moving point or can be thought of as an extended mark.
Functions of Line. Line performs the following functions:
1) It is used by an artist to control our vision by creating direction.
2) It is used to make an outline and define form.
3) It implies movement and emphasis.
4) It creates pattern and texture.
5) It creates shading and modelling (value and chiaroscuro)

Types of Line. Lines can be classified into general and specific types. General types
of line are those actual lines which are shown when they are emphasized by making them
thick and bold, implied lines which are formed when lines are suggested through formation
of objects, and lines formed by edges to separate objects.

Specific lines are those straight and curved lines (vertical, horizontal, diagonal).
Vertical lines suggest aspiration, poise, exaltation, power and force, horizontal lines suggest
calm and repose, infinity and stability, and diagonal lines suggest movement, action and life.
Curved lines are lines of beauty.

Color. It is the most appealing element and one of the most expressive elements
because its quality affects our emotions directly and immediately. It begins with and is

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derived from light, thus, it is dependent on the presence of light, for without it, there can be
no color. Color affects the psychological and physiological responses.

Physical Properties of Color. Color has hue, value and intensity. Hue is the
characteristic of a color that refers to that color’s position on the color wheel. It may be
primary, secondary and tertiary hues.
Primary Hues: Red, Yellow, Blue
Secondary Hues: Orange, Green, Violet
Tertiary/Intermediate Hues: Yellow-Orange, Yellow-Green, Red-Orange, Red-
Violet, Blue-Green, Blue-Violet

Value denotes the lightness or darkness of color, or the quantity of light a color
reflects. A large amount of light is reflected from yellow while a small amount of light is
reflected from violet. A color can be made lighter or darker than normal by the addition of
white or black.

Intensity is the quality of light in a color. It is used to distinguish a brighter tone of a

color from a duller one of the same hue, or to differentiate a color that has a high degree of
saturation or strength from that is grayed or neutralized.

Four Ways of Changing the Intensity of Colors. There are four ways to change the
intensity of colors:

1. When white is added to any hue, the tone becomes lighter in value, but it also loses
its brightness or intensity of color.
2. When black is added to a hue, the intensity diminishes as the value darkens.
3. When gray of the same value is mixed with the color, the intensity diminishes while
its value remains the same. The color becomes less bright but will not get lighter or
darker in tone.
4. When complementary hues such as yellow and violet, red and green, blue and orange
are mixed, it will result in a neutral grey.

We cannot change value without changing intensity.

Color Relationships. Colors may also be complementary , split complementary,

analogous and monochromatic colors. Complementary color scheme is composed of one of
the primary colors and the combinations of the two others. For example, the complement of
yellow is violet (blue+red), the complement of red is green (yellow+blue) and the
complement of blue is orange (yellow+red).

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 Split complementary scheme is composed of one color and two colors on either side
of its complement.
Y=red-violet and blue-violet
B=yellow-orange and red-orange
R=yellow-green and blue-green
V=yellow-orange and yellow-green
O=blue-green and blue-violet
G=red-orange and red-violet

Analogous color scheme is composed of three neighboring colors in the color wheel,
partly derived from a common color. Examples are yellow, yellow-orange, orange (Y-YO-
O); yellow, yellow-green, green (Y-YG-G); green, blue-green, blue (G-BG-B); blue, blue-
violet, violet (B-BV-V), etc.

Monochromatic color scheme is the result of using different value of color. Examples
are sky-blue, navy-blue, powder-blue, royal-blue; red, pink, maroon, green, mint green, blue-
green, etc.

Cool and Warm Colors. Red, orange and yellow are often associated with the sun
and are considered warm colors while any color containing blue such as violet, green or blue-
green are associated with the air, water and sky and are called cool colors.

Color, Emotion and Meaning. Color creates mood, symbolizes ideas and expresses
personal emotions. Light, bright colors make us feel happy and gay, while cool, dark, or
somber colors are generally depressing. Red is happy and exciting. It also symbolizes
danger, anger, war, etc.
Blue is dignified, sad and serene. It also associated with loyalty and honesty.
Yellow symbolizes cowardice and warmth.
Black is associated with death.
Green represents hope and life.
White symbolizes innocence and purity.
Purple is associated with royalty or wealth.

Functions of Color. Color performs the following functions:

1. To give spatial quality to the pictorial field.
2. To create mood and symbolize ideas.
3. To serve as a vehicle for the expression of personal emotions and feelings.
4. To attract and direct attention as a means of giving organization to a composition.
5. To accomplish aesthetic appeal by a system of well-ordered color relationships

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 6. To identify objects by describing the superficial facts of their appearance.

Shape. It is a two-dimensional area with identifiable boundaries. It is a space

enclosed by lines, and is created by lines, color, value, contrasting texture, or by some
combination of these.

Kinds of Shapes. Shapes can be natural, abstract, non-objective, biomorphic and

geometric.

Natural shapes are shapes that we see in nature. These may be interpreted
realistically, or they may be distorted.
Abstract shapes are formed after the artist has drawn out the essence of the original
object and made it the subject of his work. (abstracted from nature)
Non-objective shapes seldom have reference to recognized objects, but most often
they show a similarity to some organic forms. Sometimes these are called biomorphic and
geometrical shapes.
Biomorphic shapes are the curvilinear shapes in art that suggest the possibility of life.
Geometric shapes are the rectilinear (straight line) shapes developed by the cubist in
their dissection and reformulation of nature.

Space. It comes from the Latin word “spatium” which means “a limitless medium in
which objects exist.”

Types of Space. Space can be classified into decorative and plastic. Decorative
space is shallow or depthless which exists across the plane rather than in it. Plastic space is
the term applied to the third dimension which is a matter of “illusion” in painting.

Methods of Creating the Illusion of Depth in Painting. Depth in painting can be

created using the following methods:

Overlapping Planes or volumes presumes that an object, no matter how small, covers
a part of another object which is behind it. This method gives the observer the impression
that one object has a particular thickness or breadth and that it is in front of another object.
Variation in Size. Based on experience, we interpret largeness of size as nearness and
a diminishing size as an indication of distance. Variation in size has something to do with
the nearness of object to the viewer.
Position on the Picture Plane. In certain paintings the spatial representation is based
on the position of forms relative to the bottom of the frame. This method is frequently
found in Medieval Art and in the arts of China and Japan. Those objects found at the bottom

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of the frame are closer to the observer, and farther distances are indicated by the positions of
the objects higher in the picture plane.
Color. The warm colors give the illusion that they are closer to us than the cool
colors, and some artists have exploited this quality to deepen or flatten space in their works.
They have done so by painting the figures in the foreground in warmer colors and those in
the background in cooler colors.
Volumes and Planes. When shapes are given the thickness that converts them into
volumes, or masses, there is automatic implication of the space within which they must
exist.
Perspectives. Linear perspective is a mechanical means of demonstrating the visual
appearance of planes and volumes in space. This appearance is based on the location of the
artist in reference to the objects drawn. It is accomplished by directing parallel lines toward
a common point related to that location.
• To show the same effect of space and distance in art, painters make use of converging
lines and diminishing sizes.
• In linear perspective, objects seem to become smaller and less distinct in outline as
they recede into the distance.
• In aerial perspective, the color of objects seem to become lighter or fainter as the
objects go farther into the distance or atmosphere.

Value. It is the relative degree of lightness or darkness in painting which indicates

the presence or absence of light.

Functions of Value. Value can do the following:

• Creates the illusion of texture, form
• Breaks up the picture surface into patterns of dark and light
• Creates the illusion of light, space and movement
• Expresses emotion

Chiaroscuro and Tenebrism. The use of light for expressive effects resulted in the
development of two styles known as chiaroscuro and tenebrism.

Chiaroscuro. It refers to the technique which concentrates to the effects of blending

of light and shade on objects to create an illusion of space and atmosphere. It establishes the
mood in painting.
Tenebrism . It is the style of painting which exaggerates the effects of chiaroscuro.
Painters make use of a large amount of dark areas beside smaller areas of light for emphasis.
This they do by deviating from the standard light source and making light come from an
unexpected source.

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 Texture. It refers to the feel or tactile quality of the surface of an object, whether the
surface is rough or smooth, grooved or ridged, furry or silky. Texture in painting is an
illusion. It may be determined without the aid of the sense of touch.

Lesson 2: ELEMENTS OF MUSIC

This lesson helps students to gain an understanding of the basic elements of music
which will help them appreciate said genre of art.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the students must have:

1. Identified and described the elements of music;

2. Analysed music based on its elements;
3.

In Focus

Elements of Music

One can enjoy music by just mere contact with it. But one can fully appreciate and
completely enjoy it if he/she has knowledge of its components.

Music is made of sound. But unlike any other sound, sound in music, which is called
tone, is organized and regular.

Tone is the basic sound material with which the composer works.

Components of Tone (Elements of Music)

A. Pitch. The term pitch refers to the highness or lowness of a tonal sound in terms
of its location in the musical scale. It is measurable in vibration per second, so pitch, in
relation to vibration is, the faster the vibrations are, the higher the pitch will be, and the
slower the vibrations, the lower the pitch. However, vibration depends on the length, width,
thickness, density, and tension of the vibrating body or size of the vibrating body.

Large objects vibrate more slowly than small ones, thus, produce lower tones.

Ways to Determine Pitch

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 Scale. It is the arrangement of pitches.

Key Signature. It indicates the key in which the composition is written.

B. Duration. It is the length of time in which vibration is maintained without

interruption. It is not fixed. It is designed within musical notation.

Musical Notation. It consists of series of symbols or notes.

Aspects which indicate Duration

Rhythm. It comprises recurring pulses and accent (beats).

It is shaped by meter. Meter refers to rhythmic patterns produced by grouping

together strong and weak beats.
Meter may be in duple (2 beats in a measure), triple (3 beats in a measure), quadruple
(4 beats in a measure) and so on.
Time signature is the written indication of meter.

The elements of rhythm are beats and tempo.

Beats give music its regular rhythmic pattern. They are grouped together in a
measure; the notes and rests correspond to a certain number of beats.
Measure is the units of beats indicated by bar lines in a musical score.
Tempo. It is the rate of speed determined by the length of a beat.
Composers use terms and symbols to indicate tempo.

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 C. Timbre. Also known as tone color; it refers to the quality of sound that
distinguishes one voice or instrument from another.
Timbre may range anywhere from dull to lush, from dark to bright.

Voice Timbre

Soprano is the highest register female voice.

Coloratura soprano
Dramatic soprano
Lyric soprano
Mezzo soprano is the female vocal range between the soprano and alto.
Alto or counter-tenor is lower than a soprano but higher than a tenor
Tenor is the highest register male voice.
Baritone is a male voice lower than tenor but higher than bass.
Bass is the lowest male voice.
D. Dynamics. Dynamics are abbreviations or symbols used to signify the degree of
loudness or softness of a piece of music. It also indicates whether there is a change in
volume.

Term Symbol Effects

piano p soft
pianissimo pp very soft
mezzo piano mp slightly soft
forte f loud
fortissimo ff very loud
mezzo forte mf slightly loud
fortepiano fp loud then soft

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 sforzando sfz sudden accent
crescendo ˂ gradually louder
diminuendo ˃ gradually soften

E. Melody. It refers to the tune of a song or piece of music. It is the memorable tune
created by playing a succession or series of pitches.

Properties of melody

Dimension. Dimension of melody is determined by melody’s length and range.

Melody may be short and fragmented or long and extended relative to the number of
measures.

8 measures means moderate length

Less than 8 is short.
More than 8 is long.

Range, on the other hand, is the pitch distance from its lowest to its highest tone.
Range of melody is moderate if the distance between is an octave, narrow if the distance is
less than an octave, and wide if the distance is more than an octave.

Moderate range-the distance between is an octave

Narrow- the distance is less than an octave
Wide- the distance is more than an octave

Register. It is the relative highness or lowness of the aggregate tones of a melody.

Register of melody may be high, medium or low.

Direction. Direction pertains to the movement of the melody. Melody may move
upward or downward rapidly or gradually, or may be static.
 Upward
 Downward
 Static

Progression. It refers to the intervals (pitch distance) between the tones as melody
moves from one tone to the next.

Progression may be conjunct if the movement is stepwise; or disjunct if it contains

numerous prominent skips

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 F. Harmony. In general, harmony refers to the combination of notes (or chords)
played together and the relationship between a series of chords.

Harmony accompanies and supports the melody. It is created by playing a group of

notes (either simultaneously or as broken chords) behind the melody thus giving it musical
texture.

It is the relationship between melody and chord (where two or more notes or tones
are sounded at the same time.)
Triad is the most common chord. It is a combination of three tones– 1st, 3rd, 5th or
the do, mi, sol

G. Texture. Musical texture refers to the number of layers as well as the type of
layers used in a composition and how these layers are related.
It pertains to the melodic and harmonic relationship of musical factors.
Texture may be monophonic (single melodic line), polyphonic (two or more melodic lines)
and homophonic (a main melody accompanied by chords).
 Biphonic: Two different, simultaneous melodies.
 Heterophonic: A slightly elaborated melody with one or two voices.
 Thick texture. When tones, chord or voice parts are closely spaced.

 Thin texture. When tones are widely spaced.

H. Forms. Forms of music also refer to musical structure, design or plan.

Common Forms

A cappella. A choral music sung without instrumental accompaniment

Chanson. A song developed by the troubadours and trouveres with French text
Chorale. A strophic religious song often sung by a congregation
Anthem. A religious or patriotic song
Madrigal. A contrapuntal song without accompaniment
Aria. An extended solo song, usually accompanied by an orchestra, usually found in
operas, cantatas, oratorio
Opera. A musical play
Cantata. Based on religious subject for a varied combination of soloists, chorus and
instruments
Oratorio. A sacred opera
Overture. A piece of orchestral music played at the start of an opera
Sonata. A composition usually in three movements which makes use of the formal
pattern of fast, slow, and fast

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Chamber music. A music played by an ensemble of two to nine instruments
Symphony. A piece of orchestral music based on the same principle of the sonata
Concerto. A composition for a solo instrument and orchestra
Dance. A music for particular dances
Nocturne. A romantic or dreamy piece, usually for piano
Absolute music. An instrumental music which does not make use of a poem or story
for its idea composer is interested only in the expressive pattern of sound
Program music. An instrumental music built around a story or poem; also descriptive
music

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 Lesson 3: ELEMENTS OF THEATER

This lesson helps students to gain an understanding of the basic elements of theater
which will help them appreciate said genre of art.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the lesson, students must have:

1. Identified the basic elements of theatre;

2. Discussed/described the basic elements of theatre;
3. Analysed theatre performance based on its basic elements.

In Focus

Elements of Theater

The word theatre comes from the Greek word “teatron” which means a place for
seeing. It is a place where a play is performed, or a drama performed before an audience. As
a place for seeing, theatre has various types:

 Proscenium/picture frame stage—the most widely- used type in the west

 Arena stage/ theater in-the-round
 Thrust or open stage—platform stage that thrusts out into the audience
 Amphitheater –open air building
 Black box –developed in the 1960’s in the US for inexpensive experimental work

Theater production is an avenue for self-expression, resourcefulness, better

understanding of human nature, and exercise in responsibility.

Theater has the following elements:

Script. It contains the story to be performed--the plot, setting, character, theme and
dialogue. It is said that better understanding of the script ensures better theater production.

Directing. The work of a director is extremely important in preparing any production

for the stage. The director is responsible for all the creative decisions. He collaborates with
the playwright, actors, designers and technicians to stage a play based on his/her
interpretation of the script.

Functions of Director

• Interprets the script

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 • Makes necessary decisions about style and approach of the play

• Selects the actors suited for the roles in the play (casting).

• Choreographs or blocks the movements.

• Is responsible for stage composition

• Controls rhythm and pace

• Does the polishing.

• Evaluates his work.

Notable Theater Directors

• Bertolt Brecht – Germany

• Elia Kazan – U. S.

• Peter Brook – Britain

• Peter Hall – Britain

• Julie Taymor – U.S.

Acting. It is the fundamental art of theatre. Actors must posses talent, or personality,
an intangible quality which is a fundamental feature of good acting. They must be versatile.

Mediums of Actor

• Voice – must be loud enough to be heard and understood by the audience, powerful,
well-modulated, must have good diction, must develop vocal variety to determine the
pitch and voice quality suitable for a particular role.

• Body – must have grace and physical control to enable him to move about the stage
in an easy and graceful manner.

Duties of Actors

• Must study the script to understand the character he is playing and the play as a
whole.

• Must research the information about the character he is playing.

• Delivers his/her lines by speaking loudly and clearly.

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 • Makes movements in such a manner that everyone may see and interpret his/her more
meaningful gestures.

• Confines himself/herself to the exact patterns that have been rehearsed so that his
fellow actors will be confused.

• “A good actor has done his role well when the audience could enter into his
character, and the actor could create a bond between himself and the audience.”

Performers are the most identified by audience.

• Thespis

• Chorus

• In England, it was not until 19th century that actors achieved a respected social status

• Henry Irving received the first knighthood given to an actor.

• Early actors were males.

• Only prostitutes were allowed to appear on stage (Rome).

• Women began appearing on the French and English stage in the 17 th century.

Set. It is the most obvious visual element, and perhaps the largest in theater
production. Set calls for a considerable amount of money, time and effort in both design and
construction.

Functions of Set

• Must provide an environment for acting.

• Must express the proper mood of the play.

• Should help establish the time and place of the action

• Must provide visual impact.

Set/Scene Designer

• Must study the script very carefully.

• Must be familiar with the stage blocking that the director has in mind.

• Notable Set Designer

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 • Adolphe Appia – Switzerland

• Gordon Craig – Britain

• Robert Edmond Jones & Lee Simonson – 1920’s Broadway

Costume. It makes the most continuous impact. Its details should be

coordinated/complemented with the stage direction and set.

Ancient Greeks and European actors till mid- 19th century wore clothing of their time.

Functions of Costumes

• To clothe the actor

• To help create mood

• To help establish the theme

• To establish time, place, and character relationships

• To add to the visual impact

Properties. Also known as ‘props’, it constitutes a highly important area of

backstage responsibility.

Classifications of Props

• Trim props – any decorative objects which hang upon, or are attached to the set

• Set props – objects standing about the floor of the set but not large enough to be
considered part of the set

• Hand props – objects picked up and used by the actors

• Prop visual effects – special effects which are manually done

• Prop sound effects – any off-stage sounds created by other than electrical means

Make- up. Make-up is usually left to the individual actor. Ancient Greeks, Romans,
Chinese wore masks instead of make-up

Kinds of Make-up

• Straight make-up – highlights the actor’s normal features

• Character make-up – transforms an actor’s features

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 • Fantasy make-up – alters the actor’s appearance

Functions of Make-up

• Helps make the features visible.

• Helps portray character.

• Adds to the mood, theme, and visual impact of the production.

• Helps beautify or disguise the actor.

Lights/Lighting. Lights, together with set and costumes, account for most of the
visual impact of a production.

Functions of Lights

• Provide necessary visibility.

• Help establish mood.

• Focus attention.

• Heighten realism.

Development in the Use of Lights in Theater

• Candles—first lighting to be used in theater

• Gas lamp – 1840

• Electric – 1879

Savoy Theater was first theater to use electricity

• Computerized light board

It was Adolphe Appia who first thought that light can be used as an artistic medium.

Sound. It is a backstage mechanism. The following are sound mechanisms used in

the history of theater:

• Pit orchestra – orchestra located in the theatre pit which provides sound for incidental
and background music. It was used when modern technology for sound production
was not yet invented.

• Tape recorders

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 • Playback units

• Microphones

• mixers

• Amplifiers

• Elaborate speakers system

• Control consoles

Stage Management. It coordinates all the diverse activities in theater productions,

from directing to sound. Stage manager handles the responsibilities from dress rehearsals to
actual performance.

Activity : Again, open the link given to you at the beginning of the lesson. Watch the entire
video and identify the elements of theatre that we discussed. Take note if there are other
elements present in the presentation which are not included in our discussion. Write your
observation, and submit your output in the email address provided to you.

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