The Elements in Art

The Elements are the parts used to make a piece of artwork. Or These are visual symbols artists
use to create visual art, or the guidelines followed during the construction and appreciation of an
art work or the essential aspects in an art work. The art elements are line, shape, space, form,
tone, texture, pattern, color and composition. They are often used together, and how they are
organized in a piece of art determines what the finished piece will look like. Artists consider
each of the formal elements carefully when making their artwork.
Importance of Elements of Art
 They describe the characteristics of a given work of art
 They help analyze the success or failure of a particular art work
 They help us speak a common language as we communicate through art.
 They help in the production of an art work.
 They are the foundation tools on which all Art is built without which Art is nonexistent.
Line.
A line is a continuous mark made on a surface to join one or more points. Or a mark made by a
moving tool when its point of contact is made to move.
Types of line.

a) Horizontal lines
b) Vertical lines
c) Diagonal lines
d) Circular lines
e) Zigzag lines
Continuous Line Drawing
A continuous line drawing is produced without ever lifting the drawing instrument from the
page. This means that, in addition to outlines and internal shapes, the pencil must move back and
forth across the surface of the paper, with lines doubling back on each other, so that the drawing
is one free-flowing, unbroken line. This drawing method develops confidence and drawing speed
and encourages your eyes and hand and brain to work together. Continuous line drawings work
best with in-depth observation of your subject, without interference from your thinking mind.
Lines vary in character; they may be continuous, broken, thick, bold, faint, long, short, parallel,
straight and curved.
Uses of line
 Lines enclose shapes,
 Define forms
 suggest movement,
 Create depth
 Create different moods and emotions.
 Show the effect of light and shade
 Indicate the weight of a given object
 Create texture
 Reveals areas of emphasis in a design
 Organize space by separating or dividing
 Used to connect different objects and ideas.
Space
This is the empty place or surface within or around a given work of art.
Space can be negative or positive. Negative space is the area around and between the subjects
of an images. Positive space are the masses of the object.

Uses of space
 Space creates a sense of depth and dimension, making a composition feel more
realistic.
 Space can create a sense of distance or proximity between elements.
 Emphasis and focus: Space can draw attention to specific elements or areas.
 Space can guide the viewer's eye through a composition, creating a sense of
movement and flow.
 Space can create balance and harmony, or tension and contrast.
 Space can create a sense of proportion and scale.
 Space can evoke emotions and create a specific mood or atmosphere.
  Space can separate elements, creating a sense of isolation or independence.
 Space can unite elements, creating a sense of connection and unity.
 Space adds visual interest and variety to a composition.
 Space is essential in design and architecture, defining functional areas and pathways.
 Space can create a sense of perspective, making objects appear closer or farther away.

Shape
This is an enclosed area with well-defined boundaries or the outline area of a figure. Shapes
have only height and width and are therefore two dimensional (2D). There are two main
kinds of shapes, geometric (mathematical like a square or triangle) and organic (irregular).
Types of shape
 Organic shapes/Irregular/ free-form shapes
These are shapes that are derived from organic objects such as plants, rocks, animals, clouds
etc. these shapes are found to occur naturally in the environment and they are unpredictable
and flowing in appearance. Organic shapes are shapes that seem to follow no rules.

 Geometric shapes/ Regular shapes.

These are shapes with regular dimensions which can be measured and drawn indifferent
scales e.g. circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, semi-circles etc. Geometric shapes are
 mathematical shapes. They are perfect and regular. They are characterized by straight lines,
angles and points

Uses of shape
 Composition: Shapes are the building blocks of composition, guiding the viewer's eye
through a piece.
 Shapes define the form and structure of objects and compositions.
 Shapes are used to create patterns, textures, and designs
 Shapes can have symbolic meanings, like circles representing unity or squares
representing stability.
 Shapes can create balance and harmony, or tension and contrast.
 Shapes can draw attention to specific elements or areas.
 Shapes can convey movement and direction, like arrows or chevrons.
 Shapes can create a sense of proportion and scale.
 Shapes can be used to create contrast and harmony with color.
 Shapes add visual interest and variety to a composition.
 Shapes are used in logos and branding to represent companies and organizations.
 Shapes are fundamental to architecture and design, defining spaces and structures.

Form
Form refers to three dimensional objects (3D). While shapes have two dimensions (height and width),
forms have three dimensions (height, width and depth). As with shape, forms can be both geometric
and organic. Or the roundness of a given object in three dimensional space, mass and volume.
Form in two dimensional art creates a three-dimension aspect of height, width and depth.

Uses of form
  Form defines the shape and structure of an object or composition.
 It creates a sense of volume and mass, giving the illusion of three-dimensionality.
 It can create a sense of space and depth, guiding the viewer's eye through a composition.
 Form can create balance and harmony, or tension and contrast, depending on its placement and
arrangement.
 It can draw attention to specific elements or areas, creating emphasis and focus.
 It can be used to create patterns and rhythms, adding visual interest and energy.
 It can convey symbolism and meaning, especially in abstract art.
 It can serve functional purposes, like in design and architecture.
 It can create beauty and aesthetic appeal, engaging the viewer emotionally
 It can communicate ideas, messages, and values, transcending language barriers.

Structure
This is the general appearance of an object according to its inner mass or it’s the buildup of a given object
structure is formed by a combination of different forms to get the entirety of a given art piece.
Use of structure

 Composition: Structure helps organize and balance elements in a composition.

 Unity and coherence: Structure creates a sense of unity and coherence in a piece.
 Visual flow: Structure guides the viewer's eye through the artwork.
 Stability and balance: Structure creates a sense of stability and balance.
 Proportion and scale: Structure helps achieve proportion and scale in a composition.
 Emphasis and focus: Structure draws attention to specific elements or areas.
 Rhythm and repetition: Structure creates rhythm and repetition, adding visual interest.
 Contrast and harmony: Structure creates contrast and harmony, adding depth and visual appeal.
 Form and shape: Structure defines form and shape, creating a sense of volume and mass.
 Meaning and symbolism: Structure can convey meaning and symbolism, adding depth to a piece.
 Visual hierarchy: Structure creates a visual hierarchy, guiding the viewer's attention.
 Balance and tension: Structure can create balance and tension, adding dynamism to a piece.
 Pattern and texture: Structure can create patterns and textures, adding visual interest.
 Space and depth: Structure can create a sense of space and depth, adding dimensionality.
 Artistic expression: Structure serves as a means of artistic expression, conveying the artist's
vision and style.

Color.
This is the appearance of an object due to the reflection of light. In order to see color, light rays fall onto
the surface of an object which has a pigment, and this helps the eye to realize the color of specific objects.
SOURCES OF COLOUR

 Light
 Pigments. This is the coloring matter in objects.
PROPERTIES OF COLOUR
Color from pigments has three main properties namely;

 Hue
 Value
 Intensity
Uses of color

 Describe form
 Modal form and create illusion of depth
 Suggest movement
 Express ideas and feeling i.e. create mood.
 Arouse emotions
Tone
Tone means how light or dark something is. The tones artists and designers use and the contrast between
them can create very different moods and visual effects.
In art and design, tone refers to how light or dark something is. Tones could refer to black, white and the
grey tones between. It could refer to how light or dark a color appears.
In real life tone is created by the way light falls on an object. The parts of the object on which the light is
strongest are called highlights and the darker areas are called shadows.

Tone can be used for a range of effects:

• to create the illusion of form
• to create a particular atmosphere
• to create contrast and focus attention
• to suggest depth and distance
Tone can be used to create atmosphere in art and design work. Different atmospheres will be created
depending on the value and contrast of the tones used.
Shading
Shading is used to create different tones in a drawing. A range of different techniques can be used to build
up tones.

Value
Value refers to how light or dark a tone is. Dark tones are said to have low value. Light tones are said to
have high value.
Value is the degree of lightness or darkness of a surface. It can be created on a surface by two techniques
a) Shading.
This is the process of darkening a surface. By shading the value of a color is lowered and this is achieved
by adding black.
b) Tinting.
This is the process of lightening a surface to increase the ability of the surface to absorb light. By tinting
the value of a color is raised and this is achieved by adding white.
The movement or variation of a shade from the darkest point through the mid shades to the lightest point
is known as Tonal variation or gradation.
Uses of value

 Value creates a sense of light and shadow, adding depth and dimension.
 It creates contrast, making elements stand out or recede.
 It can evoke emotions and create a specific mood or atmosphere.
  It helps create the illusion of volume and form.
 It can create the illusion of texture and pattern.
 It can create a sense of space and depth.
 It can draw attention to specific elements or areas.
 It can create balance and harmony, or tension and contrast.
 It can create gradual transitions between elements.
 It can convey meaning and tell a story in art.
 It can enhance and transform colors.
 It adds visual interest and variety to a composition.

Texture
Texture means how the surface of something looks or feels.
Artists use their skills to create the illusion of an object's texture.
A still life may have a bottle, fruit and drapery. An artist will use their materials and media in a way
which will try and make the bottle look shiny, the fruit look bumpy or grooved and the drapery soft,
flowing and delicate.
Uses of texture

 Texture adds depth and visual interest to a composition, making it more engaging and dynamic.
 Texture invites the viewer to touch and explore, creating a tactile experience.
 Different textures can evoke emotions and create a specific mood or atmosphere.
 Texture can create a sense of realism and authenticity in art and design.
 Texture can be used to create contrast and add variety to a composition.
 Texture can draw attention to specific elements or areas.
 Texture can be used to create patterns and designs, adding visual interest and
 Texture can convey meaning and tell a story, especially in abstract art.
 Texture can connect us to memories, emotions, and experiences, evoking a sensory response.
 Texture encourages exploration and discovery, engaging the viewer on a deeper level.