Line, (EOA) Shape, Form
(POD) Proportion
Elements of Art
Basic visual symbols in the language of Art. Visual building blocks put together to
create a work of art.
Line
Shape
Form
Principles of Design
Rules that govern how artists organize
the elements of art.
Proportion
(EOA) Line
Definition:
A course of Direction; A stroke long in proportion to breadth; Edge of a Shape; An
Endless series of dots.
5 Kinds:
Vertical: Straight up and down; Perpendicular
Horizontal: Side to side; Parallel to horizon
Diagonal: Slant; Between Vertical and Horizontal; Rising or Falling
Curved: Change Direction gradually; Spiral; Circle Tight, Loose; Wiggly
ZigZag: Combination of diagonal lines; Form angles and change direction
suddenly
Can vary in appearance:
Length: Long or Short
Width: Wide or Thin
Texture: Rough or Smooth
Direction: Vertical, Horizontal, Diagonal
Degree of Curve: Gradually, Wavy, Spiral
Line Expression:
Vertical: Static, Inactive, Dignity, Poise, Stiffness, Formality, Stability
Horizontal: Static, Inactive, Peace, Quiet, Rest, Stability
Diagonal: Active, Not at Rest, Pulled one way and then the other, Instability,
tension, excitement, uncomfortable, confusion. Two Diagonals can appear stable (house
roof)
Zigzag: Confusion, Active, Excitement, Nervousness
Curved: Activity, Calm, Graceful, Luxury, Spirals are hypnotic
Curved Line
Indirect
Passive
Pertaining to nature
Childlike
Romantic
Soft
Organic
Safe
flexible
Contour: Defines the edges and surface ridges of an object.
Gesture: An expressive movement that catches volume as well as edges.
Implied Line: The invisible line that continues beyond a visually existing line or
the line that is created between objects.
(EOA) Shape
Definition:
A Two Dimensional (2D) area that is defined in some way, geometric or freeform.
Geometric Shape: Precise shapes that can be described using mathematical
formulas. Used for decoration, uniformity, organization
Freeform Shape: Irregular or uneven shapes. Outlines appear curved or angular,
or a combination of the two. Often occurs in nature.
(EOA) Form
Definition:
Objects that are Three Dimensional (3D); Like shapes, they have length and width,
but also have depth. Can be Geometric or Freeform.
Shapes translated to form
Geometric Form
Freeform Form
Shape vs. Form
(POD) Proportion
Definition:
The Principle of Design concerned with the size relationships one of part to another.
The size of an object by itself has no meaning. We cant tell how big or small an
object is unless we can compare it with something else.
Proportion refers to the relationship of one part to another.
The unit used to define the proportions of an individual figure is the length of the head
from chin to top of skull. The average adult is 7 1/2 heads tall.
Measuring by Proportion
The distance from the shoulder to elbow is the same as
The distance from the neck to the waist
Foreshortening: To shorten an object to make it look as if it extends backward
into space.
Scale: Refers to the size as measured against a standard reference, such as the
human body.
Example:
First, five to ten students close to 6 feet tall come to front of room.
Second, the shortest person in the class join them.
Euclid, a Greek Mathematician, discovered what he considered a perfect ratio of one
part to another:
The Golden Mean: A line divided into two parts so that the smaller line has the
same proportion or ratio, to the larger line as the larger line has to the whole line. The
ancient Greeks thought they had the ideal proportion.
The golden age of Greece thought the human body was the true expression of
order. Statues created during that time were not realistic portraits, but rather were
idealistic forms.
In the first century B.C., Vitruvius, a Roman writer, set down ratios for human
proportion. These were later used by Leonardo da Vinci.
During the Renaissance, a book was written about it. This time the ratio was called
The Divine Proportion, and was thought to have magical qualities.
Since that time, some artists have chosen to use the Golden Mean as the basis for
the compositions. Others, unaware of the mathematical ratio, used the Golden Mean just
because that arrangement of parts looked good.
Now, most artists reject that only this one rule can fit the correct proportions
for all art. But the ratio is found so often in visual art that it is hard to ignore.
The Golden Rectangle has sides that match this ratio.
Theory of Thirds: A composition divided into thirds vertically, horizontally,
and/or diagonally.
It is also considered by many to be visually pleasing to the eye, with points of
emphasis often occurring at the cross section of intersecting thirds.
More interesting at the Cross Sections of thirds
More interesting on the lines of thirds