Visual Arts Study Guide

Elements of Art

LINE: A continuous mark, made on a surface, by a moving point.

SHAPE: Shape is an enclosed space, the boundaries of which are
defined by other elements of art (i.e.: lines, colors, values, textures,
etc.) Shapes have two dimensions, which are length and width.
Example: Square.
COLOR: Produced when light, striking an object, is reflected back to
the eye. (Hue, Intensity, and value are the 3 properties of color).
VALUE: The lightness or darkness of a color.
FORM: A three-dimensional geometrical figure. Example: Cube.
TEXTURE: Used to describe either the way a three-dimensional work
actually feels when touched, or the visual "feel" of a two-dimensional
work.
SPACE: Space refers to distances or areas around, between or within
components of a piece. Space can be positive (white or light) or
negative (black or dark), open or closed, shallow or deep and twodimensional or three-dimensional.

Principles of Design

BALANCE: A feeling of visual equality in shape, form, value, color,

etc. Balance can be symmetrical or evenly balanced or asymmetrical
and un-evenly balanced.
CONTRAST: Offers some change in value creating a visual discord in a
composition. Contrast shows the difference between shapes and can
be used as a background to bring objects out and forward in a design.
It can also be used to create an area of emphasis.
EMPHASIS: Dominance of creating a focal point.
MOVEMENT: Caused by using elements under the rules of the
principles in picture to give the feeling of motion and to guide the
viewer's eyes throughout the artwork. Movement adds excitement to
your work by showing action and directing the viewers eye throughout
the picture plane.
PATTERN: the repetition of an element (or elements) in a work.
RHYTHM: A movement in which some elements recurs regularly.
UNITY: The visual linking of various elements of the work.

Color Wheel

The Primary colors mix to create secondary colors.

Tertiary colors are colors created by mixing a primary color
with a secondary color.
Complimentary colors are two colors that compliment each
other and they are located directly across from each other on
the color wheel (One primary color & one secondary color).
Warm colors: Reds, oranges, yellows
Cool colors: Blues, greens, purples

HUMAN HEAD GRID

Step 1: Draw an oval shape (This can change depending on person).

Step 2: Draw a straight line down the middle of the face (Vertically).
Step 3: Draw horizontal line #1 in the middle of the face (horizontally).
Step 4: Draw horizontal line #2 in the middle of horizontal line #1 and
the chin.
Step 5: Draw horizontal line # 3 in the middle of horizontal line # 2 and
the chin.
Step 6: Draw the ears on the side of the head in between line #1 and
line #2.
Step 7: Draw two football shaped eyes on line #1
Step 8: Draw the bottom of the nose above line #2
Step 9: Begin drawing lips in between line #2 and #3. Lips may fall
below line #3.

References
Elements of Art & Principles of Design
http://blog.palcs.org/dailydoseofart/?p=314
Color Wheel
http://www.artsconnected.org/toolkit/encyc_colorwheel.html
Elements of art definitions
http://arthistory.about.com/cs/reference/f/elements.htm
Principles of Design definitions:
http://www.incredibleart.org/files/elements2.htm
http://principlesofart.blogspot.com/2008/09/movementrhythm.
html