Module 1- Art Elements

Understanding the elements of art basics!

​Module 1:
Art Fundamentals

The elements in order

Starting from the beginning...

For each slide, I'll provide the term and definition. The discord channel called "resources" will have Images and videos recommended for you to watch to better familiarize yourself with each term.

Line

A line consists of any two connected points. Lines can be drawn in numerous ways (straight, vertical, horizontal, curved).

 

Contour lines can be used to explain three-dimensional forms to the viewer.

Implied lines are when there is a break in part of the line, giving the full effect of a solid line without having to draw the entire stroke.

Line weight is the variation in the thickness of the line. This varies greatly depending on the style and the artists. Line weight has the extraordinary ability to imply speed, stress, volume, and much more. Gaining control over your line weight can take a lot of time and practice, but is extremely useful for making your artwork so much more interesting and convincing.

Common curved lines used in art and gesture drawing are S-curves and C-curves. Being able to draw these fluidly, by using your elbow and shoulder more than your wrist takes practice, but is critical for achieving the correct gesture.

Value

Value is simply how light or dark something is.

It is used interchangeably with the word “tone”. So no need to get confused when you hear the two being used!

 

The difference between the lightest value and the darkest value is the contrast of the piece.

Beginners usually make the mistake of going too light with their marks, resulting in a low-contrast artwork.

Making darker darks and lighter lights (i.e. increasing the contrast) results in a much more realistic and aesthetically pleasing drawing/painting.

 

Color

 Color has three categories: the type of color, the intensity, and the opacity.

The type of color, or “hue“, is simply the color you are able to see and identify (red, blue, green, etc.).

The intensity is how light or saturated the color is (e.g. red vs. light pink).

The opacity is how strong the color is (e.g. a full color vs. a transparent one).

Shape

Shape is simply the design of two-dimensional objects.

Human beings have a tendency to view rectangular shapes as safe and reliable (due to their symmetrical, balanced nature).

On the flip side, we tend to view curved shapes as unreliable and more chaotic.

Shapes with sharp points or shallow angles are generally perceived as dangerous (I think you can guess why)!

Being able to simplify forms into planes of simplified shapes is a very useful skill to know.

Form

Form is the three-dimensionality of an object.

Breaking down complex objects into simplified forms, such as boxes, cylinders, and spheres is a skill often overlooked by beginners, but crucial for developing a better understanding of proportions and light & shadow.

 

Simplifying forms also makes it much easier to place the details and features correctly, as it allows you to properly visualize the object as a 3D object, rather than drawing the details as you see them and disregarding the primary form

Space

Space is really another way of saying perspective. It is how the proportions of an object in each of the 3 planes of the physical world relate to each other, and to other objects, and the environment.

That’s really a fancy way of saying that space is the representation of three dimensions on a two-dimensional surface.

Knowledge of the basics of perspective goes a long way in improving an understanding of form.

Positive space is the space that the object you’re focusing on takes up. Negative space is the space around the object.

Observing the negative space around an object is extremely useful for drawing accurate shapes and proportions. It allows you to see the shape of the outline in a new way and acts as an extra way of confirming you have drawn the correct shape.

Texture

Texture describes to the viewer how to surface might feel.

Different techniques convey different textures. The medium used, the paper/surface used, and the way the medium is laid upon the paper/surface all contribute to conveying the texture to the viewer.

Many beginners overlook the importance of texture, which results in skin having a plastic look. Creating accurate textures can take a lot of time and patience (drawing in each pore of the skin for example).

Multiple Choice

Which art element do most beginners tend to overlook?

• Shape

• Value

• Color Theory

• Texture

Multiple Choice

How do people view curved shapes?

• Friendly and Silly

• Honest and round

• Unreliable and chaotic

• none of the above

Multiple Choice

What is Line Weight?

• The variation in the thickness of the line

• The contrast on line variety when drawing

• How heavy the lines are when you hold them

• The value and color of each line

Multiple Choice

The intensity is ____________________

• how weight is distributed in a peice

• how light or saturated the color is

• the negative space around an object

• the difference of textures