Elements of Art & Principles of Design
Line Introduction video to be followed by notes in the student interactive journals.
Handout from The Art Teacher's Survival Guide for Secondary Schools by Helen D. Hume, Copyright John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Color introduction video to be followed by notes in the student interactive journals.
Handout from The Art Teacher's Survival Guide for Secondary Schools by Helen D. Hume, Copyright John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Shape introduction video to be followed by notes in the student interactive journals. Form is tested at the same time as Shape so students also need to view the Form video below.
Handout from The Art Teacher's Survival Guide for Secondary Schools by Helen D. Hume, Copyright John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Form is tested with Shape. Students should watch this video with the Shape video above.
Value introduction video to be followed by notes in the student interactive journals.
Handout from The Art Teacher's Survival Guide for Secondary Schools by Helen D. Hume, Copyright John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Texture introduction video to be followed by notes in the student interactive journals. The partial page below is from The Art Teacher's Survival Guide for Elementary and Middle Schools by Hume, Copyright John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Handout from The Art Teacher's Survival Guide for Secondary Schools by Helen D. Hume, Copyright John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Space introduction video to be followed by notes in the student interactive journals.
Handout from The Art Teacher's Survival Guide for Secondary Schools by Helen D. Hume, Copyright John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Principles of Design
Aside from the Elements of Art, you should also be familiar with the Principles of Design. Click the link provided. It is a good read and will aid you in creating outstanding artwork this year. Or just read on below.
Balance refers to the visual weight of the elements of the composition. It is a sense that the painting feels stable and "feels right." Imbalance causes a feeling of discomfort in the viewer.
Balance can be achieved in 3 different ways:
Symmetry, in which both sides of a composition have the same elements in the same position, as in a mirror-image, or the two sides of a face.
Asymmetry, in which the composition is balanced due to the contrast of any of the elements of art. For example, a large circle on one side of a composition might be balanced by a small square on the other side
Radial symmetry, in which elements are equally spaced around a central point, as in the spokes coming out of the hub of a bicycle tire.
Contrast is the difference between elements of art in a composition, such that each element is made stronger in relation to the other. When placed next to each other, contrasting elements command the viewer's attention. Areas of contrast are among the first places that a viewer's eye is drawn. Contrast can be achieved by juxtapositions of any of the elements of art. Negative/Positive space is an example of contrast. Complementary colors placed side by side is an example of contrast.
Emphasis is when the artist creates an area of the composition that is visually dominant and commands the viewer's attention. This is often achieved by contrast.
Movement is the result of using the elements of art such that they move the viewer's eye around and within the image. A sense of movement can be created by diagonal or curvy lines, either real or implied, by edges, by the illusion of space, by repetition, by energetic mark-making.
Pattern is the uniform repetition of any of the elements of art or any combination thereof. Anything can be turned into a pattern through repetition. Some classic patterns are spirals, grids, weaves. A popular drawing practice is Zentangles, in which an abstract or representational outline is divided into different areas, each of which contains a unique pattern.
Rhythm is created by movement implied through the repetition of elements of art in a non-uniform but organized way. It is related to rhythm in music. Unlike pattern, which demands consistency, rhythm relies on variety.
Unity/Variety You want your painting to feel unified such that all the elements fit together comfortably. Too much unity creates monotony, too much variety creates chaos. You need both. Ideally, you want areas of interest in your composition along with places for your eye to rest.
Marder, Lisa. "The 7 Principles of Art and Design." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/principles-of-art-and-design-2578740.