Thinking Man

These are the guide questions:

1. How does the shapes and forms define the subject of the artwork?
2. How does colors create mood or emotion in this artwork?
3. What is the artwork all about?

What is It

Elements and principles of art are being introduced in Module 1: Arts in the Philippines. In
module 1, the elements and principles of art is introduced to describe the various contemporary art
forms from the regions of the Philippines generally from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The elements
of art are space, line, shape and form, color, value, and texture. Meanwhile, the principles of art are
proportion, harmony, variety, movement, rhythm, balance, and emphasis. Now, let’s discuss this
elements and principles of art further.

Elements of Art
1. Line
An element of art that is used to define shape, contours, and outlines, also to suggest mass and
volume. It may be a continuous mark made on a surface with a pointed tool or implied by the edges
of shapes and forms. Line may come in two characteristics: form – curved, dotted, or broken lines;
and direction – vertical, horizontal, or diagonal lines. Different characteristics of lines may convey
different meanings:

a) Horizontal Line creates an impression of serenity and perfect stability.

b) Vertical Line creates an impression of strength and perfect stability.
 c) Diagonal Line creates an impression of action.
d) Curved Line creates an impression of gradual change of direction.
e) Circular Line creates an impression of abrupt change of direction. Moreover, lines can
be classified into different types:
a) Outlines are made by the edge of an object or its silhouette.
b) Contour Lines describe the shape of an object and the interior detail.
c) Expressive Lines catch the movement and gestures of an active figure.
d) Sketch Lines capture the appearance of an object or impression of a
place.
e) Calligraphic Lines are the elegant handwriting or lettering

Calligraphy done by hand.

f) Implied Lines are lines that are not actually drawn but created by a
group of objects seen from a distance.

2. Shape
Shape is an area that is enclosed by a line or lines. Shapes are two dimensional
figures with height and width. There are different kinds of shapes and these are
geometric shapes, organic shapes, positive shapes, negative shapes, static
shapes, and dynamic shapes.
a) Geometric Shapes are circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, and other
geometric shapes.
b) Organic Shapes are shapes found in nature and are free flowing,
informal and irregular (abstract shapes).
c) Positive Shapes are the solid forms in a design.
d) Negative Shapes are the space around the positive shape.
e) Static Shapes are shapes that appears stable and resting.
f) Dynamic Shapes are shapes that appears moving and active.

3. Color
Colors are the way we see light reflected from a surface or refracted through a
prism. Colors we see in nature are reflections of light on the surfaces around us.
We can classify colors into primary colors, secondary colors, tertiary colors, analogous colors,
complementary colors, monochromatic colors, warm colors, and cool colors.
a) Primary colors are red, blue, and yellow.
b) Secondary colors are the resulting colors when the two of the primary colors are mix. The
secondary colors are purple, green, and orange.
c) Tertiary colors are the resulting colors when two of the primary and/or secondary colors are
mix. The tertiary colors are amber, vermilion, magenta, violet, teal, and chartreuse.
 d) Analogous Colors are colors that lie nest to each other based on the color wheel. Example
of analogous colors are yellow, orange, and red.
e) Complementary colors are colors that are opposite to each other based on the color wheel.
Examples of complementary colors are red and green, blue and orange, and purple and
yellow.
f) Monochromatic Colors are several values of one color.
g) Warm colors are colors that give the feeling of warmth. The warm colors are yellow, amber,
orange, vermilion, red, and magenta.
h) Cool colors are colors that give the feeling of coolness. The cool colors are purple, violet,
blue, teal, green, and chartreuse.
4. Space
Space refers to distances or areas around, between or within components of a piece and refers to the
arrangement of objects on the picture plane (two-dimensional). In visual arts, space may either be
positive space or negative space. Positive space refers to a part which is enclosed in a shape.
Meanwhile, negative space refers to the opposite part which the shape is enclosing. Moreover,
perspective is a technical means by which we perceive distance in painting, by which we are made
to see the position of objects in space.

a) In one-point perspective, we perceive that the position of objects meets at one point on the
horizontal line.
b) In two-point perspective, we perceive that the position of objects meets at two points on the
horizontal line.
5. Texture
Texture is the element that appeals to our sense of feel on things- rough or smooth,
bumpy or slippery. It is the character of the surface of an artwork.
a) Real texture is the actual texture of an object. Artist may create real texture
in art to give it visual interest or evoke a feeling.
b) Implied texture made a piece of art to look like a certain texture. Like a
drawing of a tree trunk may look rough but in fact it is just a smooth piece
of paper.
6. Value
Value pertains to the lightness or darkness of a color in a given artwork. Value can
be changed by adding white or black to a color and these
described as tint and shade.
a) Tint pertains to the lightness of a color.
b) Shade pertains to the darkness of a color.
7. Form
Form is the three-dimensionality of an object. It has dimensions of height, width, and length.
 According to Mader (2019), the elements of art are the visual tools that the artist uses to create a
composition. Consequently, principles of art represent how the artist uses elements of art to create an
effect and convey the artist's intent.

Principles of Art

1. Rhythm
This refers to the repetition of certain elements to produce a pattern.

2. Movement
Movement is the illusion of motion in a painting, sculpture, or design.

3. Balance
Balance refers to the visual weight in a picture. It refers to the even distribution of
positions of elements in an artwork. The principle of balance can be symmetrical or
asymmetrical.
a) Symmetrical balance refers to an artwork wherein its both sides has the same
elements in the same position.
b) Asymmetrical balance refers to an artwork wherein it is balance through the
contrast or differences of any of the elements of art.

4. Proportion
Proportion refers to the relationships of the size of objects in a body of work.
5. Contrast
This principle shows differences between elements of art in an artwork. It shows how
stronger each element of art in relation to one another.
6. Variety
This principle of art refers to the diversity or the different elements used in an
artwork to make it more interesting.
7. Emphasis
Emphasis refers to the greater impact or highlight given to a certain element in an
artwork.

8. Harmony
This principle of art refers to the unity of an artwork. It is about the arrangement of
the related elements that makes an artwork to be viewed as a whole.

These elements and principles of arts are very important aspects in understanding and appreciating arts.
It helps an artist to make an artistic artwork which conveys their essential ideas or their intent. However,
it is not just served as a help to artists but also to the viewers. Through the elements and principles of art
present in an artwork, viewers will be able to understand, appreciate, and evaluate an artwork. Hence,
we will apply elements and principles of art in evaluating artworks.