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EXPLORING SPACE, LINE AND SHAPE

EXPLORING SPACE, LINE AND SHAPE

After reading this chapter and practicing its activities, you will be able to use line, shape, space, and colour as basic elements of art to create art works by:

Identifying the basic elements of art.

Exploring and learning to describe elements and principles of design.

Discussing the effectiveness of the elements applied in the artworks.

Words you will learn:

  • Elements of art
  • Principles of design
  • Design

You will need;

  • Notebook, sketch pad, pencils,
  • Coloured pencils
  • Computer with the Internet access,

Introduction

Art is a language which communicates without using words, In verbal communication, we join words to make a meaning of communication. In art, Elements and principles are like words in verbal languages which artists use to say something, in a visual form.

The elements and principles of art are the building blocks or foundations upon which a work of art is created. You will not use all of them all the time but you will use some of them most of the time. In this chapter you are going to learn how to use the visual words (elements and principles) to make and study artworks.

The Language of Art

When you watch an exciting game, do you keep the experience to yourself or you tell friends all about it? This excitement to share experiences and feelings with others is a human trait. It is also a reason why artists like to make art. Artists are people who use observation, imagination and skill to communicate ideas in visual form. Throughout your study you will have to communicate your feelings and experiences in different ways. You will learn techniques of expressing your ideas to be understood by other people. Using elements and principles of art will develop your visual literacy in a number of ways.

Elements of Art

The elements and principles of art and design are the foundation of the language we use to talk about art. The elements of art are the visual tools that the artist uses to create a composition. These are line, shape, color, value, form, texture, and space.

The principles of art represent how the artist uses the elements of art to create an effect and to help convey the artist’s intent. The principles of art and design are balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, r y m, an unity/variety. The use of these principles can help determine whether a painting is successful, and whether or not the painting is finished.

The artist decides what principles of art he or she wants to use in the work. While an artist might not use all the principles of design in one piece, the principles are intertwined and the use of one will often depend on another. Understanding the elements of art helps you to see and interpret an object or interpret the artistic work and message in it. Study figure 2.1 and do activity 2.1

 

Figure 2.1: Drawings showing elements and principles of art

 

Activity 2.1:

Identifying elements of Art

Study Figurel.2 and

  1. identify and mention the elements used in the pictures.

Describe the particular parts where these elements are depicted.

  1. describe the difference in use of line in image (a) from image (bj
  2. write a brief description on the use of space in both images a.

and d.

  1. what is the difference between shapes of image (c) from those of a, b, and d?

Line

Line is a basic element of the visual objects and can be manipulated in several ways. Lines are the path of a moving point. They define the edges of shapes and forms. A line may be straight or curved, light or dark, separated or joined, thin or thick, criss-crossed in either regular or irregular patterns. A fine may be two-or three-dimensional, descriptive, implied, or abstract.

We will learn a bit more about lines in other coming chapters.

Shape or form and Space

A shape is created when a tine returns to its point of origin. Shape, form, and space are closely tied to one another because we see them at ago. A shape may have an outline or a boundary which defines it e.g. circle is round. A shape is a two-dimensional object. Form like shapes has length and width. But forms go a step further. Forms can be actual or implied, they have depth and roundness. A form is an object with three dimensions. Space is the distance or an area between, around, above, below, and within things. All objects take up space.

Colour is a hue of an object as we see it when light is reflected from it. The colours that we can see are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. We see colours differently because each travels at a different rate to our eyes. How many colours are in figure 2.3? Can you name them?
Colour
Texture is the way the surface of an object feels. The feel may be suggested or actual. Surface may vary from smooth to rough, soft to firm, feathery to coarse. Texture in an artwork appeals to our sense of touch; can you describe the texture of Figure 2.2?
Texture

Colour is everywhere. They are three basic colours, called Primary colours. These are red, yellow and blue. The rest of the colours can be got from inter-mixing the primary colours. Colour beautifies the object and sometimes it biases the way we see objects.

Figure 2.3: Colours seen from a flower

 

Activity 2.2:

Experimenting elements of Art

In your sketch book, divide a page into three equal boxes and do the following:

  1. Draw an object in the first box using line to define its shape.
  2. In the second box use lines and or colour to give your object form.
  3. In the third box consider the space being part of the obiect of study.
  4. Present your work to your classmates for discussion.

The principles of art represent how the artist uses the elements of art to create an effect and to help convey I he ar list ‘s intent. The principles of art and design are balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, and unity/variety. The use of these principles can help determine whether a painting is successful or not and weather the work is finished.

Experiencing Elements and Principles of Art

We tend to like what we see because of the way elements and principles of art are revealed to us. Can you think of what makes you like one artwork or object more than the other? Sometimes it is because of colour, or texture or a combination of both. If elements are well used by an artist the work becomes effective and people tend to like it. Study Figures 2.4 and 2.5 and do Activity 2.3.

 

Figure 2.4
Figure 2.5

Activity 2.3:

Experiencing with the element principles of art

  1. In a group, discuss how the shapes, lines, form, colour, balance, contrast and pattern were depicted in the two artworks 2.4 and 2.5. Capture your responses in writing.
  2. Present your findings to the rest of the class.

Activity of Integration

In your school, the school compound is full of beautiful natural setting. Every moment you look through the windows, you feel like recreating the objects to reveal your feelings about them. Using the knowledge and information you have about elements and principles of art, choose a subject of your reporting about the school compound and make your artwork based on the elements and principles of art.

Chapter Summary

In this chapter you have learned to:

  1. identify the basic elements of art in a range of artworks.
  2. explore and describe elements and principles of design as you make drawings.
  3. use software to represent ideas.
  4. describe through a discussion, the effectiveness of basic

elements in an artwork.

 

 

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