The Elements of Art are the basic tools used by the artist when producing

works of art.

What are the Elements of Art?

The path of a moving point at the

edge of a flat shape, or the outline of a

solid object. Types of line refers to straight,

curvy, horizontal, vertical, diagonal,

zigzag, implied, and angular. Direction

pertains to the movement that a line may have or seem to

indicate.

This large tapa cloth, from the Polynesian island of Tonga, is made of strips of mulberry bark fiber that have been pounded to softened them and make a paper-like textile for ritual use. It is stamped and hand painted. Launima Nagatu, - Tapa Cloth, Mid-20th century,Tonga, South Pacific, 12'10"x 5'7"

This is a self-portrait of the German artist Kathe Kollwitz.

Notice the lines carved into this woodcut proof to create the

texture of this print. The direction of the lines follow the contour of

her face. Kathe Kollwitz (German)1867-1945, Self-Portrait,

Woodcut proof, 1923,5 7/8 z 6 3/4 in.,

A two-dimensional area made by connecting lines that establish the

contour of an object. Shapes may be positive or negative,

organic or geometric.

Joan Miro (Spanish) 1893-1983, The Policeman, Oil on canvas,1925, 248 x 194.9 cm, The Art Institute Of Chicago

Louise Nevelson (American, born Russia), 1900-1988, Sky

Cathedral, 1958 wood, painted black, 115 x 135 x 20",

Albright-Knox Art Gallery, NY

The three dimensional projection of a shape. It has volume, dimension,

appears to have mass. This element is frequently used in sculpture.

Michelangelo Buonoratti (Italian ) 1475-1564, David, 1501-1504, 15 feet,

Marble, Galleria dell'Accademia, Italy

Sandy Skoglund (American) Radioactive Cats,1980, Chicken wire and plaster cats, furniture, live models

The appearance of lights and darks found in a work of art.

These range from black to white with numerous shades of

gray in between.

Laura Shechter "Still Life with Blue Cloth"Contemporary Realist Still Life

Nikyla Amanda Smith, oil on

Canvas

The hue, value, and intensity of an object as seen by the human eye.

It identifies objects, creates moods, and affects emotions. (warm, cool, primary, secondary, intermediate, analogous,

and complementary).

Paul Klee (Swiss)1879-1940, Dream City, 1921 watercolor on paper,

Limbourgh Brothers (German) Riches Heures de Duc de Barry, 1412-

1416, illuminated manuscript, tempera and gold leaf on vellum,

The way something feels or The way something feels or looks like it feels. looks like it feels. The roughness or The roughness or

smoothness of a surface. Texture can be smoothness of a surface. Texture can be real, tactile(sandpaper), real, tactile(sandpaper),

or illusion (looks soft, but not).or illusion (looks soft, but not).

Oscar Kockaska, (Austrian) 1886-

1980, Self-Portrait of a "Degenerate

Artist“

0il on canvas

Shanon Fitzpatrick, 11th Grade, Coral Study , Pen and Ink,

Gustav Klimt, (Austrian) Emilie Floge, 1902Oil on canvas

The area between, around, above, The area between, around, above, below, or within objects.below, or within objects. Two-dimensional Two-dimensional

space has height and width. Three-space has height and width. Three-dimensional space has height, width, volume, dimensional space has height, width, volume,

and time. Deep space has foreground, middle and time. Deep space has foreground, middle ground, background. Shallow space has ground, background. Shallow space has

foreground and background.foreground and background.

Positive Space is the space created by an image

or a sculpture. Negative Space is the Space around

and between parts of an image or a sculpture.

How an artist uses space or chooses NOT to use space adds a great deal to a work of art.