Elements of Visual Language

Elements of art are the basic properties of a work of art that may be perceived through the senses. In a painting, for instance, the properties that may be perceived through our senses are texture, form, shape, color, line and value (tone).

LINE

A line is a constant succession of points.The line is considered to be the fundamental element of the drawing and of the writing. The child from the first years begins to draw lines, which firstly are scrawls and later, the form will be improving to obtain drawings.

SHAPE AND FORM

Shape and Form define objects in space. Shapes have two dimensions–height and width–and are usually defined by lines, which can provide its contour. Forms exist in three dimensions, with height, width, and depth. Three-dimensional form is the basis of sculpture, furniture, and decorative arts. Three-dimensional forms can be seen from more than one side.

SPACE

Space in a work of art refers:

a.- to a feeling of depth or three dimensions. (Real space is three-dimensional).

•The illusion of space is achieved through perspective drawing techniques and shading in Western tradition.

b.- to the artist's use of the area within the picture plane.

•The area around the primary objects in a work of art is known as negative space, while the space occupied by the primary objects is known as positive space.

COLOUR

Light reflected off objects. Colour has three main characteristics:

•hue (red, green, blue, etc.) Tono

•value (how light or dark it is) Valor

•intensity (how bright or dull it is).

Saturación Colours can be described as warm (red, yellow) or cool (blue, gray), depending on which end of the colour spectrum they fall.

TEXTURE

The surface quality of an object that we sense through touch. All objects have a physical texture. Artists can also convey texture visually in two dimensions.

• In a two-dimensional work of art, texture gives a visual sense of how an object depicted would feel in real life if touched: hard, soft, rough, smooth, hairy, leathery, sharp, etc. Artists use color, line, and shading to imply textures.

• In three-dimensional works, artists use actual texture to add a tactile quality to the work.