What is Art?

The Elements & Principles of Art & Design: What Makes It Art?

The elements and principles of art and design are the building blocks used to create a work of art. The elements of art and design can be thought of as the things that make up a painting, drawing, design etc. Good or bad - all paintings will contain most of if not all, the seven elements of design.
The Principles of design can be thought of as what we do to the elements of design. How we apply the Principles of design determines how successful we are in creating a work of art.

Elements:
Line 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. It has greater length than width.

When a line crosses itself or intersects with other lines to enclose a space it creates a shape. Shape is two-dimensional it has heights and width but no depth.

Form is three-dimensional. You can hold a form; walk around a form and in some cases walk inside a form.

Color comes from light; if it weren’t for light we would have no color. Light rays move in a straight path from a light source. Within this light rays are all the rays of colors in the spectrum or rainbow. Shining a light into a prism will create a rainbow of colors because it separates the color of the spectrum. When the light rays hits an object our eyes responds to the light that is bounced back and we see that color.

Space is the three-dimensionality of a sculpture. With a sculpture or architecture you can walk around them, look above them, and enter them, this refers to the space of the sculpture or architecture.
Space in a two-dimensional drawing or painting refers to the arrangement of objects on the picture plane.

Texture is the surface quality of an object, how something feels or looks like it would feel.

Value is the range of lightness and darkness within a picture. Value is created by a light source that shines on an object creating highlights and shadows.

Principles:
Pattern is simply keeping your design in a certain format.

Rhythm is the movement or variation characterized by the regular recurrence or alternation of different quantities or conditions. In simpler words, it's just like pattern and shows that the design has a 'beat' or 'flow' going with it.

Unity means keeping your design in a sort of harmony in which all sections of the design are meant to be seen as a whole instead of randomness all around your design.

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

Emphasis is given to an area within the design because that area is meant to be seen or is more important to be noticed when compared to other places of the design.

Contrast means showing differences in two different sections of the design or showing somehow that the design being created is very different from other designs because of its contrast.

Balance is the stable arrangement of elements within a composition, this means keeping your design like a pattern.

Categories of Art:
Representational Art is work that is created through observation that has realistic qualities (simulating real things in a way that seems real).

Abstract Art is not aiming to depict an object realistically but composed with the focus on internal structure (irregular areas of color, pattern, exaggeration, rearrangement of shapes).

Non-Representational or Non-Objective Art is created with the focus on the technique of the medium. The subject matter is not recognizable. Emphasis is placed on creation.

Functions of Art: We make art because…
Personal Functions (Expresses personal feelings)
Social Functions ( Family portraits, etc.)
Spiritual Functions (Spiritual beliefs)
Physical Function (A craft or utilitarian)
Educational Functions (Tell a story)

Genre (Themes or Subject Matter)
Narrative
Religion
Mythology
Fantasy
Figure Study
Portraiture
Animals
Landscape
Abstract
Expressionism

Studio Art & Design I

Welcome to the Studio Art & Design I! This blog will serve as your art vocabulary, movements/styles, and artists journal throughout your journey in this course.