Visual Arts

Intended Learning Outcomes:
• Define elements and principles of art;

• Identify the elements of visual arts;
• Recognize the principles of visual arts, and
• Exhibit the elements and principles of
visual arts.
Elements vs. Principles
When we talk about elements, we are

talking of the basic components that make
up the artwork. Elements are observable
parts of the artwork, particularly with visual
arts, which are directly seen by the eyes or
directly felt by the sense of touch.
On the other hand, the principles are the

rules that the artist follow or defy from.
Principles cannot be seen immediately,
rather have to be reflected upon, because
these are decisions that the artist has made
so s/he could achieve what is ought to be
exhibited or portrayed in the work.
Take the artwork above as an example—The Great Wave of Kanagawa by

Katsushika Hokusai. One element we could pick out from this whole image is the
lines that make the wave. However, the lines are curved, in which, by principle,
means change and fluidity. This is the reason why the artist incorporated the line
element and at the same time chose to have the lines curved so he could portray
rightfully the nature of the wave.
The Visual Art Elements
and their Underlying
Principles
Element #1: Line
Lines are used to control where they eyes

will lead and focus, or are used to delineate
shapes and indicate texture whether it is
rough, smooth, thin or thick. Lines are
important because they indicate
movements and directions.
Element #1: Line
• Horizontal line- expresses serenity, rest, stability in

general
• Vertical line- implies growth, authority,
confidence and poise
• Diagonal line- growth, pursuit, persistence,
dynamism
• Curved line- connotes change, direction,
movement, femininity, uncertainty, grace
• Jagged line- expresses erraticism, anxiety,
turmoil, inconsistency
Element #2: Shape
Shapes are two-dimensional, flat elements that
are generally enclosed spaces. Shapes in art
can be used to control how the viewer
perceives a piece. There are two major
classifications of shape which are the organic
and the geometric shapes.
Organic shapes are those with a natural look
and a flowing and curving appearance.
Geometric shapes are circles, rectangles,
squares, triangles and so on, that have the clear
edges one achieves when using tools to create
them.
Element #3: Form
Form connotes something that is three-

dimensional and encloses volume, having
length, width, and height, versus shape, which is
two-dimensional, or flat. A form is a shape in
three dimensions, and, like shapes, can be
geometric or organic.
Element #4: Color
Color is the element of art that involves light. It is
produced when light waves strike an object and
are reflected into our eyes. It consists of three
properties: hue, intensity, and value.
• Hue simply refers to the name that is
given to a color, such as red, yellow, blue,
purple, green, orange, etc.
• Intensity (or saturation) refers to the purity

or dullness of a color.
• Value is the lightness or darkness of a
color
Element #4: Color
The color wheel (sometimes called a color

circle) is a handy tool often used by artists and
interior decorators as a visual aid in
understanding the relationship between colors.
The color wheel is a circular chart divided into 12

sections with each sector showing a different
color. It is made up of three different types of
colors – primary, secondary, and tertiary.
Element #4: Color
Primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. These

colors are equally distanced apart on the color
wheel. There only three primary colors and they
are the most basic colors on the wheel. They
cannot be created by mixing any other colors
together and can only be derived through
natural pigments.
Element #4: Color
Secondary colors are orange, green and purple
(or violet). These colors are created from mixing
equal parts of any two primary colors together.
Tertiary colors are red-purple, red-orange, blue-

green, blue-purple, yellow-green, and yellow-
orange. There are six tertiary colors and they are
the result from mixing equal parts of a primary
color with a secondary color. The proper way to
refer to tertiary colors is by listing the primary
color first and then the secondary color. That’s
why tertiary colors are referred to by a two word
name.
Element #5: Texture
Texture refers to the surface quality in a work of

art. We associate textures with the way that
things look or feel. Everything has some type of
texture. We describe things as being rough,
smooth, silky, shiny, fuzzy and so on.
Texture is experienced in two ways — with

touch (tactile) and with our eyes (visually).
Element #6: Space
Space refers to the distance between or the

area around and within shapes, forms, colors
and lines. Space can be positive or negative. It
includes the background, foreground and
middle ground.
There are two types of space that exist within art

— positive space and negative space. Positive
space is the actual objects or shapes within an
artwork and negative space is the space
around and between those objects.
Element #7: Value
Value is a basic element of art that refers to the

gradual change of lightness or darkness of a
color. It is created when a light source shines
upon an object creating highlights, form
shadows and cast shadows.
Colors can have value too. In painting, value

changes can be achieved by adding either
black or white to the chosen color. Some colors,
like yellow and orange, are naturally light in
value.

Visual Arts

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Intended Learning Outcomes:

• Define elements and principles of art;

When we talk about elements, we are

On the other hand, the principles are the

Take the artwork above as an example—The Great Wave of Kanagawa by

Lines are used to control where they eyes

• Horizontal line- expresses serenity, rest, stability in

Form connotes something that is three-

• Intensity (or saturation) refers to the purity

The color wheel (sometimes called a color

The color wheel is a circular chart divided into 12

Primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. These

Tertiary colors are red-purple, red-orange, blue-

Texture refers to the surface quality in a work of

Texture is experienced in two ways — with

Space refers to the distance between or the

There are two types of space that exist within art

Value is a basic element of art that refers to the

Colors can have value too. In painting, value

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