Unit 4

Elements and Principles of Art --- possess a variety of characteristics,

depending on shape, density, rhythm,
Lesson 1 - Line and Kinds of Line angularity, and the material that have
produced them.
 It is a path made by a moving point; --- may be short or long, fine or thick,
 a series of dots; heavy or light, wavy or jagged, straight or
 a prolongation of points or according to curved. As shown in the diagram below
Paul Klee is a dot that went for awalk. (alphabet of lines). No matter what type of
 One definition of a line, however, that line it is, it always has direction.
captures its essence in the visual arts is it
being an intended mark made by the
artist to convey meaning beyond its
physical description.

1. Straight lines are geometric, impersonal

and differ in the direction that they take.

2. Horizontal lines - move from left to

right or vice versa. It is a line that
appears to be laying down.
Lesson 2 - Properties of Color and
3. Vertical Line - start from bottom to top How Colors Relate and Light and
or vice versa. It is a line that appears to Shadow
be standing.

4. Diagonal lines - are slanting lines. In

 The significance of color as an element
the visual art, diagonals suggest two
of the visual arts cannot be over
meanings,
emphasized. People see and perceive the
1. Positive - indicate action and
world as a multitude of colors.
movement
materials used by the artists
2. negative - it conveys a feeling of

adds beauty and meaning to all forms of
uncertainty, stress and defeat.

art.
i. e. to move forward and act. On the
 Color is the property of light.
negative,
 composed of a series of wavelengths
which strike the retina of the eyes.
5. Zigzag lines - angular lines that resulted
A ray of light contains all the colors of
in abrupt change in the direction of a

the visible spectrum-(ROYGBIV).
straight line thus forming angles.
 The visible spectrum was discovered by
sir Isaac Newton when light was
6. Curved lines - Curve lines suggest
allowed to pass through a glass prism.
grace, movement and flexibility
 Differ vividness
indicative of life and energy.
 ● Monochromatic harmony - single color
in the composition is varied in intensity and
value by adding white or black.
1. Hue - It is the name given to the color,
for example; red, green, violet and blue. ● Complementary Harmony - two colors
 Primary hues that are opposite each other in the color
these hues cannot be produced from wheel are placed side by side.
combining any hues. For pigments RED,
YELLOW and BLUE ● Analogous harmony - hues that are
 Secondary hues adjacent or beside each other in the color
two primary hues are mixed in equal wheel is used in a composition.
amounts. These are ORANGE, GREEN and
VIOLET. ● Color temperature - refers to the relative
 Intermediate Hues warmth or coolness of a color. Warm colors
mixing equal amounts of the primary and are colors that have YELLOW as its
secondary hues. There are RED ORANGE, dominant component white cool colors have
BLUE GREEN and BLUE VIOLET. blue as their dominant component.
 Tertiary hues
Combining in equal mixture any two
secondary hues.

2. Value - refers to the lightness or

darkness of a color. By adding a neutral
such as black or white.
 Shade - When black is combined with
hue.
 Tint - When white is added with hue.

3. Intensity - denotes the brightness or

dullness of a color. It gives color its
strength.
 Hues become less intense (dull) when
white is added because color becomes
lighter in value.
 The hues’ intensity diminishes when
black is added and as the value darkens. Light and Shadow (Value)
 If gray is added, a variation in intensity focuses on what is known as
without any change in value. achromatic value. This refers to the
changes in the amount of reflected light
which ranges from black to gray to white
and vice versa.
Color harmony
method of establishing color quality Chiaroscuro
in a composition. The most common ways is the technique of manipulating light
of creating harmony are the following: and shadow in painting.
Rembrandt and Caravaggio went a step Sculpture and architecture are three-
further and exaggerated the use of shadows dimensional forms, which are identified
to an extreme called tenebrism or “dark either by mass or volume. When mass is
manner”. structured or has a definite shape, it is said
In the local scene, Fernando Amorsolo, to have volume. The sculptor is concerned
also mastered chiaroscuro, but his focus with volume because sculpture occupies
was more on the manipulation of light rather space. Single volume is the fundamental
than shadow. unit in sculpture.

Lesson 3 - Shape and Classification Lesson 4 - Texture, Methods of

of Shapes creating Space and Movement

In visual arts, a shape is formed when refers to the feel or tactile quality of
two ends of a line meet to enclose an area. the surface of an object. Characteristic of
They may also present themselves as flat or the surface, whether it is rough or smooth,
two-dimensional and solid or three fine or coarse, polished or dull, plain or
dimensional on a picture plane. irregular. They also add richness and vitality
in paintings.
Picture plane
any flat surface onto which the Visual texture
artwork is created. in such cases where touching the
artwork is not allowed, textured can be
Negative shapes perceived by the eyes.
these are between the shapes that are
not occupied by any form. Space
An illusion in the graphic arts. It is
created by techniques that add depth and
distance to two-dimensional art. Space is
actually present.
● Natural or organic shapes
seen in nature like the shape of leaves,
animals, mountains, flowers and seashells.

● Abstract shapes ● Overlapping planes (interposition)

have little or no resemblance to natural create space when an object covers a part of
objects. another object which is behind it.

● Non-objective or biomorphic shapes ● Relative size

seldom have reference to recognizable objects that appear large/big indicate
objects, but most often show a similarity to nearness and small-sized objects as distant.
some organic forms. Aside from creating the illusion of space,
this can also be interpreted as power and
● Geometric shapes import.
these are triangles, rectangles, squares,
cylinders, cubes.
● Position on the picture plane (relative it enters into relations with its surroundings
height)I － extending into it, enveloping it, or
some paintings, spatial representation is relating across it.
based upon the position of objects relative to
the bottom of the frame. Space in architecture is created and
Those objects found at the bottom of the defined by the shape, position, and the
frame will appear closer to the viewer. materials employed by the architect.
Farther distances are indicated by the
positions of the objects higher on the picture
plane. The point of reference is the horizon
line which is the line at the eye level. A Over the years, artists of the visual arts have
picture plane can be divided into three manipulated the medium and elements in
parts; order to portray motion in their artworks.
■ Foreground - the bottom part. They have also experimented on which
■ Middle ground - where the horizon is. techniques to employ to be able to
■ Background - the topmost part. incorporate in their works the perception of
movement.
Color is also used to give the illusion of
distance. Warm colors advance and make
objects look closer while cool colors recede
making objects look farther away.
● Actual movement - in art, specifically in
sculptures results in kinetic art. Actual
movements may be achieved naturally using
wind and water or mechanically through
some energy source (batteries or electricity).

● Implied movement - results when a

variety of lines are used together,
● Perspective - deals with the effect of repeated, change in position, or
distance on the appearance of objects. It decreased/increased in size. This gives the
enables the viewer to perceive distance and impression of movement in a stationary two
to see the position of objects in space. dimensional art.
■ Linear perspective - give the perception
distance by means of converging lines. It
has to do with the direction of lines and with Elements of the Combined Arts
the size of objects. Lesson 5 - Elements of Music
■ Aerial perspective (gradient) - the effect
of haze, mist or atmosphere on the object. ● Rhythm - movement or pattern with
Near objects are seen in detail with the full uniform recurrence of accented and
intensity of color and as objects recede, accented beat.
details are lost and objects appear grayer.
● Melody - succession of tones arranged in
Space in sculpture may be viewed in two such a way as to give it a musical sense. It
ways: it may be considered a single solid may also refer to the rising and falling of
object or an assemblage of solids that the tune in time.
exhibits space; or space may be perceived as
● Harmony - sounding of a series of group Elements of Dance
of tones in the same time. It may also refer ● Music
to the pleasing sound that is produced when plays an important role in the dance to
two or more notes are played together. which it is closely related. It should be
Concordance - results when the combination melodic and harmonious and fits into the
of sounds are in agreement which makes it movements of the dance. Music motivates
sound good while the dancers to move in tune with its rhythm.
Dissonance - results when the combination ● Movement
is not pleasant to hear. how the dancers use their bodies to move
and create organized patterns.
● Timbre - tonal quality or the character of ● Choreography
the tone that is produced by an instrument or refers to how the steps and movements are
by the human voice. Timbre allows the connected for it to be performed in an
listener to distinguish the sound between a organized manner.
guitar and a violin. ● Technique
skill of the dancer in executing the
● Form - is the structure or the framework movements.
of a composition ● Theme
content or the main ingredient of the dance.
Vocal Forms It tells what the dance is trying to convey.
■ Opera ● Design
is a drama set to music complete with is the planned organization or patterns of
actions, costumes and scenery movement in time and space. Pattern in time,
■ Cantata is provided by rhythm to be executed in
is a religious story told in music without space on a stage or dance floor.
actions ● Costume
■ Moro-moro is a Philippine drama set to type of dance performed and the costumes
music which depicts the conflict between worn relate closely to the customs, beliefs,
the Christians and the Muslims. and environment of the people. Costumes
enhance the effect of the dance.
Instrumental Forms
■ Sonata - long composition for solo
instruments (piano, Violin) Lesson 6 - Elements of Drama
■ Symphony - sonata for the orchestra

● Dynamics - loudness and softness of the

sound in music indicated by symbols to basically one of the genres of literature that
regulate the volume of the sound. is written primarily to be performed.
● Plot
■ pp pianissimo - very soft overall structure of the play. It is concerned
■ p piano - soft about what the story is all about. Traditional
■ mp mezo piano - half soft plots have a beginning, a middle, and an
■ ff fortissimo - very loud ending. The Plot progresses through the
■ crescendo - gradually becoming following:
louder Exposition is the part that
■ decrescendo - gradually becoming familiarizes the audience with the characters
softer and the situation they are in.
 Complication happens in the middle ● The Director works with the playwright
part of the play which develops the conflict to present which is interpreted and
that was started in the exposition. translated into dramatic action.
Resolution is also called the ● Production Design includes the scenery,
anticlimax or the part where conditions in props, make-up, costumes, lights, music,
the story are normalized and the situation sound and all other special effects used in a
becomes stable. theater production.

● Setting
locale and period in which the story takes Lesson 8 - Elements of Cinema
place. (Motion Picture)
● Characters
persons involved in the story. Characters ● Acting and the Stars
can be the protagonist or the antagonist. Acting is the art of portraying or
Protagonist is the character from which the impersonating a character in the story. A
story revolves around performer during filming should embody the
antagonist is the person who challenges the character he is portraying. The actor’s
role of the protagonist. portrayal must be perfect and complete.
● Dialogue ● Set and Directors
words uttered by the characters in the story. . should know the setting of the story and
Pantomimes rely heavily on actions, build artificial sets.
gestures, facial expression and sound effects. ● Music and Musical Director
Music is indispensable in motion pictures.
● Theme is what the story means. It is how The musical director is in charge of
the individual elements are put together to selecting, composing new songs, writing
give the story significance and perspective. orchestration, preparing background music,
It relates something about life that is creating musical scores and supervising all
presented in its totality. The theme may be recording.
directly or indirectly stated. ● Color in the movies is an innovation in
cinematography. It costs twice as much as
the black and white films. Most films are
Lesson 7 - Elements of Theater now shown in high definition (HD) color.
● Make-up, Hair and Costume Design
people are responsible for applying the
is performed live. Its performance is specific type of make-up, hairstyle and
immediate and once performed cannot be costume to the actors before they face the
undone. Its magic begins when the curtains camera.
are raised and the stage lights go on. ● Sound, Camera and Special Effects
Technicians
● The Playwright’s role is to work out the Sound technicians are responsible for
plot in terms of the actual actions to be making the dialogue clear and music of fine
performed and dialogue to be spoken by quality. They make sure that there is no
actors within the limited facilities of the background noise. The use of cameras and
stage. the functions of the special effects
● The Performers are the ones who portray technician is indispensable in
the characters in a play. cinematography. They decide on the use of
masking, the choice of lens, the camera ■ Primary
angle and the control of camera movements. context pertains to the characteristic of the
artist, his personality, beliefs, interests and
values.
Lesson 9 - Principles of Art ■ Secondary
context pertains to the setting. The historical
Generally, the visual arts are made-up of period, time in which the work was
three key elements that are independent of produced. Included here are the functions
each of their specific elements. In the served by the art work, its religious and
appreciation of the visual arts, these three philosophical conviction, socio political and
elements present themselves as: economical undertones, climate and
● Form geography.
refers to how specific elements in the
artwork are organized to produce a unified
whole. Form is further classified into: Lesson 10 - Principles of Design
a. Primary Features
how the artwork appears to the viewers.Its The describe the ways
physical attributes in terms of medium,
in which an artist has used or can use the
color, texture and size.
elements of art to create beautiful
b. Secondary Features
compositions. (Grieder 1996)
how the primary features of the artwork
relate to one another. Particularly, this refers
● Balance is the distribution of the visual
to balance, proportion, unity and harmony
weight of objects, color, texture and space.
that are used to create the whole
The use of these elements should be
composition.
balanced to make the viewers see and feel
design as stable. Three types of balance:
● Content
■ Symmetrical balance results when the
refers to the message the artist wants to
elements used on one side of the design are
convey through his art. The levels of content
similar to those on the other side.
are:
■ Asymmetrical balance is when the sides
■ Factual
of the composition are different but still
literal interpretation of the work, its images,
looked balanced.
attributes, actions and poses.
■ Radial balance is achieved when the
■ Conventional level
elementsare arranged around a central point.
takes into consideration the basic genres and
Elements may exhibit similarities as they
the figurative meanings usually indicated by
spread around the central point.
familiar signs and symbols and the quality
of work.
● Emphasis is the part of the design that
■ Subjective level
catches the viewer's attention. The artist will
takes into consideration the effect of form
usually make one area stand out by
and content on the viewers of the art.
contrasting it with other areas.
● Context
● Movement is the path the viewer's eye
refers to the various circumstances that
takes when looking through the work of art.
influence how a work of art was produced
Such movement can be implied along lines
and interpreted. The two types of context
edges, shape, and color within the work of
are:
art.
 which creates a feeling of completeness in
● Pattern is the repetition of objects, shapes, the composition.
lines, or symbols all over the space or
picture plane. Lesson 11 - The Rule of Thirds and
● Proportion is the feeling of unity created the Seven Da Vincian Principles
when all parts relate well with each other.
The Rule of Thirds is used by visual artists
● Repetition works with patterns to make (painters, digital artists, and photographers)
the work seem active. The repetition of to create compositions that meet the
elements of design creates unity within the requirements for a good design. Most artists
artwork. today, however, do not use this rule, they
opt for free flowing composition that is
● Rhythm is created when one or more more of their individual expression rather
elements of design are used repeatedly to than of works limited or bounded by basic
produce a feeling of organized, continuous, rules. The point of this discussion is to
sometimes flowing movement. To keep encourage artists to first be aware of the
rhythm exciting and active, variety is basic rules before they start venturing to
important. unorthodox techniques in expressing their
art.
● Variety is the use of several elements of
design that adds interest in order to hold the The Rule of Thirds
viewer's attention and guide the viewer’s
eye through and around the work of art.

● The surface with two equally spaced

vertical lines and two equally spaced
horizontal lines.
● These lines divide the picture plane into
nine equal parts with four intersecting points.
● Based on studies, placing an object in one
of the intersecting points results in a
pleasing composition.
● Balance is achieved by placing another
object at the point opposite the first one. The
major function of the Rule of Thirds is to
● Unity is the feeling of harmony between serve as a guide for visual artists on the
and among the parts of the work of art, proper placement of their subjects on the
picture plane to achieve a more interesting
composition. Placing the subject at the colors, note minute details and savor the
center does not provide enough interest for physicality of everything the world has to
viewers to be able to appreciate the work. offer.
4. Sfumato
The Seven Da Vincian Principles literally translates to “going up in
smoke”. It is accepting life’s paradoxes and
Leonardo da Vinci was more than an artist. uncertainties. It is knowing and realizing
He was also an architect, scientist, inventor, that not everything is cause and effect and
anatomist, geologist, historian and writer. that events happen that even logic can
Through the centuries, Da Vinci influenced explain.
various areas in many disciplines. Based on 5. Arte/Scienza
the research conducted by Michael J. Gleb finding a balance between art and
(born 1952), specifically, in his book “How science or logic and imagination. This
to Think like Leonardo da Vinci” (1998), da relates to the concept of a whole brain
Vinci’s genius was based on 7 principles thinking (not just the left and right brain).
which he called the seven da Vincian 6. Corporalita is taking care of one’s body.
Principles. Ensuring that healthy habits are practiced
and sustained. A sound mind is usually the
product of a sound body and vice versa.
7. Connessione is realizing that all things
are interconnected. It is discovering patterns
in the way things work and how things and
lives work out. Interconnectedness is seeing
how events in the past led to the present
state of affairs. A closer study of history
would make one realize how events in the
past explains the present.

1. Curiosita
approaching life with a heightened level
of wonder and continuous search to know
and learn more.
2. Dimostrazione
commitment to test knowledge and to
persist in this task, which
includes experiencing both success and
failures in undertaking.
3. Sensazione
experiencing life through refinement of
the senses. For example, the eyes should do
more than see, it should be able to
distinguish between the beauty of various