ELEMENTS AND

PRINCIPLES OF THE
ARTS
1. Line and Kinds of Line

Lines - A line can be defined in several ways: It is a

path made by a moving point; a series of dots; a prolongation
of points or according to Paul Klee is a dot that went for a
walk. One definition of a line, however, that capture its
essence in the visual arts is it being an intended mark made
by the artist to convey meaning beyond its physical description.
Kinds of Line

Straight lines- are geometric, impersonal and differ in the

direction that they take. The straight lines may move from left
to right, start from the top going down, slant or move up and
down forming angles. Whatever is the direction, each kind
indicates a specific type of emotion.
Kinds of Line

V ertical lines- start from bottom to top or vice versa. It

is a line that appears to be standing.

H orizontal lines- move from left to right or vice versa.

It is a line that appears to be laying down.
Kinds of Line

D iagonal lines- are slanting lines. In the visual art,

diagonals suggest two meanings, a positive and a negative one.
On the positive diagonals indicate action and movement i.e. to
move forward and act. On the negative, it conveys a
feeling of uncertainty, stress and defeat.
Kinds of Line

Z igzag lines- Are angular lines that resulted in

abrupt change in the direction of a straight
line thus forming angles. The lines are unpleasant
and harsh which portrays tension, conflict,
chaos, or violence.
 Kinds of Line

C urved lines- are technically curvilinear lines.

Curve lines suggest grace, movement and flexibility
indicative of life and energy. When a curve line moves
continuously in opposite directions, it forms a wavy line
which shows fluidity because of the gradual change in
direction.
 Lines can possess a variety of characteristics, depending on shape,
density, rhythm, angularity, and the material that have produced them. Lines
may be short or long, fine or thick, heavy or light, wavy or jagged, straight or
curved. As shown in the diagram below (alphabet of lines). No matter what
type of line it is, it always has direction.
Alphabet of Lines
 2. Properties of Color and
How Colors relate and Light and
Shadow

Color- The significance of color as an element of the

visual arts cannot be over emphasized. People see and perceive

the world as a multitude of colors. Also the materials
used by the artists possess characteristics of color.
Color add beauty and meaning to all forms of art. The world
would be a gloomy place if it is devoid of color.
Color is the property of light. So when light goes out, color goes with it. Color is composed
of a series of wave lengths which strike the retina of the eyes. A ray of light contains all
the colors of the visible spectrum- red orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet
(ROYGBIV). The visible spectrum was discovered by sir Isaac Newton when light was
allowed to pass through a glass prism. Passing white light through a prism breaks it
into a band of the visible colors (just like a rainbow).
 Properties of Colors

Hue- It is the name given to the color,

for example; red,green, violet and blue.
 Properties of Colors

For pigments, RED, YELLOW and BLUE are called

primary hues. They are considered primary because these hues cannot
be produced from combining any hues.

When two primary hues are mixed in equal amounts,

secondary hues are produced. These are ORANGE, GREEN
and VIOLET.
Combining in equal mixture any two secondary hues produces the
tertiary hues.
 Properties of Colors

Value - refers to the lightness or darkness of a color.

The value of any hues can be changed by adding a neutral such
as black or white. This results in changing the quantity of light
the hue reflects.

Shade - When black is combined with hue.

Tint - When white is added with hue.
 Properties of Colors

Intensity - denotes the brightness or dullness of a color. It gives color its

strength. Colors differ in intensity or vividness.
 Properties of Colors

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.

If gray is added, the result will be a

variation in intensity without any change in
value.
 How Colors Relate

Color harmony is one method of establishing color

quality in a composition. There are several ways of
creating harmony that an artist can use. The most
common are the following:

Monochromatic harmony - When a single

color in the composition is varied in intensity and value
by adding white or black.
 How Colors Relate

Complementary Harmony - results when two colors that are opposite

each other in the color wheel are place side by side.

Analogous harmony - results when hues that are adjacent or beside each
other in the color wheel is used in a composition.

Color temperature - refers to the relative warmth or coolness of a color.

Warm colors are colors that have YELLOW as its dominant component white
cool colors have blue as their dominant component.
Light and Shadow (Value)

Light and shadow focuses on what is known as achromatic

value. This refers to the changes in the amount of reflected light
which ranges from black to gray to white and vice versa. An artist
who has mastered the manipulation of achromatic value in a
composition gives his work the illusion of depth and form.
Chiaroscuro - the technique of manipulating light and shadow in painting.
Masters who have perfected the use of this technique are Da Vinci,
Michelangelo, Rembrandt, and Caravaggio.
Rembrandt and Caravaggio went a step further and exaggerated the use of
shadows to an extreme called tenebrism or “dark manner”.

Rembrandt Artwork Caravaggio Artwork

In the local scene, Fernando Amorsolo, also mastered chiaroscuro, but
his focus was more on the manipulation of light rather than shadow.

Fernando Amorsolo Artworks

 Shape and Classification of
Shapes

Shapes - In visual arts, a shape is formed

when two ends of a line meet to enclose an area.
The area may stand out from the surface because
of a difference in color, value or texture. They may
also present themselves as flat or two- dimensional
and solid or three-dimensional on a picture plane.
 3. Shape and Classification of Shapes

Picture Plane - any flat surface onto

which the artwork is created.
 Shape and Classification of
Shapes

Negative shapes - these are between the shapes

that are not occupied by any form. In painting, these
spaces can be as important as the shaped themselves.
In sculpture and architecture, the shape of the
artwork can be determined by viewing the work against
its background (Marquarot&Eskilson, 2005).
 Classification of Shapes

Natural or organic shapes - those are seen

on nature like the shape of leaves, animals,
mountains, flowers and seashells.

Abstract shapes - those that have little or no

resemblance to natural objects.
 Classification of Shapes

Non-objective or biomorphic shapes - seldom

have reference to recognizable objects, but most
often show a similarity to some organic forms.

Geometric shapes - these are triangles,

rectangles, squares, cylinders, cubes.
 Classification of Shapes

Sculpture and architecture are three-dimensional forms, which are

identified either by mass or volume. When mass is structured or has a
definite shape, it is said to have volume. The sculptor is concerned with
volume because sculpture occupies space. Single volume is the fundamental
unit in sculpture.
 4. Texture, Methods of Creating Space and
Movement

Texture - refers to the feel or tactile quality of the surface

of an object. It has to do with the characteristic of surface,
whether it is rough or smooth, fine or coarse, polished or
dull, plain or irregular. They also add richness and vitality
in paintings.

Visual texture - in such cases where touching the artwork

is not allowed, textured can be perceived by the eyes.
 Space - An illusion in the graphic arts. It is created by techniques
that adds depth and distance to two-dimensional art. In sculpture and
architecture, however, space is actually present.
 Methods of Creating Space

Overlapping planes (interposition) - create

space when an object covers a part of another
object which is behind it.

Relative size - objects that appear large/big indicate

nearness and small-sized objects as distant. Aside
from creating illusion of space, this can also be
interpreted as power and import.
 Position on the picture plane (relative
height)

In some paintings, spacial representation is based upon the position of

objects relative to the bottom of the frame. Those objects found at the
bottom of the frame will appear closer to the viewer. 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 picture plane can be divided into three parts;
Foreground - the bottom part.

Middle ground - where the horizon is.

Background - the topmost part.

 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.
Perspective - deals with effect of
distance on the appearance of objects.
It enables the viewer to perceive distance
and to see the position of objects in space.
Linear perspective - give the perception
distance by means of converging lines. It has to do
with the direction of lines and with the size of
objects.
Aerial perspective (gradient) - the
effect of haze, mist or atmosphere on the
object. Near objects are seen in detail with
the full intensity of color and as objects
recede, details are loss and
objects appear grayer.
Space in sculpture may be viewed in two
ways: it may be considered a single solid
object or an assemblage of solids that exhibits
space; or space may be perceived as it enters
into relations with its surroundings－extending
into it, enveloping it, or relating across it.
Space in architecture - is created and
defined by the shape, position, and the
materials employed by the architect.
Movement
Over the years, artists of the visual arts have
manipulated the medium and elements in order
to portray motion in their artworks. They have
also experimented on which techniques to employ
to be able to incorporate in their works the
perception of movement.
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
Implied movement – results when
a variety of lines are used together, repeated,
changed in position, or decreased/increased
in size. This gives the impression of movement
in a stationary two dimensional art.
 5. Elements of Literature and the
Combined Arts

Literature can refer to a body of written or oral work, but it commonly

refers specifically to writings considered to be an art form, especially
prose fiction, drama, and poetry, in contrast to academic writing and
newspapers.
 Elements of Literature

The important elements of literature are emotional appeal, intellectual

appeal, and humanistic value
a. Emotional appeal – is attained when the reader is emotionally moved or
touched by any literary work

b. Intellectual appeal – adds knowledge or information and reminds the

reader of what he has forgotten.
 Elements of Literature

c. Humanistic value – can be attained when a literary work makes the

reader an improved person with a better outlook in life and with a clear
understanding of his/her inner self
 Classifications of Literature

Perrine stated that literature can be classified as escape and

interpretative literature.

a. Escape literature – is written for entertainment purposes, that is, to

help us pass the time in an agreeable manner. It takes us away from the
real world and enables us to temporarily forget our troubles and has for
its object only pleasure.
 Classifications of Literature

b. Interpretative literature – is written to broaden and sharpen

our awareness in life. It takes us through imagination, deeper
into the real world and enables us to understand our troubles.
It has for its object – pleasure plus understanding.
 Uses of Literature

a. Moralizing literature – here, the purpose of literature is to present

moral values for the reader to understand and appreciate. The moral
may be directly or indirectly stated.

b. Propaganda literature – This kind of literature is found not only

in
history books and advertising and marketing books but also in some
books describing one’s personal success and achievements in life.
 Uses of Literature

c. Psychological continuum of the individual – therapeutic value

– it could be looked on as a sophisticated modern elaboration of
the idea of
catharsis – an emotional relief experience by the reader there by helping
him recover from a previous pent – up emotion
 Elements of Poetry
Poetry is as universal as language and almost as ancient. The most
primitive peoples have used it, and the most civilized have cultivated it.

a. Denotation/Conotation. Denotation is the actual meaning of a word

derived from the dictionary. The word home for instance, by denotation
means a place where one lives. Connotation is the related or allied meanings
if a words. The same word home suggests warmth, comfort, security, love
and other meanings that are associated with its denotative meaning
 Elements of Poetry

b. Imagery. This may be defined as the representation of sense

experience
through language. Images are formed as we see, hear, taste, smell and
touch; or we say that an image is the mental duplication of a sense
impression. The most common imagery is visual, as we are made to see
what the author is talking about.
 Elements of Poetry

c. Figurative language. The most commonly used and the most

important of the figurative language are the similie and the metaphor.
Both simile and metaphor are used as a means of comparing things that
are essentially unlike.
 Elements of Poetry

d. Rhythm and Meter. Our appreciation of rhythm and meter is rooted

even deeper in us than our love for musical repetition. It is related to the
beats of out hearts and the intake and out, ow of air from our lungs,
Rhythm is a part of our lives as there is rhythm in the way we walk, the
way we talk, the way we swim and other similar activities. Meter, in language,
is the accents that are so arranged as to occur at apparently equal
intervals of time. Metrical language is called verse
 Elements of Poetry

e. Meaning and Idea. The meaning of a poem is the experience it

expresses. Total meaning is the idea in a poem which is only a
part of the total experience it communicates. The value and worth of the
poem are determined by the value of the total experience, not by the truth or
the nobility of the idea itself. Prose meaning does not necessarily have to be
an idea itself. It may be a story, a description, a statement of emotion, a
presentation of human character or a combination of these
 6. Elements of Music

Rhythm - is a movement or pattern with uniform recurrence of

accented and accented beat.

Melody - is the succession of tones arranged in such a way as to

give it a musical sense. It may also refer to the rising and falling
of the tune in time.
 Elements of Music

Harmony - is the sounding of a series of group of tones in the same time. It

may also refer to the pleasing sound that is produced when two or more notes
are played together. Concordance results when the combination of sounds are
in agreement which makes it sound good while dissonance results when the
combination is not pleasant to hear.
 Elements of Music

Timbre - is tonal quality or the character of the tone that is produced by an

instrument or by the human voice. Timbre allows the listener to distinguish
the sound between a guitar and a violin for example. In the same way, people
can be identified by their voices. A man’s voice sounds different from a woman’s
voice and an old person’s voice is different from that of a child.

Form - is the structure or the framework of a composition

 Vocal Forms

Opera- is a drama set to music

complete with actions, costumes
and scenery
 Vocal Forms

Cantata- is a religious story

told in music without actions
 Vocal Forms

Moro-moro- is a Philippine drama

set to music which depicts the conflict
between the Christians and the Muslims.
 Instrumental Forms

Sonata- is a long composition for solo

instruments (piano, Violin)
 Instrumental Forms

Symphony- is a sonata
for the orchestra
 Dynamics - is the loudness and softness of the sound in music
indicated by symbols to regulate the volume of the sound.

pianissimo - very soft

piano - soft
 Dynamics

mezo piano - half soft

fortissimo - very loud

 Dynamics

crescendo - gradually becoming louder

decrescendo - gradually becoming softer

 7. Elements of Dance

Music -plays an important role in the dance to which it is closely

related. It should be melodic and harmonious and fits into the movements
of the dance. Music motivates the dancers to move in tune with its rhythm.
The background music of the dance functions to captivate the interest and
awe of the audience.
 Elements of Dance

Movement - is how the dancers use their bodies to

move and create organized patterns. Dancers also use
gestures which express specific emotions or ideas in
sign language.
 Elements of Dance

Choreography - refers to how the steps and

movements are connected for it to be performed
in an organized manner. The choreography
guides the dancers’ movements for them to
perform the movement, convey the message and
tell the story through body language.
 Elements of Dance

Technique -is the skill of the dancer in

executing the movements. A good dancer
has complete control over the muscles of the
body thus creating grace and fluidity of
movements.
 Elements of Dance

Theme - is the content or the main

ingredient of the dance. It tells what
the dance is trying to convey. It has
something to do with the message
of the dance.
 Elements of Dance

Design - is the planned organization or patterns of

movement in time and space. Pattern in time, is provided
by rhythm to be executed in space on a stage or dance
floor.
 Elements of Dance

Costume- The type of dance performed

and the costumes worn relate closely to
the customs, beliefs, and environment
of the people. Costumes enhance the
effect of the dance.
 8. Elements of Drama

Drama- is basically one of the genres of

literature that is written primarily to be
performed. The performance is done by
actors on stage before a live audience.
 Elements of Drama
Plot- is the over-all structure of the play. It is concerned about
what the story is all about. Traditional plots have a beginning, a
middle, and an ending. The Plot progresses through the following:

Exposition is the part that familiarizes the audience

with the characters and the situation they are in.
 Elements of Drama
Complication - happens in the middle part of the play which
develops the conflict that was started in the exposition.

Resolution - is also called the anticlimax or the part where

conditions in the story are normalized and the situation
becomes stable.
 Elements of Drama

Setting - is the locale and period in which the story takes

place. It includes the scenery, props and costumes used in
staging. It is the background of the play that informs the
audience where and when the story will take place.
 Elements of Drama

Characters- are the persons involved in the story. They may seem real
to the audience depending on how the playwright structures the
dialogues to make the characters come to life. Characters can be the
protagonist or the antagonist. Protagonist is the character from which
the story revolves around while the antagonist is the person who
challenges the role of the protagonist.
 Elements of Drama

Dialogue - refers to the words uttered by the characters in the story.

It what the characters use when conversing with each other or when
expressing his thoughts and emotions. Dialogues let the audience know
the kind of character that the actor is portraying. There are, however,
plays with no dialogues. Pantomimes rely heavily on actions, gestures,
facial expression and sound effects.
 Elements of Drama

Theme - is what the story means. It is how the individual

elements are put together to give the story significance and
perspective. It relates something about life that is presented
in its totality. The theme may be directly or indirectly stated.
 9.Elements of Theatre

Theater art is performed live. Its performance

is immediate and once performed cannot be
undone. Its magic begins when the curtains
are raised and the stage lights go on.
 Elements of Theatre

The Playwright’s- role is to work

out the plot in terms of the actual
actions to be performed and dialogue
to be spoken by actors within the
limited facilities of the stage.
Elements of Theatre

The Performers - are the ones

who portray the characters in
a play.
Elements of Theatre

The Director - works with the

the playwright to present which
is interpreted and translated
into dramatic action.
Elements of Theatre
Production Design includes
the scenery, props, make-up,
costumes, lights, music, sound
and all other special effects used
in a theater production.
10. Elements of Cinema (
Motion of Pictures)

Acting and the Stars- Acting is the art of portraying or

impersonating a character in the story. A performer
during filming should embody the character he is
portraying. The actor’s portrayal must be perfect and
complete.
 Elements of Cinema ( Motion of
Pictures)
Set and Directors - should know the setting of the story and build
artificial sets.

Music and Musical Director- Music is indispensable in motion picture.

The musical director is in charge of selecting, composing new songs, writing
orchestration, preparing background music, creating musical scores and
supervising all recording.
.
 Elements of Cinema ( Motion of
Pictures)
Color- in the movies is an innovation in cinematography. It costs twice as
much as the black and white films. Most files are now shown in high
definition (HD) color.

Make-up, Hair and Costume Design- These people are responsible for
applying the specific type of make-up, hairstyle and costume to the actors
before they face the camera.
 Elements of Cinema ( Motion of
Pictures)
Sound, Camera and Special Effects Technicians- Sound technicians are
responsible for making the dialogue clear and music of fine quality. They
make sure that there is no background noise. The use of camera and the
functions of the special effects technician is indispensable in cinematography.
They decide on the use of masking, the choice of lens, the camera angle and the
control of camera movements.
 11. Principles of Art
Generally, the visual arts are made-up of three key elements that are
independent of each of their specific elements. In the appreciation of the
visual arts, these three elements present themselves as:

Form refers to how specific elements in the artwork are organized to

produce a unified whole. Form is further classified into:
 Principles of Art
Primary Features- This is how the artwork appears to the viewers.
Its physical attributes in terms of medium, color, texture and size.

Secondary Features.- This is how the primary features of the

artwork relate to one another. Particularly, this refers to balance,
proportion, unity and harmony that are used to create the whole
composition.
 Principles of Art
Content refers to the message the artists wants to convey through his art.
The levels of content are:

Factual is the literal interpretation of the work, its images, attributes,

actions and poses.

Conventional level takes into consideration the basic genres and the
figurative meanings usually indicated by familiar signs and symbols and
the quality of work.
 Principles of Art

Subjective level takes into consideration the effect of form and content on the
viewers of the art.

Context refers to the various circumstances that influence how a work of art was
produced and interpreted. The two types of context are:

Primary context pertains to the characteristic of the artist, his personality, beliefs,
interests and values.
 Principles of Art

Secondary context pertains to the setting. The historical period,

time in which the work was produced. Included here are the
functions served by the art work, its religious and philosophical
conviction, sociopolitical and economical undertones, climate and
geography.
 Principles of Design

The principles of design describe the ways in which an

artist had used or can use the elements of art to create
beautiful compositions. (Grieder 1996)
 Principles of Design

Balance is the distribution of the visual weight of

objects, color, texture and space. The use of these
elements should be balanced to make the viewers see
and feel design as stable.
 Principles of Design

Three types of balance:

Symmetrical balance results when the elements

used on one side of the design are similar to those on
the other side.
 Principles of Design

Asymmetrical balance is when the sides of the

composition are different but still looked balanced.

Radial balance is achieved when the elements are

arranged around a central point. Elements may
exhibit similarities as they spread around the central
point.
 Principles of Design

Emphasis is the part of the design that catches the

viewers attention. The artist will usually make one
area stand out by contrasting it with other areas.

Movement is the path the viewers eye takes when

looking through the work of art. Such movement
can be implied along lines edges, shape, and color
within the work of art.
 Principles of Design

Pattern is the repetition of objects, shapes lines,

or symbol all over the space or picture plane.

Proportion is the feeling of unity created when

all parts relate well with each other.
 Principles of Design

Repetition works with patterns to make the work seem

active. The repetition of elements of design creates unity
within the artwork.

Rhythm is created when one or more elements of design are

used repeatedly to produce a feeling of organized, continuous,
sometimes flowing movement. To keep rhythm exciting and
active, variety is important.
 Principles of Design

Variety is the use of several elements of design that adds

interest in order to hold the viewers attention and guide
the viewer’s eye through and around the work of art.

Unity is the feeling of harmony between and among

the parts of the work of art, which creates a feeling of
completeness in the composition.
 12. The Rule of Thirds and the Seven Da
Vincian Principles

The rule of thirds is used by visual artists (painters, digital artists, and
photographers) to create compositions that meet the requirements for a good design.
Most artists today, however, do not use this rule, they opt for free flowing
composition that is more of their individual expression rather that of works limited
or bounded by basic rules. The point of this discussion is to encourage would be
artists to first be aware of the basic rules before they start venturing to
unorthodox techniques in expressing their art.
 12. The Rule of Thirds and the Seven Da
Vincian Principles

The Rule of Thirds

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 point

results in a pleasing composition.

Balance is achieved by placing another object at the point opposite

the first one.
 12. The Rule of Thirds and the Seven Da
Vincian Principles

The Rule of Thirds

The major function of the Rule of Thirds is to serve as a guide for visual
artists on the proper placement of their subjects on the picture plane to achieve a
more interesting composition. Placing the subject at the center does not provide
enough interest for viewers to be able to appreciate the work.
 The Seven Da Vincian Principles

Leonardo da Vinci was more than an

artist. He was also an architect, scientist,
inventor, anatomist, geologist, historian
and writer. Through the centuries,
Da Vinci influenced various areas in
many disciplines.
 The Seven Da Vincian Principles

Based on the research conducted by Michael J. Gleb (born 1952), specifically, in his
book “How to Think like Leonardo da Vinci” (1998), da Vinci’s genius was based on 7
principles which he called the seven da Vincian Principles.
 The Seven Da Vincian Principles

1. Curiosita is approaching life with a heightened level of wonder and continuous search
to know and learn more.

2. Dimostrazione is the commitment to test knowledge and to persist in this task, which
includes experiencing both success and failures in undertaking.

3. Sensazione is experiencing life through refinement of the senses. For example, the eyes
should do more than see, it should be able todistinguish between the beauty of various
colors, note minute details and savor the physicality of everything the world has to offer.
 The Seven Da Vincian Principles

4. Sfumato literally translate to “going up in smoke”. It is accepting life’s

paradoxes and uncertainties. It is knowing and realizing that not everything
is cause and effect and that events happen that even logic can explain.

5.Arte/Scienza is finding a balance between art and science or logic and

imagination.This relates to the concept of a whole brain thinking (not just
the left and right brain).
 The Seven Da Vincian Principles

6. Corporalita is taking care of one’s body. 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.
THANK YOU!