There are different color wavelengths that make up a color spectrum.ĭouble Alaskan rainbow and supernumerary rainbows on the inside of the primary arc. We will perceive that light is a specific color depending on its wavelength. What, exactly, is color? The science of color explains that it occurs when “visible light”, which is one of the forms of electromagnetic radiation, reflects off – or is absorbed by – an object. Similarly, the yellow of the cow reportedly symbolizes “sensuality” and “femininity”. Additionally, it is also believed to symbolize peace or harmony. Still, the blue is utilized to express a deeper meaning, reportedly “spirituality” and “masculinity”. In the aforenamed painting, there are three blue horses, not a color we would expect horses to be. The Blue Horses (1911) by Franz Marc, located at the Walker Art Center in Minnesota, United States Walker Art Center, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons It is versatile and can convey realism, naturalism, or more abstract ideas.įor example, think of famous artworks like “The Blue Horses” (1911) and “The Yellow Cow” (1911) by the German Expressionist Franz Marc. It can also evoke strong emotional responses and when applied strategically it can create a well-balanced visual composition. Known as a “hue”, color is a critical art element because it shows us, the viewers, what the artwork is about. We will also provide an example of the different ways each art element can be utilized in a visual composition. We will briefly go through each and how they are utilized and applied in the visual arts. Now let us dive deeper into the seven elements of art. A landscape with a swirly sky or a curvy-shaped sculpture will mean more than meets the eye. So, the next time you visit an art gallery you will be able to look deeper into the structure of a painting.

Some art sources describe it as “visual literacy”. It is almost like learning a language and each element of art combines to form the visual “sentence”, so to say. Have you ever looked at a painting without knowing what the elements of art are? Did it just look like a picture to you? Without the knowledge of these tools, we are not able to go deeper into the underlying structure of visual composition, in other words, the art elements will provide a context from which we can understand the artwork. This refers to the three-dimensionality or depth created in a composition, and it consists of positive and negative space, which can be utilized to create different effects. This refers to the “surface quality” of artworks, which can be real or implied. These range from cubic, spherical, pyramidal, or conical, among many others, and it is three-dimensional, and can be geometric or organic.

Shape ranges from square, circular, triangular, or rectangular and is more two-dimensional, geometric, or organic. There are different types of lines – horizontal, vertical, diagonal, short, long, curved, or zig-zag, which all can be applied to form a fundamental structure of an artwork and provides different effects like movement, rhythm, or emphasis. This refers to the light and dark aspects of color and it comes in low-key, high-key, or middle-key variations. Some of the main aspects of color include the color wheel, different color schemes, primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, complementary and analogous colors, hues, tones, tints, shades, saturation/intensity, value, and color temperature. Once the art elements are understood, the possibilities are seemingly endless as to how they can be applied. It is important to understand the elements of art if you are an art student, or even if you are an art enthusiast because they act as guidelines or tools to not only compose an artwork but also analyze it. We will discuss each of these in more detail below.Īrtists can apply the seven elements of art in numerous different ways – and they do not have to utilize them in conjunction or simultaneously – to create artworks that are visually appealing and/or expressive.Īrt elements can apply to almost all types of artworks, including painting, drawing, graphic design, or any other form of visual composition. There are typically seven primary elements of art namely, color, value, line, shape, form, texture, and space. These are often described as methods or components in the visual arts. In simple terms, the elements of art are parts that make up the whole. The Fundamentals: What Are the Elements of Art? 3 A Visual Symphony: Art Elements in Context.1 The Fundamentals: What Are the Elements of Art?.

Design as element of art