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The elements of art the building blocks of a work of art. They are the structure of the work. Artists analyze, organize, and manipulate the elements of art in order to control the viewer's  FEELINGS and MOODS in response to the work.

The elements of Art are an ESSENTIAL component of the VISUAL LANGUAGE of art.

  
   
 
  1. When looking at a work of art, see if you can identify which Elements of Art the artist stressed, organized or used to express a message, create a mood, or convey a particular meaning and emotional response to the work.
  3. The ability to isolate and analyze the elements that are used by the artist in a work or art is crucial to the understanding of a work or art.
  5. Understanding of the elements of art is essential to a comprehensive formal analysis of a work of art.
 
     
The elements of art are:  
  LINE   SHAPE   FORM   VALUE   COLOR   TEXTURE   SPACE  
 
 
Line
A line is not necessarily an artificial creation. Lines exist in nature as a structural feature such as branches, or as surface design, such as striping on a zebra, a butterfly or on leaves.
 

An EXPLICIT line is an identifiable mark with length and direction created by a point moving in space.

Think of a line as the path of a dot through space.  This will reminds you that it takes movement to make a line. When you see a line, your eyes follow the movement of the line. 

Lines can lead you, around, and out of visual images.
 

An IMPLIED line is only suggested. It is not real. It does not exist.  It exist ONLY by implication, as the edge of shapes.

Implied lines are a series of points that the viewer’s eye automatically connects. Implied lines are   A group of shapes arranged in a row can create an implied line.
Can you see implied lines in this painting?

Another kind of implied line is a LINE OF SIGHT, an imaginary line from a figure’s eyes to a viewed object.  A line of sight can help direct your attention from one point to another.
Can you see an implied line of sight in this painting?

 
Lines often define a space, and may create an outline or contour, define a silhouette; create patterns, or movement, and the illusion of mass or volume.
 
Lines have VALUE.  What is value?
 

Lines can vary in:
WIDTH.  Lines can be wide of thin.
LENGHT.  Lines can be long or short.
DEGREE OF CURVE.  Lines can curve or make spirals.
 
Lines have many qualities. Lines can be:
CONTINUOUS
SKIPPED                
There are five basic kinds of lines:
HORIZONTAL VERTICAL DIAGONAL CURVED ZIGZAG
 
There are many types of lines.  The most commonly used are:
OUTLINES COUTOUR LINES GESTURE LINES  HATCHING LINES
 
   
Kinds of Lines  
   
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Horizontal lines follow the horizon line. (The horizon line is, in a general definition, where the sky and land meet.) They do not slant.

HORIZONTAL LINES ARE PARALLEL TO THE HORIZON.

HORIZONTAL LINES ARE STATIC, or INACTIVE.

HORIZONTAL LINES EXPRESS PEACE, REST, QUIET AND STABILITY.

They suggest a relaxing, peaceful feeling and convey a feeling of rest and repose.  The make you feel content, relaxed and calm.

 

Vertical lines move straight up and down.  They do not lean at all. 

VERTICAL LINES ARE PERPENDICOLAR TO THE HORIZON.

VERTICAL LINES ARE STATIC, or INACTIVE.

VERTICAL LINES EXPRESS STABILITY.

Vertical lines communicate a sense of height because they are perpendicular to the earth, extending upwards toward the sky.

Verical lines are used to convey a sense of dignity, poise, stiffness, and formality.

     
 
David Hockney,
Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)1971		   Meindert Hobbema,
Avenue at Middelharnis,1689.
 
   
 

Horizontal and vertical lines used in combination

ARE STATIC, or INACTIVE.

EXPRESS STABILITY.
Rectilinear forms with 90-degree angles are structurally stable.

Vertical lines are used to suggests permanence, reliability and safety.
Piet Mondrian, Composition with Red, Yellow and Blue 1921
 
 
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Diagonal lines run on an angle, and are either raising or falling. As such, they convey a feeling of movement.

In a two-dimensional composition, diagonal lines can also indicate depth through perspective. These diagonal lines pull the viewer visually into the image.

DIAGONAL LINES ARE ACTIVE.

DIAGONAL LINES EXPRESS MOVEMENT.

Diagonal lines are used to convey a sense of instability, tension, activity and excitement.
Wassily Kandinsky, Composition VIII", 1923; Oil on canvas;
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York
 
 
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Curved lines change direction gradually.  They may be rolling, bending, curling or bending.

CURVED LINES ARE ACTIVE.

CURVED LINES EXPRESS FLUID MOVEMENT.

Curved lines are graceful.  Spiral curves wind around a central point.  They are hypnotic and draw the eye to the center.

Zigzag lines are made from a combination of diagonal lines.  The diagonal lines form angles and change direction suddenly.

ZIGZAG LINES ARE ACTIVE.

ZIGZAG LINES EXPRESS NERVOUSNESS.
     
 
Robert Smithson,
Spiral Jetty, 1970, Great Salt Lake, Utah		 Korban Flaubert
 
   
Drawing with lines  
     
 

Outlines an outline defines the edge of a shape.  The line used to draw an outline is usually uniform—has the same thinkness throughout— and makes an image look flat.  An outline line shows ONLY the edge of a  shape and shows NO details.

  
     
 
Kara Walker, Camptown Ladies, detail, 1998, Cut paper and adhesive on wall, Overall size 9 x 67 feet.    
 
   
 
Contour Drawing not only show the edges of the shapes being drawn but they also go onto the surface of the object to help describe the 3-dimensional qualities of the form, and include internal details.  A contour line is a continuos line, drawn by never lifting the pencil from the paper.  Draw slowly, while carefully paying attention to details.
Gesture Drawing expresses the sense of movement and caputures the feeling of motion.  Gesture lines indicate action and physical movement. They are drown quickly.
 
   
 

Hatching expresses the sense of movement and caputures the feeling of motion.  Gesture lines indicate action and physical movement. They are drown quickly.

Crosshatching occurs when hatching lines cross another area of hatching lines.

Hatching and rosshatching lines help to develop value in the drawing.
Albrecht Durer, The Last Supper, 1523, Woodcut. Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna