art basics

Elements of Design:

Line -a path made by a moving point

Shape - an area defined by its outline, geometric or organic

Form - a three-dimensional shape

Value - the lightness or darkness of an object

Color - hues on a spectrum; we use a color wheel made of primary, secondary, and intermediate colors

Texture - the way something feels or appears to feel

Space - the illusion of depth in an artwork

Figure - a body form or shape

Composition - an arrangement of lines, shapes, colors, etc. on a surface

Craftsmanship - using materials correctly and taking care in the production of a piece of art so that it is neatly presented

Studio - a room or space where an artist produces and stores work

Portfolio - a collection of work, or the container that holds the collection

Positive Space - the shape or object that is the focus

Negative space - the area around the positive space; also "leftover" space or background

Media - materials used to make art. Most of our art in the classroom is one, or a combination of, the following:

Drawing: pencil, ink, pastel, chalk, charcoal

Painting: tempera or watercolor

Printmaking: creating multiple images by transferring ink from a stamp or plate

Collage: shapes that are cut and pasted to a surface

Sculpture: clay, metal, cardboard, or other 3-D materials

Textiles: stitchery or weaving

Technology: photography, computer art

Styles of art -

Realistic: objects look as they do in real life

Abstract: objects are based on real-life, but are changed artistically

Nonobjective: a design; no recognizable objects are found other than lines, shapes, colors, etc.