Digital Photo 2012: 2013

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Vocab

Art Elements:

Line - Line art is any image that consists of distinct straight and curved lines placed against a (usually plain) background, without gradation...

Shape - A “shape” is an area which stands out because of a defined boundary or change in color, value or texture. A shape implies a flat, two-dimensional surface.

Color - Colors have great appeal to us and can exert powerful forces upon viewers. Artists use that power and appeal in many ways, so Color is a complex element. Here are some basic concepts that will help you deal immediately with this important component.

Value - A very important element in, especially drawings and paintings, is value (or tone). In this context, value means light and dark. Sometimes referred to by the Italian word “chiaroscuro” (literally “light/dark”), value is often described visually by a scale with varying shades of gray arranged between black and white. But remember that colors have values also—what would you call a light value of red?

Texture - A valuable element in the artist’s codebook is texture because it engages another sense besides sight. Texture is “tactile,” that is, it appeals to our sense of touch. Artists know this element can appeal to viewers and may try to recreate the illusion of texture, or add real texture to stimulate our tactile nature.

Volume/ Form - Shadows, darkness, contrasts and light are all values in artwork.

Design Principles:

Balance - An art and design principle concerned with the arrangement of one or more elements in a work of art so that they appear symmetrical (even) or asymmetrical (uneven) in design and proportion.

Harmony - The unity of all the visual elements of a composition achieved by repetition of the same characteristics.

Contrast - The state of being strikingly different from something else, typically something in juxtaposition or close association.

Movement - Movement adds excitement to your work by showing action and directing the viewers eye throughout the picture plane.

Rhythm - When the regular repetition of particular forms or elements occurs in a work of art, that work is said to have rhythm. It suggests motion.