art theory Flashcards
what is DESIGN ?
design is the organization of parts into a coherent whole. This desire for order seems to be a basic human characteristic.
what are ELEMENTS and PRINCIPLES of art ?
the elements of art are the BUILDING BLOCKS or the PARTS
the principles are the LAWS according to which you use the elements as you build a coherent whole
name the 5 ELEMENTS of art
- shape
- line
- color
- space
- texture
what is a line and what are the types ?
the most fundamental element
- organic line= natural
- geometric line= made with a compass or a straight edge
what are the types of shapes ?
- 2 dimensional (length + width)
2. 3 dimensional (length + width +depth)
what are the types of color ?
- hue
- value
- intensity
what is hue ?
the name of a color
what is value ?
lightness and darkness
what is intensity ?
the brilliance of a color
what are the types of textures ?
- visual= texture you can SEE
2. tactile= texture you can FEEL with your fingers
how do you create the illusion of space ?
- SIZE DIMINSHES the further back you go
- when an object OVERLAPs another, it appears closer
- DETAIL DECREASES with distance
- ATMOSPHERIC PERSPECTIVE= objects that are very far away take on a bluish tinge
- LINEAR PERSPECTIVE= all points converge to one or more points
what are the (8) color schemes ?
- primary
- secondary
- tertiary
- monochromatic
- complementary
6 analogous - warm
- cool
what are primary colors ?
the three basic colors that can be mixed together to make any other color
red, blue, yellow
what are secondary colors ?
made by mixing 2 primary colors together
green, orange, purple
what are tertiary colors ?
a primary color mixed with a secondary color next to it on the color wheel
i.e. green + blue = turquoise
what are warm colors ?
warm colors seem to come forward
yellow, red, orange
what are cool colors ?
cool colors seem to recede
purple, blue, green
what are complementary colors ?
colors opposite to each other on the color wheel
- yellow + purple
- blue + orange
- red + green
what are analogous colors ?
colors next to each other on the color wheel
- red + purple
- orange + yellow
- green + blue
what are monochromatic colors ?
one color with white or black added to it
name the 4 principles of art
- rhythm
- balance
- variety
- unity
what is/ are the types of rhythm ?
repetition of elements to encourage movement
- progressive
- static
- cyclical
what is/ what are the types of balance ?
a way of combining elements to provide equilibrium or stability to a work of art
- asymmetry (visual balance)
- symmetry (mirror-image)
what is variety ?
the most important principle for interest
too much variety is chaotic
variety can be had in each element
what is unity ? what are the types of unity ?
the harmony of all parts to make a unified whole
1. dominance (where one figure dominates the composition such as in a portrait)
2. repetition
too much unity is boring
