The Formal Elements of Art

LINE:

Lines are marks made by a moving point. They can be straight, curved, thick, thin, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, dotted or dashed. Lines help define shapes and guide the viewer’s eye to a focal point in the artwork.

ARTIST LINKS:
Michael Craig Martin, Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Bridget Riley

SHAPE:

Shapes are two-dimensional enclosed areas. They can be geometric (circles, squares, rectangles, triangles) or organic (freeform, natural, erratic and irregular). Shapes are used to create patterns and forms in a composition (layout). Shapes can sometimes be taken from letters and numbers.

FORM:

Form refers to the three-dimensional aspect of an object, adding depth and volume. Artists use shading, perspective, shadows and other techniques to create the illusion of three-dimensional form on a two-dimensional surface.

ARTIST LINKS:
Mondrian, Matisse, Kara Walker, Andy Goldsworthy, Claes Oldenburg

TONE / VALUE:

Tone (often called Value in America) is the degree of lightness or darkness in a colour. Artists use shading and highlighting to create a range of tones, adding dimension and depth to their work. Tone is often associated with blending and pencil work.

ARTIST LINKS:
Cath Riley, Evan Gruzis, Ryan Travis Christian, Josef & Anni Albers

TEXTURE:

Texture refers to the surface quality or feel of an object. Artists create texture through the use of different materials, techniques, or representations, adding tactile and visual interest. Texture can be created with mark-making and collage.

ARTIST LINKS:
Vincent van Gogh, Anselm Kiefer, Louise Bourgeois, Kate Malone, Gordon Cheung

COLOUR:

Colour includes hues (the pure colours of the spectrum), tone / value (lightness or darkness), and saturation (intensity). Colour can evoke emotions and set the mood of a piece. Artists use colour schemes to make areas or subjects stand out more.

ARTIST LINKS:
Hiroshige, Jacob Lawrence, André Derain, Pauline Boty, Chuck Close

SPACE:

Space is the area around, between, or within elements in a composition (layout). Artists use techniques like perspective and overlapping to create a sense of depth and space in their work. Some artists focus on the negative space of a subject.

ARTIST LINKS:
Salvador Dali, MC Escher, Antony Gormley, Rachel Whiteread, Alicja Kwade

PATTERN:

A pattern is a repetition of elements (shapes, lines, colors, etc.) often with a consistent spacing and sequence. Patterns are created by repeating elements in a recognisable and systematic arrangement.

ARTIST LINKS:
Yayoi Kusama, William Morris, Sarah Morris, Lalla Essaydi, Damien Hirst