Art histroy

Line is a mark with a greater length than width.
Lines can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal; straight or curved; thick or
thin.

A type of drawing that
essentially outlines a form
or figure
Emphasizes mass and
volume over detail

Not created
outright, but
“implied” by color,
shadow, shape, etc.
Direct our eyes and
can organize the
structure of an
image

Shape is a closed line.
Shapes can be geometric, like squares or circles; or organic, like free-
form or natural shapes.
Shapes are flat and express length and width (two-dimensional)

Squares or circles

Free form or natura shapes

Forms are three-dimensional shapes expressing length, width, and
depth; occupy space
Balls, cylinders, boxes, and pyramids are forms

Space is the area between and around objects
Positive space is created by an object
Negative space is the space around objects
Real space is three-dimensional, but artworks can create the feeling or
illusion of space

Artists can create space by breaking
up the composition to make specific
“zones”
Here, the zones are the foreground
(closest to the viewer), the mid-
ground (behind the foreground, but
not too far away), and the
background (the furthest from the
viewer)

Created by an object

Space around objects

Closest to the viewer

Behind foreground but not that far away

Furthest from the viewer

Linear perspective is a technique used in art to create an illusion of depth on a flat surface. It is based on the principle that all parallel lines in a painting or drawing converge in a single vanishing point on the composition’s horizon line.

Another approach to show
depth, is atmospheric
perspective, where the
background is hazy to suggest
the distance from the
foreground. This is effective
because distant objects lack
contrast, detail, and sharpness
of focus.

Isometric perspective
relies on parallel lines
arranged in diagonals.
This example also uses
diminution, where things
appear smaller the farther
away they are from the
foreground.

Color is light reflected off objects
Color has three main characteristics:
● Hue - the name of the color (red, green, blue, etc.)
● Value - how light or dark it is
● Intensity - how bright or dull it is
Primary colors are called “true colors” (red, blue, and yellow); all other
colors are mixes of primary colors

The name of the color

How light or dark it is

How bright or dull it is

True colors (blue, red, and yellow)

Texture is surface quality that can be seen and felt
Textures can be rough or smooth, soft or hard
Texture can be deceptive; a drawing of a porcupine may look prickly,
but the drawing will feel smooth (actual texture v. implied texture)