ART FUNDAMENTALS 3 basic components of art Form

ART FUNDAMENTALS Δ

3 basic components of art Form the “how” Subject the “what” Organic Unity Content the “why”

Art’s Edifice Form Elements of Art: Line/Shape/Value/Texture/Color Principles of Organization Harmony (repetitionrhythm/closure-visual links) ratio Balance/Proportion/Domin ance/Movement/Economy Space Unity Variety (factors of difference/contrastelaboration)

7 Principles Harmony and Variety Patten repeat/change. Contrast causes visual difference Strategically placed/suitably accented makes rhythm causes visual interest

Balance: gravitational forces creates pictorial tensions Kinds: Symmetrical balance(=) Approximate symmetrical balance(≈) Radial balance Asymmetrical balance (no central point or dividing axis but achieve balance)

Scale (size of an object) and Proportion (ratio of individual parts to one another and to the whole) used to emphasize Golden mean B A G H D E C 正方形ABCD，取CD中点 E，连接BE。以Ｅ为圆心 BE为半径作弧交DC延长 线于F，则BE=EF。补全 F D C 黄金矩形AGFD，H为黄金点 DC DF = CF DC = 1 1. 6180 F

Dominance how: isolation; placement (center stage); direction (more contrast); scale (larger size); character Movement: eyes move along as artists designed by direction of lines/shapes… Economy: reduce unnecessary complexity; return to essentials (abstraction)

Elements of Art Line: elementary means of communication Physical: measure (length/width) Direction (movement of eyes) Location Character (different media and tools to draw) Line and other elements: Organic unity (This is a method and will not be mentioned in other elements introduction)

Shape: ≈area 2 D + shapes with parallel edges and converging edges receding/advancing = 3 D Artist always have to alter shapes from their natural appearance to observe principles of design and to express what they want

Value: the relative degree of light and dark high key light low key gray The key selected usually sets the mood of the work Application of value enrich artistic readings of objects shapes an space. Artists can adjust and take liberty with lights and shadows to create their own language. dark

Texture: (illusion of ) touch creates feelings of surface and material. Both visual and tactile experience supplementary psychology devices.

Color: affects emotions Addictive color directly mix Light-the source of color Light -surface absorb some- reflect certain raysenter into eyes- certain color- subtractive color

white neutrals Physical properties of color: hue /value/ intensity value hue gray intensity color neutrals value black valueΔ – intensity Δ – value不一定Δ

No color is important in itself. That means we should know aesthetic color relationships. Neighboring colors on color wheel

Direct contrast Near direct contrast

Warm and cold and colors affect emotions because it is related to culture and psychological state. Simultaneous contrast: Contrast intensifies the difference between colors (when color direct contacted similarities decrease and dissimilarities increase. )

Space: two types: decorative (flatness) plastic (3 D) Space indicators: Size Position (rise up to horizon line-recede bottom- near) Overlapping Transparency Interpenetration Fractional representation (不同平 面和在同一平面不需转动都可见) Converging parallels

Linear perspective (a system for accurately representing sizes and distances of known objects in a unified visual space) One-point perspective (flat plane)

Two-point perspective (leading edge) The place VP is placed in horizon can create exaggerate (close)/ represent naturally (suitable)/ distort (far)

Three-point perspective (frog’s-eye view/ bird’s-eye view)

Using three-point can create circle (corner-to-corner diagonals+ midpoints)

Shadows and shadings

The Art of the Third-Dimension : height + width+ depth Fine arts (sculpture…) Practical function (architecture/product design … form follows function)

Materials and techniques: Subtraction : cut away (free the image frozen in the materials) Manipulation: modeling (the way materials are handled) clay/was/plaster are common media Addition: pieces of materials are attached to each other Substitution: casting

Elements of 3 D Form Shape: visible shape (position Δ – sight Δ) open shape (voids –negative shape) Value: a sculpture paints itself with value. Light/shadow Δ makes the object moves.

Space: objects displace/ control space

Line Color: add expression and boost attractive Texture Time: 4 D viewer move around

Content and Style 19 AD Neoclassicism (1750 -1820) Romanticism Beginning of photography Realism (1850 s-1870 s) Tech development in photography Impressionism 1860 s Post Impressionism Photographic trends

Early 20 AD Expressionism Cubism Futurism Abstract Arts Fantastic Art Dadaism Surrealism

Late 20 AD Abstract Expressionist painting/sculpture/photography Pop Art Action art Op art Minimalism Environmental art and installations Postmodernism