1 -Line as Shape

Essentially, line makes up the shapes we see. Line is the way we define shapes and how our minds recognize objects. Line depicts the edges of shapes.

This is an example of how line makes shapes. If you break this piece down then you basically get a bunch of lines, but if you arrange them in certain ways they take on new forms like the elephant and mouse. The lines define where an object starts and stops, and the interaction with one another to create forms.

2 - Line Direction

Line direction is line that moves, creates motion or how a force acts. Horizontal lines imply lack of motion while diagonal lines mean movement and action.

In this work of art, the lines are horizontal and vertical. This makes the piece feel peaceful and sleep like. The lines have a sense of unity to them and are all about the same thickness so they calm rather than excite the viewer. The direction of the lines make the work feel routine and predictable rather than chaotic.

3 - Line as Emotion

Line can display emotion in numerous ways. The thickness of a line can make something heavy or soft. The color of a line can affect moods. The direction of lines can be boring or crazy. A straight line could be sharp and a curved line could be calm. A line could be just a mark and make the piece  feel disconnected or it could be continuous.

In this the lines are thick which creates a frantic feel but the lines are a somewhat transparent in places which makes it feel delicate and soft. The red lines that at diagonal make the work feel exciting and energetic.

4 - Contour Line

A contour line is a line that is like an outline. It is a line that defines an edge of a form.

Contour line drawing require absolute accuracy when drawing. All lines show a beginning and an end.
This is what gives the line shape and turns it into a realistic representation of something else. Nothing other than lines create the detail, no shading to create depth, just lines.

5 - Gesture Line

Gesture lines are lines that create the basic shape of an object or something but it is not realistic and rather creates the energy or action of the objects. Gesture lines are less worried about shapes and focus on emotion and action.

In this sketch you can clearly tell that it is a person that is being represented. However,  there are not many detail but instead scribble like lines that together make the image of a person. Gesture lines often represent movement and here the lines show the movement of walking and reaching.

6 - Line as value

One line can show the basic shape of objects but it looks flat. Line can be used to create value by adding depth to the subject. Lines close together can create different shades of gray and the farther apart lines are more shades can be made. This can create lights and dark's aka value.

Here, line is used to create value by its shading. The artist has used lights and darks to show depth and make the subject seem realistic and 3-dimentional. In this piece, to create the value the technique of cross-hatching is being used to give fullness to the figure.

7- Lost and Found Contour

This is where only part of an object is revealed by a sharp contour and the rest is represented by light.
This can also be described as now you see it- now you don't.

In this picture, only a few lines are given to create shape. The rest fade into darkness. Our eyes automatically fill in and follow the line even if it is not there, giving the illusion of a line, but then the line is picked up again by the changing of light. Therefore, the line is lost and found.

8 - Naturalism

Naturalism is another way of saying realism. It is the skillful representation of the visual image, forms, and proportions seen in nature with an illusion of volume and 3-D space. It gives the honest true to life visual appearance of shpaes in the world around us.







In this image it exemplifies realism because it represents the women and man how one would really see them. You can make out the actions that they are doing and you can clearly tell what the image is and the subject of it.The piece has visual realism.

9 - Distortion

Distortion is a departure from an accepted perception of a form or object. When using distortion the artist purposely changes or exaggerates the forms of nature. This can often be used to provoke an emotional response or emphasize design elements.




In this work of art the artist has used to create emphasis on the hands and feet of a person. At first the image just seems like a bunch of shapes but as your eye move around the piece one can start to see the shapes forming more distinct figures like the head, hands and feet. From this one can gather that the image is of a person.

10 - Idealism

This is type of artistic distortion. Idealism reproduces the world not as it is but as it should be. In other words idealism is the idea of perfection.













This famous statue tries to show the ideal proportions of a human figure. The idea is to show perfection and not what happens naturally. The woman is pretty and an example of a classic beauty of woman. This statue represent what people want to see instead of what really is.

11 - Abstraction

This is another form of artistic distortion. Abstraction is a visual representation that may have little resemblance to the real world. this implies a simplification of natural shapes to the basics.

                                           
In this this work there are no represented images but instead strokes of color. Instead of using a realistic image to convey emotion or meaning the artist uses color and lines to convey what he is trying to say. The image is at its most basic form.

12 - Nonobjective Shapes

Nonobjective shapes are shapes with no object reference and no subject matter suggestion.

In this piece there is no subject matter, just shapes. the colors and types of shapes used can show emotion. there seems to be no reason for the painting just that it is what it is.

13 - Rectilinear Shapes

This mean composed of straight lines. This term is used to describe the visual effect.


                                                    

In this piece there are no curves at all. All likes are straight making it rectilinear. This piece the forms being straight give the work a sharp, dark and angular feeling. this make it feel more precise and make it almost seem mechanical.

14 - Curvilinear Shapes

This means that rounded and curving form tend to imply flowing shapes and compositions. Art nouveau put total emphasis on curvilinear shapes. This is also natural shapes.
In this work there are no straight lines. This helps give the tree a more realistic and natural feel. The tree is represented by the curves and this gives it an organic nature.

15 - Value as Pattern

Value as pattern can be defined as the arrangement and the amount of variation in light and dark, independent of the colors used.







The use of value alone can create a fast emotional reaction. In this the light values that are closely related make the piece seem calm and together while the sharp contrast make it feel darker and allows drama. The darker value give the piece an element of sadness while the light is hope.

16 - Value as Emphasis

This is where you create a contrast between lights and darks to draw emphasis to one point or starting point of a picture.

In this the sharp white value of the rose draw the viewers eye to it and then to the black and dark background behind it. The drastic difference of value creates a point of emphasis which in this case is the rose.

17 - Tactile Texture

Tactile texture is texture that can actually be felt. In a painting, the artist can use a technique called impasto where the artist uses thick paint so a rough, 3D surface appears. Collages can also be used to create a tactile feel.

This image has tactile texture because you can clearly see the build up of bark. The rased bark is rough and riged adding to the tactile nature. However, because this is just an image of the actual image, this image itself is not tactile. Therefore, if you touched it it would be just a smooth surface.

18 - Visual Texture

Visual texture is the illuison of surface texture. Something looks like it has texture but really  it does not. Trompe l'oeil which is basically deceptive painting.

Because of the way that the artist painted the wall, the painting is given visual texture.Due to the variation of color and brush strokes it gives the painting depth and looks as if the surface is rough. also the attention to detail paid on the wooded shelf it also adds to the visual texture.

19 - Unity through Proximity

Unity through proximity is basically a way to make elements seem together or unified by bringing the elements close together. How far apart or together an element is creates a relationship or a feeling between elements that wouldn't exist otherwise.

 This work of art Natura Morta II by Giorgio Morandi exhibits unity through proximity due to the most obvious reason being that they are grouped close together. Also, because lighter vases are grouped around the contrasting yellow it keeps the yellow item unified. If all the light pieces were grouped together and the bright one was off to the side, the piece would not be unified and one would have to strain to keep the piece connected.

20 - Unity through Repetition

Unity of Repetition is the idea that elements repeat themselves throughout the design to relate to each other or link each other together.

Repetition can be shown through texture, shape, color, value, line and even a concept. In this piece unity is shown by the repetition of the rectangle shape, and the alternating direction of the lines with vertical and horizontal groups of rectangles.

21 - Unity through Continuation

Unity through continuation is where a line or something is continued from one area to another. This brings two seemingly different pieces together through one detail being connected to each piece.

In the Creation of Adam by Michelangelo, the two people are connected through the arms reaching out to each other and the fingertips flow or continuing to each other. Without the arms reaching out this piece would just be two people on opposite sides. There would be no unity and it would be rather boring to view.

22 - Unity through Continuity

This is a visual relationship between two or more individual designs. Often an artist will use a grid to divide the page and create a framework of areas.

In Andy Warhol's flower piece, he uses the grid system to unify four individual works to create one large piece of art.

23 - Unity with Variety

Unity with variety is essentially were a work of art has some element of unity but there may be small fluctuations in the pattern or design that creates a new visual work. This can take a basic work and change a few things around to create a different more alive pattern.

In this picture there is unity with variety because the basic theme of a cupcake with a peep has been altered or varied by changing  certain elements such as color and space to create a more visually appealing piece.

24 - Symmetrical Balance

In symmetrical balance like shapes are repeated in the same positions on either side of a vertical axis. One side is the mirror side of the other side.

This image has symmetrical balance because it is the same on both sides.

25 - Asymmetrical Balance

This is a type of balanced achieved with dissimilar objects that have equal visual weight or equal eye attraction. This can be by value and color or shape and texture or position and eye direction.

In this case the image has asymmetrical balance because one side has a heavier weight than the other. The side with the dancers has more going on but the leg connects the other side and the watering can adds some weight to the side as well. Each side provide visual emphasis.

26 - Radial Balance

Another form of balance is radial balance. This is were elements "radiate" out from a central point. this can be asymmetrical or symmetrical. This happens often in nature.

In this the circle in the middle is the focal point and everything else is coming out of the circle to create a sense of balance.

27 - Crystallographic Balance

This another way if saying allover pattern.

In this emphasis is uniform throughout. There is no beginning or end and there is not a focal point.

28 - Emphasis by Contrast (color)

This is where the artist creates a focal point ( place to focus on) by contrasting the work as a whole with something like color or size that draws your eye to that place. Color is often used as a contrast because it is easily identified to the human eye.

In this photo the photographer used the idea of emphasis of contrast to make the purple leaf stand out. All of the leaves are the same shape and color and though they are going in different directions they all blur together. But by adding a splash of color that one leaf is now the focal point of the piece and gives the photo a visual interest.

29 - Emphasis by Isolation

This is where the artist creates emphasis on one aspect of the work by isolating the subject. When an object is isolated from the rest of the piece it becomes the new focal point even though it may not be contrasted. It is noticed because it is alone.

This shows the concept of isolation because the  red object is of the same pattern as the rest but it is separated from the piece because it is not around the other blocks but instead surrounded by white space. not only are you drawn to the red object because of color but because it is alone.

30 - Emphasis by Placement

Where an object is placed is a huge component to the theme of a piece. Often times things are placed in the center because that is where the human eye naturally goes. Other times, there are many elements working together to lead into the focal point.

In this work, the colored lines are placed so that they are surrounding and framing the focal point which is the white circle. All the elements are radiating from the circle drawing our eye to the circle.

31 - Degree of Emphasis

This is where there is one, dominate, overly obvious focal point is created. This is the one thing that catches your eye the moment you look at the piece.

In this piece the plane is the obvious focus, next the eye moves to the house and then to the background with the trees, thus creating a degree of emphasis.

32 - Absence of Focal Point

This is where a work does not have an emphasis on a focal point. This can be a repetitive design that shows an overall feeling or theme or it might just be a pattern that doesn't need a focal point to portray a theme.

In this piece it would be impossible to have a focal point because everything is working together and no one thing stands out.

33 - Progressive Rhythm

This concept is the idea that rhythm involves repetition but in this case the sequence of objects change in a regular manner.

In this piece by Grant Wood, there is a progressive rhythm that is shown by the hay bails gradually growing smaller in the distance of the piece.

34 - Alternating Rhythm

Alternating rhythm is the idea that rhythm that consists of successive patterns that have an aspect that reappear regularly. Often times another idea is introduced to produce a regular pattern.

In this pattern the elephants are repeated but are altered in color and direction. However, the pattern of white elephant is going one way and the blue going another. Due to this the pattern has a predictable pattern creating rhythm.

35 - Scale Confusion

This is the changing of scale. this is meant to intrigue or mystify a viewer. This is often show through surrealism or an art form based on paradox.

This is an example of scale confusion because the ship should be larger than the person and their head has also been blown up in proportion to the body.

36 - Illusion of Space by Overlapping

Overlapping is a simple device for creating an illusion of depth.

In this work of art, the images of the bread, knife and jar are overlapping. Instead of just having them laid out next to each other they overlap giving the illusion of depth. You can't tell the amount of space between each item and the relation between the item is clear due to to overlay.

This is another example of Overlapping. The overlapping pieces make the squares stand out and seem as if they are 3-D.

37 - Illusion of Space by Vertical Location

Vertical location is a spatial device in which elevation on the page or format indicates a recession into depth. The higher an object the further back an object appears.

In this the bars are at an angle giving us vertical location. Because the smallest bar is higher up on the page it gives a sense of depth. This idea gives us a foreground and background. Due to this there is a equal emphasis to all parts of the image.

38 - Illusion of Space by Aerial Perspective

This technique describes the use of color and value to show depth.

As the contrast of value between distant objects the contours become less distinct. Objects that appear farther away are lighter and more muted than those in the foreground. 

39 - Illusion of Space by Linear Perspective

40 - Amplified Perspective

Amplified perspective is where the artist uses a dynamic and dramatic illusion effect created when an object is pointed directly at the viewer.

In this image the dogs nose is pointed directly to the viewer, creating emphasis on that part. However, then the viewer must look around to complete the image. This makes the photo seem more dramatic.

41 - Multiple Perspective

Looking at a figure or object from more than one vantage point simultaneously is called multiple perspective. Several different views are combined to make a whole image.

In this image, the houses are going to different vanishing points. The second row of houses are going in different directions than the first and third row creating a multiple perspective.

42 - Spatial Puzzles (Equivocal Space)

This is where artists ignore device that give illusion of depth or space and distorts them to create a weird, visually interesting image.


    This image clearly has depth but  with the way it is distorted it creates a spatially intricate image. Everything seems to match up at first but the walls run into each other creating wide angles of walls and depth.