Art Notes

Chapter 1: Basic Elements

Point – Basic mark, such as a dot, pixel or brushstroke

Line – One of the simplest and most versatile elements of design

Point in motion, Series of adjacent points, connection between points, implied connection between points
Orientation: the line’s horizontal
Calligraphic Lines – Similar to handwriting
Organizational Lines – Often used to create the loose linear skeleton
Implied Lines – line that is suggested by the positions of shapes and objects in a design
Actual Line – Lines that are physically present in a design
Continuity – Degree of connection or flow among compositional parts
Contour Lines – Define the edges of a from and suggest three-dimensionality
Gesture Drawing – Captures essential action rather than describing every detail
Volume Summary – It communicates information using basic volumes
Hatching – straight parallel lines
Cross Hatching– multiple lines (horizontally and vertically)

Shape

Positive – Dominant or Foreground shape
Negative – Defined area around a positive shape
Curvilinear – A shape whose contour is dominated by curves and flowing lines
Organic – Visually suggests nature or natural forces
Representational – Derived from specific subjects’ matter and strongly based on direct observation
Abstract – Derived from visual reality but are transformed, therefore, reducing their resemblance to the original source
Rectilinear – composed from straight lines and angular corners
Nonobjective – created without reference to specific visual subject matter

Definition

High – Sharply Focused visual information that is easily readable, creates a strong contrast and usually increases clarity and immediacy of communication
Low – Blurred visual information shapes including soft edge shapes, gradations, and transparaties can increase the complexity of the design and encourage multiple interpretations

Chapter 2: The Element of Color

Color

Color Theory – The art and science of color interaction and effects
Color and Light – When white light passes through a prism, it is refracted or bent
Subtractive – Created when white light is reflected off a pigmented/dry surface
Additive – Created using projected beams of chromatic Light
Process – Used in four color process printing, the subtractive primaries
Color Interaction– The way colors influence one another
Simultaneous Contrast – The way a color changes when paired with another
Bezold Effect – Change in one color that substantially alters our perception of the entire composition
Analogous – Adjacent colors on the color wheel
Intensity – Saturation refer to the purity of a color primary colors are the most saturated
Tone – Addition of gray
Shade – Addition of black
Tint – Addition of White
Hue – A color determined by its wavelength
Monochromatic Color Schemes – where variations on a single hue are used

Chroma– The purity, intensity, or saturation of a color

Chroma Gray – Gray made from a mixture of various hues instead of black and white
Split Complementary Color Schemes – Two colors on either side of one of the complements.

Chapter 3: Principles of Two-Dimensional Design

Unity can be defined as similarity, oneness, togetherness, or cohesion
Variety can be defined as difference
Composition – Combination of multiple parts into a unified whole-point, line, shape, texture, value, and color that work together
Unity – Similarity, oneness, togetherness, cohesion
Gestalt Theory – Understanding visual information holistically before examining it separately
Containment – Unifying force created by the outer edge of a composition, or by a boundary within a composition,
Static Composition – Lines are vertical or horizontal, soothing
Dynamic Composition – Diagonal lines, excitement, unsettling
Proportion and Scale – Create two types of size relationship. Both Strongly affect compositional balance and emotional impact.
Grouping – Generally group visual units by location , orientation, shape, and color
Rhythm – a sense of movement that is created by the repetition of multiple units in a deliberate pattern

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