Elements of Visual Arts: Value in Art

Elements of Visual Arts

• Value refers to the relative degree of lightness and darkness in a graphic work of art or painting, indicating the degree of luminosity.
• White is the highest value, while dark is the lowest value, with medium (gray) being a point of halfway.
• Value gives the impression of solidity, distance, and illusion of depth.

Light and Shadow (Chiarascuro)

• Light and shadow is a means of modeling a figure in depth and articulating the form.
• It is used to create a sense of volume and three-dimensionality in a two-dimensional artwork.

Form

• Form refers to the external appearance of a clearly defined area or the visual shape of an object or thing found in nature.
• Regular forms include square, circle, rectangular, oval, triangle, and others.
• Some forms can be natural, geometric, abstract, or non-objective.

Color

• Color is the quality of an object or substance with respect to light reflected by it, usually determined visually by measurement of hue, saturation, and brightness of the reflected light.
• Properties of color include:
  • Hue: the particular identity of a color, with principal hues being red, yellow, and blue.
  • Warm colors: red or yellow dominant, cool colors: blue dominant.
  • Value: darkness or brightness of a color.
  • Intensity: darkness or brightness of a color.

Texture

• Texture refers to the surface treatment of an artistic work to give variety and beauty to the work.

Space

• Space is concerned with making all parts of the work of art functional to contribute to the whole.
• Space exists as an illusion in the graphic presentation.

Medium

• Medium refers to the means by which an artist communicates their ideas.
• The materials used by the artist to translate their feelings or thoughts into a beautiful reality.
• Three classifications of medium:
  • Visual Arts (Space Arts): seen or occupy space, such as paintings, drawings, and sculpture.
  • Auditory Arts (Time Arts): can be heard and expressed in time, such as music and literature.
  • Combined Arts (Performing Arts): can be both heard and seen, existing in space and time, such as movies, dances, and other performing arts.

Technique

• Technique refers to the manner in which the artist controls their medium to achieve the desired effect.
• The ability by which an artist fulfills the technical requirements of their particular work of art.

Music and its Function

• Music is the art of combining and regulating sounds of varying pitch to produce compositions expressive of various ideas and emotions that are pleasing.
• The two sources of music in its origin are dances and religion.
• Music is functional and can be used in various settings, such as churches, coins, icons, and monuments.

Sculpture and its Function

• Sculpture is the art of carving, molding, or producing works of art in three dimensions.
• Sculpture is more functional than painting and literature, and is used in various settings, such as religion, churches, coins, icons, and monuments.

Two Schools of Thought in Arts

• Artists who believe in "arts for the sake of arts" or arts as plain aesthetics and individual satisfaction, focusing on natural objects, serenity, and harmony.
• Artists who believe in arts as a medium or instrument of social change, focusing on social realities, injustice, and advocating for change or reforms.

The Subject of Art

• The subject of art can refer to any person, object, scene, or event represented in a work of art.
• Representational art includes forms such as painting, sculpture, graphic arts, literature, and theatre.