Elements and Principles of Arts PDF

GE2404 ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF ARTS In this module, we’ll discover how the elements and principles of art work together to make art interesting. Are you ready to discover how these pieces fit together to create great art? Let's get started! The Elements of Art The elem...

GE2404 ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF ARTS In this module, we’ll discover how the elements and principles of art work together to make art interesting. Are you ready to discover how these pieces fit together to create great art? Let's get started! The Elements of Art The elements of art are the building blocks artists use to create a work of art. Without including at least some of them, one cannot produce art. By understanding the fundamental elements of art, we can evaluate a work of art, explain what the artist has done, and express our ideas and conclusions in a shared language. Line – It gives structure and shape to artwork, guides the viewer’s eye, and conveys emotion or movement. Shape – It provides the basic forms that make up a composition, organizes elements, and creates patterns. Color – It evokes mood, expresses emotions, and creates visual interest. Colors can also convey symbolism and highlight focal points. Space – It determines the relationships between objects in composition and creates depth, perspective, and a sense of openness or confinement. Texture – It enhances the tactile quality of artwork and makes it visually and physically interesting by indicating how surfaces would feel. Value – It contrasts between light and dark areas, creates depth, emphasizes shapes, and gives objects a sense of solidity. Form – It adds depth and realism to artwork by representing three-dimensional objects to give volume. Transcreation Transcreation in arts involves reinterpreting or adapting creative works to fit new cultural contexts, preserving their essence and purpose. It involves creative adaptation and cultural sensitivity to maintain the original artistic vision. Examples: Vincent Van Gogh was greatly influenced by Japanese woodblock prints. His painting “The Courtesan (after Eisen),” inspired by Keisai Eisen, reflects his fascination with Japanese art and contemporary magazine images through his unique use of color and style. Van Gogh’s “Bridge in the Rain (after Hiroshige)” is a vibrant painting directly inspired by a Japanese print by Utagawa Hiroshige. Auguste Rodin’s “The Thinker” has greatly influenced modern sculpture. Artists worldwide have adapted their expressive forms and themes to address contemporary issues while preserving their deep emotional and psychological impact. For example, Aristide Maillol's work “La Nuit, 1902-1909” was inspired by Rodin’s innovative style. 03 Handout 1A *Property of STI Page 1 of 4  GE2404 Factors Influencing Transcreation Transcreation adapts and reinterprets existing artworks to fit new contexts while keeping the essence of the original. This is how distortion, transformation, and appropriation influence this process: Distortion – It refers to changing the characteristics of the original piece, such as its shape, color, or form. Example: In the painting “Bridge in the Rain (after Hiroshige),” Van Gogh reinterprets Hiroshige’s woodblock print by changing its colors, shapes, and brushstrokes, resulting in a vivid, swirling painting with dramatic contrasts. This transformation reflects Van Gogh’s emotional style and personal touch, giving the original scene a unique, energetic quality that stands out from the precise Japanese print. Transformation – It refers to changing the medium or context of the original work. Example: “The Persistence of Memory” by Salvador Dalí might be adapted into a 3D digital model, offering a new way to experience the melting clocks. Appropriation – It refers to using elements from the existing work to create something new. Example: In the painting “The Courtesan (after Eisen),” Van Gogh takes Keisai Eisen's Japanese woodblock print of a courtesan and reinterprets it in his own style. He keeps the main subject and composition but uses his unique brushwork, colors, and emotional expression to give it a modern twist. This means Van Gogh reworks Eisen’s traditional design to fit his personal and contemporary artistic vision. The Principles of Art The principles of art are fundamental guidelines for organizing the elements of art within the creations. These principles create and provide coherence to artworks that guide the viewer's attention and enhance the overall impact and aesthetic quality of the piece. Unity – It ensures all elements in the composition work together harmoniously to create a cohesive whole. Example: “The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli achieves unity through the harmonious arrangement of figures, colors, and overall composition. Balance – It refers to the distribution of visual weight in a composition, whether symmetrical (equal weight on both sides of a central axis), asymmetrical (an unequal balance that still achieves harmony), or radial (balance around a central point) to achieve harmony. Example: “The Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh demonstrates asymmetrical balance with the swirling sky balanced by the village and cypress tree in the foreground. Emphasis – It refers to the focal point or area that stands out and attracts the viewer’s attention, often created through contrast, size, or placement. Example: “The Persistence of Memory” by Salvador Dalí illustrates the unusual and striking imagery of the clock melting, creating a focal point that captures the viewer’s attention. 03 Handout 1A *Property of STI Page 2 of 4  GE2404 Contrast – It refers to the noticeable difference between elements, enhancing their strengths and creating visual interest. Example: “Composition VIII” by Wassily Kandinsky used contrasting colors, shapes, and sizes to create dynamic visual contrasts. Proportion – It refers to the size relationships between different elements in a composition, maintaining harmony and scale. Example: “Vitruvian Man” by Leonardo da Vinci illustrates the concept of ideal human proportions based on the writings of the Roman architect Vitruvius. Pattern – It refers to the arrangement of alternated or repeated elements such as shapes, lines, colors, or motifs. Example: “The Great Wave Off Kanagawa” by Katsushika Hokusai features dynamic and stylized waves, creating a rhythmic pattern that dominates the composition. Variety – It refers to the use of several elements of design to hold the viewer’s attention and to guide the viewer’s eye through and around the work of art. Example: “Campbell’s Soup Cans” by Andy Warhol used repetition of the soup cans as a motif but varied the colors and arrangements. The Rule of Thirds Another method for structuring a composition is the Rule of Thirds. Using the Rule of Third, an image is divided into thirds horizontally and vertically. Artists frequently use horizontal lines to separate the foreground and background content. The overlapping areas of the red circles, as shown in 03 Handout 1B, are known as the focal points. These can be used to draw the viewer's attention to certain elements of a composition. When applying the Rule of Thirds, it is generally better not to fill all four of the focal points. It is preferable to emphasize only some of them. Samuel Peploe has composed Still Life with Coffee Pot (c. 1905) using the principles of the Rule of Thirds: the horizontal line of the table edge runs along the bottom third of the painting the reflected light down the center of the teapot is on a vertical line two-thirds of the way across the frame the bright orange and lemon to the left of the frame sit at one of the focal points References: BBC Bitesize. (2023, March 8). The rule of thirds - Proportion – AQA. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zxpnb82/revision/4#:~:text=The%20Rule%20of%20Third%20splits,known %20as%20the%20focal%20points. Du Plessis, A. (2024, January 8). Unity in Art – Taking a look at unity and variety in art. Art in Context. https://artincontext.org/unity-in-art/. 03 Handout 1A *Property of STI Page 3 of 4  GE2404 Esaak, S. (2023, April 5). The 7 elements of art and why knowing them is important. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-are-the-elements-of-art-182704. Fussell, M., & Fussell, M. (2020, July 16). The rule of thirds in art. The Virtual Instructor Blog. https://thevirtualinstructor.com/blog/the-rule-of-thirds-in-art. Hill, K. (2024, August 9). Masterpiece Story: Bridge in the Rain (after Hiroshige) by Vincent van Gogh. DailyArt Magazine. https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/painting-of-the-week-vincent-van-gogh-bridge-in-the-rain-after- hiroshige/. Jonathan, V. a. P. B. (2012, December 24). Vincent van Gogh, the copyist – Part 1 – Japonisme. My Daily Art Display. https://mydailyartdisplay.uk/2012/12/24/vincent-van-gogh-the-copyist-part-1-japonisme/. Legaspi, C. (2021, January 22). How to use the rule of thirds in art. Creative Bloq. https://www.creativebloq.com/art/how-use-rule-thirds-art-21619159. Marder, L. (2024, May 2). The 7 Principles of Art and Design. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/principles- of-art-and-design-2578740. Rodin, M. (n.d.). The Thinker | Musée Rodin. Musée Rodin. https://www.musee- rodin.fr/en/musee/collections/oeuvres/thinker. Van Gogh Museum. (n.d.). Courtesan (after Eisen) Vincent van Gogh, 1887. https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/collection/s0116V1962. 03 Handout 1A *Property of STI Page 4 of 4  GE2404 READING THE IMAGE In art and visual communication, understanding the meaning of images is crucial. This module explores three important concepts: the semiotic plane, the iconic plane, and the contextual plane. These ideas allow us to analyze and interpret artworks, advertisements, and other visual media. The Three Planes of Visual Communication Visual communication involves conveying information and ideas through visual elements such as images, symbols, and colors. It helps people understand and interpret messages quickly using different layers of meaning. The three main planes of visual communication are: Semiotic Plane Iconic Plane Contextual Plane The Semiotic Plane The semiotic plane focuses on how signs and symbols create meaning. Semiotics is the study of signs and how they communicate ideas. In art, the semiotic plane helps us understand the relationship between what we see and what it represents. Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913) was a Swiss linguist who introduced a foundational concept in structural linguistics and semiotics. His sign theory is commonly called the Saussurean Model of the Sign. A sign is the basic unit of meaning in language. A sign consists of two main components: the signifier and the signified. Two Parts of Signs: 1. Signifier – It is the physical form of the sign. It is what we perceive, such as a sound, word, or image. Example: In road signs, the physical form of the sign includes elements like a red octagon (for a Stop sign), a green circle (for a Go sign), or a triangular shape (for a Yield sign). 2. Signified – It is the concept or meaning that the signifier represents. It is the mental image or idea associated with the signifier. Examples: Red Octagon (Stop Sign) – The concept of stopping or pausing at an intersection Green Circle (Go Sign) – The concept of proceeding or going Triangular Shape (Yield Sign) – The concept of yielding or giving away to other traffic 04 Handout 1A *Property of STI Page 1 of 3  GE2404 The Iconic Plane The iconic plane focuses on how images resemble what they represent. The iconic plane is about visual similarity between the sign and its meaning. Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914) was an American philosopher who built on Saussure's ideas. He developed a theory about signs, known as Peircean Semiotics, and classified signs into three main types. Peirce’s Three Types of Signs Icons – These are signs that resemble the objects they represent (e.g., a portrait) Examples: o A photo of a cat represents a real cat through visual resemblance. o A map represents geographical locations by visually mimicking the layout of an area. o A picture of a camera on your phone means you can take photos. The image of the camera looks like a real camera, so it’s an icon. Indexes – These are signs that have a direct connection to their objects through a causal or physical relationship Examples: o Smoke serves as an index of fire, as it indicates the presence of a fire due to a causal relationship. o A thermometer showing high temperature indicates heat, reflecting a direct physical relationship. Symbols – These are signs that have an arbitrary relationship to their object. It means there’s no special reason why a word is used for a particular thing. The connection between the word and what it stands for is just a matter of agreement, not something that’s naturally obvious. Examples: o The red light means “stop” because of social convention and agreement. o Words like “cat” or “dog” are symbols that represent the animals through agreed-upon conventions rather than resemblance. The Contextual Plane The contextual plane is about understanding the bigger picture. The contextual plane considers the historical, cultural, and social context of the image which helps us understand the deeper meaning or message. It reminds us that interpretation can change based on when, where, and how we view an artwork. Erwin Panofsky (1892-1968) was a German art historian who popularized the iconographic method in the 1930s using medieval and renaissance art of Western Europe, such as his famous essay about Jan Van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait), and he described three steps: 04 Handout 1A *Property of STI Page 2 of 3  GE2404 Three Steps of Iconographic Approach Primary Level (Pre-iconography) – This level refers to the most basic level of understanding. It focuses on the basic elements of the artwork, such as its composition, color, and style. Example: In Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper," we can identify the 13 people at the table, including Jesus and his twelve Apostles, the table arrangement, and the overall composition of the scene. Second Level (Iconography) – This level involves recognizing and interpreting symbols and specific themes in artwork to understand their deeper meanings. Example: In "The Last Supper," people familiar with Western culture or Christianity would recognize the scene as Jesus' final meal with his disciples. We might also identify the chalice as a symbol of the Holy Grail and connect it to the Eucharist, a Christian religious ritual. Third Level (Iconological Analysis) – This level examines the deeper symbolic and cultural meanings behind the artwork, taking into account its iconographic context and broader historical and cultural aspects. Example: In "The Last Supper," we examine how the painting's design reflects Renaissance values and how the scene of Jesus' betrayal relates to contemporary moral and human ideas. This helps us understand the painting's deeper meaning within its historical context. Putting It All Together In essence, understanding these three planes can help you become a better critical thinker. It can help you analyze advertisements and media more effectively, create more powerful visual content, and enhance art and design on a deeper level. When you look at a painting, advertisement, or even a meme, try to consider the semiotic, iconic, and contextual planes. You will be amazed at how much more you can comprehend and appreciate visual communication. References: Hay, A. (n.d.). Semiotics. Annie’s Blog. https://anniehaydesign.weebly.com/colour-is-sound/semiotics. Kilroy-Ewbank, L. (n.d.). Smarthistory – An introduction to iconography and iconographic analysis. https://smarthistory.org/introduction-iconographic-analysis/. Muralha, F. (2024, March 20). Panofsky - the 3 phases of the iconological method of art analysis. Citaliarestauro. https://en.citaliarestauro.com/art-analysis-panofsky-method/. Nordquist, R. (2020, March 8). Semiotics Definition and Examples. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/semiotics- definition-1692082. Reynolds, A. (2023, October 14). Semiotics in Art and Design: Understanding the Power of Symbols and Signs. Ren Creative Works. https://adrianreynolds.ie/semiotics-in-art-and-design/. Steemit. (n.d.). Understanding Semiotics and Semiology : Science of Signs. https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@affiedalfayed/understanding-semiotics-and-semiology-science-of-signs- 2017911t23147684z. 04 Handout 1A *Property of STI Page 3 of 3