Line

A collection of points used to show a mark, an object or to show motion.  In this example, Mobile-creator Alexander Calder created a simple elephant out of wire using line.

Space

Positive Space is any physical objects… Negative Space is the void (air) around and within an object. The Torii of Itsukushima in Miyujima, Japan for example, is a spiritual and symbolic gateway on the coast (much like our St. Louis Arch in the Midwest)… the structure is a nice combination of positive space (the actual wood) and the negative space that flows within the sculpture.

Form

Having an object look three-dimensional. Forms can BE three-dimensional, or just look like it. This sculpture by Barbara Hepworth (entitled ‘Pelagos’) uses geometric-style forms.

Texture

Giving specific surface quality to your artwork… this can be actual texture or visual texture. Renaissance artist Titian painted ‘Portrait of Man in Red Cap’ by creating a texture similar to fur… using loose brushstrokes to create a texture is also known as a painterly effect.

Color

Color has three parts:  Hue (the basic location on the color wheel), Intensity (the brightness or ‘purity’ of a color), and Value (how light or dark the color is.) 

Expressionist painters like Edvard Munch painted The Scream using intense colors… he wanted to show the color’s ‘scream’ across the sky during a sunset!

Shape

A specific area set aside using color, texture, space, etc. Shapes can be Geometric or Organic. Pablo Picasso was a master of using shape in his work. In this example of Three Musicians, Picasso uses simple, geometric shapes to create the figures. Even though they are simplified, you can still identify the musicians. This type of simplified work is known as abstract art.