Motifs can be simple shapes or complex arrangements. The design used to create a pattern is often referred to as a motif. PatternĪ design that is created by repeating lines, shapes, tones or colours. Think about how different marks can be used to show texture. You can create visual texture by using different lines, shapes, colours or tones. It gives the illusion of a texture or surface but if you touched it, it would be smooth. Visual texture is created using marks to represent actual texture. Combining different material techniques can create interesting textures. You can create actual texture in an artwork by changing the surface, such as sticking different fabrics onto a canvas. There are two types of texture: actual texture and visual texture.Īctual texture really exists, so you can feel it or touch it. This is to do with the surface quality of something, the way something feels or looks like it feels.

There will a range of tones in between the highlights and shadows. The parts of the object on which the light is strongest are called highlights and the darker areas are called shadows. Tones are created by the way light falls on a 3D object. This could be a shade or how dark or light a colour appears. This refers to the lightness or darkness of something. In 2D artworks, tone and perspective can be used to create an illusion of form. Sculpture and 3D design are about creating forms. Formįorm is a three dimensional shape, such as a cube, sphere or cone. The shapes created in the spaces between shapes are referred to as negative space. When drawing shapes, you must consider the size and position as well as the shape of the area around it. Shapes can be either geometric, like a circle, square or triangle, or irregular. It could be just an outline or it could be shaded in. feelings or expressions – a short, hard line gives a different feeling to a more flowing oneĪ shape is an area enclosed by a line.contours – showing the shape and form of something.Line can be used to show many different qualities, such as: It can also change over its length, starting off curved and ending up horizontal, for example. It can be horizontal, diagonal or curved.

For example, a pencil or a brush dipped in paint.Ī line can take many forms. They are often used together, and how they are organised in a piece of art determines what the finished piece will look like. The art elements are line, shape, form, tone, texture, pattern, colour and composition. The Formal Elements are the parts used to make a piece of artwork.

Elements of art