Formal Elements And Visual Communication
Overview
Every drawing you have ever made was built out of eight things: line, shape, form, tone, texture, colour, pattern and scale. Fine artists call them the formal elements, and they are not a checklist to tick off at the end of a project. They are the only vocabulary a picture has. When a viewer says a portrait feels heavy, or restless, or cold, they are describing decisions someone made about the weight of a line, the depth of a shadow and the temperature of a grey.
This note teaches the elements the way a studio teaches them: through the mark you make and the material that makes it. You will work through charcoal and conte, tonal drawing from observation, colour mixing in terms of hue, tint, saturation and tone, texture built up in paint and scraped back, and the point where a two-dimensional surface starts carrying three-dimensional material. Along the way you will see how six artists made those same decisions and why their work looks the way it does.
Objectives
- Develop practical knowledge and understanding of the use of formal elements and visual communication through a variety of approaches
- Develop the use of observational skills to record from sources and communicate ideas
- Understand characteristics of media and materials such as wet and dry, malleable, resistant and digital
- Understand properties of colour and light such as hue, tint, saturation and tone
- Understand the effects and creative potential of combining and manipulating different two-dimensional and three-dimensional materials and media
- Develop the use of digital and/or non-digital applications
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Formal Elements And Visual Communication. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which formal element converts a flat shape into a form that appears to have volume? A) Line B) Tone C) Pattern D) Scale Answer: B
- Adding white to a hue produces a: A) Shade B) Tint C) Saturation increase D) Complementary Answer: B
- The most reliable way to darken a red without making it look muddy and grey is to add: A) Black B) White C) A little of its complementary, green D) More water Answer: C
- In the specification's categories of media, lino and etching plate are described as: A) Wet B) Dry C) Malleable D) Resistant Answer: D
- Which of these counts as a primary source for a Fine Art portfolio? A) A photograph of a sculpture downloaded from a museum website B) A drawing made in front of the object itself C) An image copied from a textbook D) A description of a painting read in an article Answer: B
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Recommended Books
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