Elements of Art: Form Line Shape Color Texture Space Value Form   is an element of art that is three-dimensional and encloses volume. Cubes, spheres, and cylinders are examples of various forms. Line   is an element of art which refers to the continuous mark made on some surface by a moving point. It may be two dimensional, like a pencil mark on a paper or it may be three dimensional (wire) or implied (the edge of a shape or form) often it is a outline, contour or silhouette.   Shape   is an enclosed space defined by other elements of art. Shapes may take on the appearance of two-d or three- objects.  Color   Is an element of art with three properties: 1) Hue, the name of the color, e.g. red, yellow, etc 2) Intensity or the purity and strength of the color such as brightness or dullness 3) Value, or the lightness or darkness of the color Texture refers to the surface quality or "feel" of an object, such as roughness, smoothness, or softness. Actual texture can be felt while simulated textures are implied by the way the artist renders areas of the picture. Space refers to the distance or area between, around, above or within things. It can be a description for both 2 and 3 dimensional portrayals.  Value describes the lightness or darkness of a color. Value is needed to express Volume. Principles of Art: Emphasis Balance Harmony Variety Movement Rhythm Proportion Unity Emphasis in a composition refers to developing points of interest to pull the viewer's eye to important parts of the body of the work.   Balance is a sense of stability in the body of work. Balance can be created by repeating same shapes and by creating a feeling of equal weight. Harmony is achieved in a body of work by using similar elements throughout the work, harmony gives an uncomplicated look to your work.  Variety refers to the differences in the work; you can achieve variety by using difference shapes, textures, colors and values in your work.    Movement adds excitement to the work by showing action and directing the viewers eye throughout the picture plane. Rhythm is a type of movement in drawing and painting. It is seen in repeating of shapes and colors. Alternating lights and darks also give a sense of rhythm.   Proportion or scale refers to the relationships of the size of objects in a body of work. Proportion gives a sense of size seen as a relationship of objects, such as smallness or largeness.       Unity is seen in a painting or other work when all the parts equal a whole. Your work should not appear disjointed or confusing. Design Elements & Art Principles Check Sheet Name ________________________________ Please Check & Describe 2 or More Design Elements Used in the work of art: _____ Form ____________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _____ Line _________________________________________ ...

1. Elements of Art: Form Line Shape Color Texture Space Value
Form is an element of art that is three-dimensional and
encloses volume. Cubes, spheres, and cylinders are examples of
various forms.
Line is an element of art which refers to the continuous mark
made on some surface by a moving point. It may be two
dimensional, like a pencil mark on a paper or it may be three
dimensional (wire) or implied (the edge of a shape or form)
often it is a outline, contour or silhouette.
Shape is an enclosed space defined by other elements of art.
Shapes may take on the appearance of two-d or three- objects.
Color Is an element of art with three properties:
1) Hue, the name of the color, e.g. red, yellow, etc
2) Intensity or the purity and strength of the color such as
brightness or dullness
3) Value, or the lightness or darkness of the color
Texture refers to the surface quality or "feel" of an object, such
as roughness, smoothness, or softness. Actual texture can be felt
while simulated textures are implied by the way the artist
renders areas of the picture.
Space refers to the distance or area between, around, above or
within things. It can be a description for both 2 and 3
dimensional portrayals.
Value describes the lightness or darkness of a color. Value is
needed to express Volume.
Principles of Art: Emphasis Balance Harmony Variety

2. Movement Rhythm Proportion Unity
Emphasis in a composition refers to developing points of
interest to pull the viewer's eye to important parts of the body
of the work.
Balance is a sense of stability in the body of work. Balance can
be created by repeating same shapes and by creating a feeling of
equal weight.
Harmony is achieved in a body of work by using similar
elements throughout the work, harmony gives an uncomplicated
look to your work.
Variety refers to the differences in the work; you can achieve
variety by using difference shapes, textures, colors and values
in your work.
Movement adds excitement to the work by showing action and
directing the viewers eye throughout the picture plane.
Rhythm is a type of movement in drawing and painting. It is
seen in repeating of shapes and colors. Alternating lights and
darks also give a sense of rhythm.
Proportion or scale refers to the relationships of the size of
objects in a body of work. Proportion gives a sense of size seen
as a relationship of objects, such as smallness or largeness.
Unity is seen in a painting or other work when all the parts
equal a whole. Your work should not appear disjointed or
confusing.
Design Elements & Art Principles Check Sheet
Name
________________________________
Please Check & Describe 2 or More Design Elements Used in
the work of art:
_____ Form

3. _____________________________________________________
_______
_____________________________________________________
____________
_____________________________________________________
____________
_____ Line
_____________________________________________________
_______
_____________________________________________________
____________
_____________________________________________________
____________
____
Shape________________________________________________
___________
_____________________________________________________
____________
_____________________________________________________
____________
____

4. Color
_____________________________________________________
______
_____________________________________________________
____________
_____________________________________________________
____________
____
Texture
_____________________________________________________
____
_____________________________________________________
____________
_____________________________________________________
____________
____
Space
_____________________________________________________
______
_____________________________________________________
____________
_____________________________________________________
____________

5. _____
Value________________________________________________
____________
_____________________________________________________
____________
_____________________________________________________
____________
Please Also Check & Describe 2 or More Art Principles Used:
____
Emphasis_____________________________________________
_
_____________________________________________________
____________
_____________________________________________________
____________
____
Balance
_____________________________________________________
__
_____________________________________________________
____________
_____________________________________________________

6. ____________
____
Harmony
_____________________________________________________
___
_____________________________________________________
____________
_____________________________________________________
____________
____
Variety______________________________________________
___________
_____________________________________________________
____________
_____________________________________________________
____________
____
Movement____________________________________________
_____________
_____________________________________________________
____________
_____________________________________________________
____________
____
Rhythm______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
____________

7. _____________________________________________________
____________
____
Proportion____________________________________________
__
_____________________________________________________
____________
_____________________________________________________
____________
____
Unity______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
____________
_____________________________________________________
____________
Elements of Art: Form, Line, Shape, Color, Texture, Space,
Value
· Form is an element of art that is three-dimensional and
encloses volume. Cubes, spheres, and cylinders are examples of
various forms.
· Line is an element of art which refers to the continuous mark
made on some surface by a moving point. It may be two
dimensional, like a pencil mark on a paper or it may be three

8. dimensional (wire) or implied (the edge of a shape or form)
often it is a outline, contour or silhouette.
· Shape is an enclosed space defined by other elements of art.
Shapes may take on the appearance of two-d or three-d objects.
· Color Is an element of art with three properties:
Hue, the name of the color, e.g. red, yellow, etc
Intensity or the purity and strength of the color such as
brightness or dullness
Value, or the lightness or darkness of the color
· Texture refers to the surface quality or "feel" of an object,
such as roughness, smoothness, or softness. Actual texture can
be felt while simulated textures are implied by the way the artist
renders areas of the picture.
· Space refers to the distance or area between, around, above or
within things. It can be a description for both 2 and 3
dimensional portrayals.
· Value describes the lightness or darkness of a color. Value is
needed to express Volume.
Principles of Art:
Emphasis, Balance, Harmony, Variety, Movement, Rhythm,
Proportion, Unity
· Emphasis in a composition refers to developing points of
interest to pull the viewer's eye to important parts of the body
of the work.
· Balance is a sense of stability in the body of work. Balance
can be created by repeating same shapes and by creating a
feeling of equal weight.
· Harmony is achieved in a body of work by using similar

9. elements throughout the work, harmony gives an uncomplicated
look to your work.
· Variety refers to the differences in the work; you can achieve
variety by using difference shapes, textures, colors and values
in your work.
· Movement adds excitement to the work by showing action and
directing the viewers eye throughout the picture plane.
· Rhythm is a type of movement in drawing and painting. It is
seen in repeating of shapes and colors. Alternating lights and
darks also give a sense of rhythm.
· Proportion or scale refers to the relationships of the size of
objects in a body of work. Proportion gives a sense of size seen
as a relationship of objects, such as smallness or largeness.
· Unity is seen in a painting or other work when all the parts
equal a whole. Your work should not appear disjointed or
confusing.
Art History 102
Formal Analysis Paper instructions
Formal Analysis Paper (
Select a few works of art that appeals to you from the Yale
University Art Gallery, please note that the Yale Center for
British Art, which is located across Chapel Street is also an
option, as are any number of local locations to view works of
art and architecture. We will discuss some of these options in
class.
Speak to me about your selection before you begin your
assignment.

10. Have a few pieces in mind….remember to look for clear points
of description and discussion.
Look for attributes that you will be able to develop and discuss.
The purpose of this brief consultation is to help ensure that the
student has selected a reasonably accessible work.
· Identify the work and artist; begin by describing the piece
generally. Consult the descriptive information typically located
on a card near the work in the museum.
· Then use our Elements of Art and the Principles of Design
information from handouts and the text or other sources to very
specifically formally analyze the object and lastly include a
short but thoughtful reaction to the work.
· A modification to the paper assignment noted above is an
option which requires you to formally analyze two works and
then to write a compare and contrast format paper of your
selections.
· Make a quick sketch (not graded) and include a reproduction
(post card or other museum generated material, Google Image
search( http://images.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi
Photo if permitted ( Non-flash Permanent Collection….Ask if
uncertain.
· The paper is to be 5 pages, double spaced; in general follow
the MLA paper format.
In order to help ensure the quality of your paper it is may be
necessary that you go to the writing center and work with one of
the writing center associates. Take the time to have one of the
staff members look over your paper. This step is important
because it can help you organize and clarify your thoughts.
Please note the pages from the Student Handbook regarding
student conduct attached to the syllabus. Beginning on page109
of the Student Handbook the Policy on Student Conduct is
thoroughly discussed. Section 3 of the policy focuses on the
Expectations for Student Conduct, the focus is on Academic
integrity, test taking, paper submissions and plagiarism.

11. These college policies must be adhered to; plagiarism or
cheating will result in an “F” and potential dismissal.
Yale University Art Galleryhttp://artgallery.yale.edu/
Free and Open to the Public
1111 Chapel Street (between York & High Streets)
Tuesday–Friday 10:00 am–5:00 pm
Thursday (Sept.–June) 10:00 am–8:00 pm
Saturday–Sunday 11:00 am–5:00 pm
Closed Mondays and major holidays
http://artgallery.yale.edu/pages/info/visit_hours.html
Museum Information
General and program information 203.432.0600
Traveling by Car
From I-95 take Exit 47 Downtown New Haven. Stay on Rt 34 to
the third and final exit and turn right on York Street at the first
intersection. The Gallery entrance is at the corner of Chapel and
York Streets. From I-91 take Exit 1 Downtown New Haven.
Parking
In addition to the metered spaces on nearby streets, there is a
conveniently located garage at 150 York Street
FORMAL ANALYSIS
Formal analysis is an important technique for organizing visual
information. In other words, it is a strategy used to translate
what you see into written words. This strategy can be applied to
any work of art, from any period in history, whether a
photograph, sculpture, painting or cultural artifact.
A formal analysis is an analysis of the form that the artist has
produced. Color, line, light, shape, texture, space, composition,
etc. are some of the elements of a formal analysis. These
elements create the form, content, expression, and meaning of
the work. It may be helpful to think about it like this: letters
make up words, words make sentences, and sentences make up

12. paragraphs, which convey meaning to the reader. Art elements
are like the letters and words. When they are used in a work of
art, they translate into meaning and content for the viewer.
The elements are the clues you use in order to decode the
information in the work of art. Your essay should convey how
the artist uses the elements to convey meaning. Formal analysis
is directly related to description. In fact, one can't exist without
the other. Description requires close and careful observation of
the work of art.
Formal analysis is what you can read from the work, based on
the description. Think of it as cause and effect. This is what
one means by supporting evidence. If you make an assumption,
back it up with evidence that you have gathered from the
description.
HOW TO START
Begin by asking questions about the work. Remember, careful
analysis begins with good description. Description can come
from asking a series of questions: What is my first response to
the work? Why do I feel this way? How do the elements, such
as color, light, line, directional force, form, shape, volume,
shading, mass, size, scale, texture, space, and composition,
function in this work? Describe each element. What is the effect
of each element? What do they suggest? When and where was
the art work made? By whom? For whom?
Can you tell for what space the work was intended? What
purpose does the work serve? In what condition has the work
survived? Is it a fragment? Has it been restored? What is the
material used? What is its effect? What is the size? What is the
effect of the size? What is the scale? What is its effect? What
colors are used? Are the colors naturalistic, symbolic,
expressive, etc? What is the effect? How is the space in the
work organized? Is it deep, shallow, or flat? What is the effect?
Is there linear perspective?

13. The Elements
The elements of formal analysis are building blocks that can be
combined to create a larger structure.
Line is the most basic building block of formal analysis. Line
can be used to create more complex shapes or to lead your eye
from one area in the composition to another.
Value is the degree of light and dark in a design. It is the
contrast between black and white and all the tones in between.
Value can be used with color as well as black and white.
Contrast is the extreme changes between values.
Shapes are created when lines are combined to form a square,
triangle, or circle. Shapes can be organic (irregular shapes
found in nature) or geometric (shapes with strong lines and
angles such as circles, triangles, and squares).
Forms are three-dimensional shapes with length, width, and
depth. Balls, cylinders, boxes and pyramids are forms.
Space is the area between and around objects. Increasing or
decreasing the amount of space around an object affects the way
we view that object.
Color differentiates and defines lines, shapes, forms, and space.
Even black and white images have a huge number of different
shades of gray.
Texture is the surface quality that can be seen and felt. Textures
can be rough or smooth, soft or hard. Textures are often
implied. For instance, a drawing of a rock might appear to have
a rough and hard surface, but in reality is as smooth as the

14. paper on which it is drawn.
Three levels of formal analysis, which you can use to explain a
work of art:
Barrett's Principles of Interpretation
FORMAL ANALYSIS-3 levels of formal analysis, which you
can use to explain a work of art: Description, Analysis and
interpretation
1. Description= pure description of the object without value
judgments,analysis or interpretation.
· It answers the question, "What do you see?"
· The various elements that constitute a description include:
a. Form of art whether architecture, sculpture, painting or one
of the minor arts
b. Medium of work whether clay, stone, steel, paint, etc., and
technique (tools used)
c. Size and scale of work (relationship to person and/or frame
and/or context)
d. Elements or general shapes (architectural structural system)
within the composition, including building of post-lintel
construction or painting with several figures lined up in a row;
identification of objects
e. Description of axis whether vertical, diagonal, horizontal,
etc.
f. Description of line, including contour as soft, planar, jagged,
etc.
g. Description of how line describes shape and space (volume);
distinguish between lines of objects and lines of composition,

15. e.g., thick, thin, variable, irregular, intermittent, indistinct, etc.
h. Relationships between shapes, e.g., large and small,
overlapping, etc.
i. Description of color and color scheme = palette
j. Texture of surface or other comments about execution of work
k. Context of object: original location and date
2. Analysis = determining what the features suggest and
deciding why the artist used such features to convey specific
ideas.
· It answers the question, "How did the artist do it?"
· The various elements that constitute analysis include:
a. Determination of subject matter through naming iconographic
elements, e.g., historical event, allegory, mythology, etc.
b. Selection of most distinctive features or characteristics
whether line, shape, color, texture, etc.
c. Analysis of the principles of design or composition, e.g.,
stable, repetitious, rhythmic, unified, symmetrical, harmonious,
geometric, varied, chaotic, horizontal or vertically oriented, etc.
d. Discussion of how elements or structural system contribute to
appearance of image or function
e. Analysis of use of light and role of color, e.g., contrast,
shadowy, illogical, warm, cool, symbolic, etc.
f. Treatment of space and landscape, both real and illusionary
(including use of perspective), e.g., compact, deep, shallow,

16. naturalistic, random
g. Portrayal of movement and how it is achieved
h. Effect of particular medium(s) used
i. Your perceptions of balance, proportion and scale
(relationships of each part of the composition to the whole and
to each other part) and your emotional reaction to object or
monument
3. Interpretation = establishing the broader context for this type
of art.
· It answers the question, "Why did the artist create it and what
does it mean
· The various elements that constitute interpretation include:
a. Main idea, overall meaning of the work.
b. Interpretive Statement: Can I express what I think the
artwork is about in one sentence?
c. Evidence: What evidence inside or outside the artwork
supports my interpretation?
Barrett's Principles of Interpretation
1. Artworks have "aboutness" and demand interpretation.
2. Interpretations are persuasive arguments.
3. Some interpretations are better than others.
4. Good interpretations of art tell more about the artwork than
they tell about the critic.

17. 5. Feelings are guides to interpretations.
6. There can be different, competing, and contradictory
interpretations of the same artwork.
7. Interpretations are often based on a worldview.
8. Interpretations are not so much absolutely right, but more or
less reasonable, convincing, enlightening, and informative.
9. Interpretations can be judged by coherence, correspondence,
and inclusiveness.
10. An artwork is not necessarily about what the artist wanted it
to be about.
11. A critic ought not to be the spokesperson for the artist.
12. Interpretations ought to present the work in its best rather
than its weakest light.
13. The objects of interpretation are artworks, not artists.
14. All art is in part about the world in which it emerged.
15. All art is in part about other art.
16. No single interpretation is exhaustive of the meaning of an
artwork.
17. The meanings of an artwork may be different from its
significance to the viewer. Interpretation is ultimately a
communal endeavor, and the community is ultimately self-
corrective.
18. Good interpretations invite us to see for ourselves and to

18. continue on our own.
Barrett, Terry. (1994) Criticizing Art: Understanding the
Contemporary. Mountain View, California: Mayfield Publishing
Company.
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