ELEMENTS OF THE VISUAL ARTS

-Whenever we see an art object, we cannot

fail to notice several things:
shape or form, texture, space, and lines.
These are called elements.
- Like medium, elements are present in every
art form. All arts have
certain elements of their own.
- The building blocks or ingredients of art.
1. LINE
-Line is an important element at the disposal of every artist. Through the lines
of a painting or sculpture, the artist can make us know what the work is
about.
-Lines have always direction. They are always moving. Lines, as used in any
work of art, may be straight or curve.
- Horizontal lines are lines of repose and serenity. They express ideas of
calmness and quiescence.
--Vertical lines are lines poised for action. They are poised, balanced, forceful
and dynamic. Examples are person standing, a tall tree, statues of Saints and
heroes.
-Diagonal lines suggest action and movement. They give animation to any
composition in which they appear. The degree of action is shown by the
angle of the diagonal.
- Curved lines suggest grace, movement, flexibility, joyousness, and grace.
2.COLOR
• Delight in colors is a universal human characteristic.
• Colors are a property of light. When light goes out, color goes out with it.
• Take for instance a prism being put under the light.
• The white light of the sun contains all the colors of the spectrum; violet,
indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. White, gray, and black have no
color quantity. They are called neutral colors. Gray is due to the partial
reflection of the color rays.
• Color has three dimensions or attributes: hue, value and intensity.
Psychology of Colors
• Black – despair, gloom, death, and mourning.
The darkest and dullest of the colors. It is only considered a color when mixed with
other colors.
• Blue – tranquility, calmness, and peace. It is the color of the sky and gives the
impression of vastness and infinity.
• Red – fire, blood, danger, festivity, bravery. War. Passion, energy, and warmth. It
is a basic color.
• Gray – weight, solidity, and neutrality. The combination of black and white or the
three primary colors.
• Violet – shadows, mourning, penance, royalty, and power. A mixture of red and
blue.
• Green – growth, freshness, and hope. The color of the still water and
vegetation.
• White – simplicity, clarity, purity, and innocence.
• Orange – deliciousness and sweetness and being assertive.A combination of red
and yellow.
• Yellow – life, joy, sunshine, cheerfulness, warmth, splendor, freedom and
hospitality.It is the color of light.
• Pink – sympathy and gratitude the combination of red and white.
• Brown – wholesomeness, stability, reliability,
• 3. TEXTURE
• Texture is the element that deals more directly with the sense of touch. It
has to do with the characteristic of surfaces which can be rough or smooth,
fine or coarse, shiny or dull, plain or irregular. Texture is best appreciated
when an object is felt with the hands.
• Texture is found in all visual arts.
• The aesthetic value of texture lies first of all in the fact that it makes the
gradation of color possible. Flat colors are never beautiful. Texture gives
a surface unevenness which causes the color of the surface to be
broken into gradation of light and shade, giving it a charm of its own.
• DRAMA AND THEATER

• Drama is an elaborative and descriptive detailing of

events, scenes and acts of a type of story that can be
either in terms of prose or poetry, fictitious and
mostly based from real life situations. It is written
primarily to be performed wherein
• the dramatization of human experience, the actors
present the words and the deeds of the characters to
create an impression in which a distinct type of story is
taking place before an audience.
• TYPES OF DRAMA
• 1. TRAGEDY – one of the literature’s “Greatest Dramatic Art Forms” because of the
• serious nature of the characters, composed of sad scenes, full of sufferings and
• sacrifices with a disastrous ending.
• 2. MELODRAMA – it gives more emphasis on the action rather than on the character
• which is very sensational, romantic, with a happy ending.
• 3. COMEDY – all plays/dramas with happy endings.

• 3.1. ROMANTIC COMEDY – it is a light and amusing tale of lovers in some

• dilemma which is finally solved happily.

• 3.2. FARCE – it is a light and humorous play that is composed of jokes,

• humorous physical actions, ludicrous situations and improbable characters ( Characters
• which are not likely to be true ).

• 3.3. COMEDY OF MANNERS – considered as “ Drawing Room Comedy”

• wherein the characters are usually high society types, used of witty, sophisticated,
• satirical and sarcastic dialogue depicting real life situations.
• 4. MISCELLANEOUS :

• 4.1. TRAGICOMEDY – a combination or blend of tragic and comic

• elements but still it ends happily.

• 4.2. MIRACLE/MYSTERY PLAYS – based from Holy Scriptures, Bible

• Stories, or lives of saints.

• 4.3. MORALITY PLAY-character represents specific vices and virtues.
• 4.4. PIANO DRAMA- confined in the interpretation of music through piano

• works as well as the recitation of poetry.

• 4.5. MUSICAL PLAY – a drama confined with the use of music, song and

• even dance performances with limited dialogue of the characters.

• 4.6. CLOSET DRAMA – a term used to designate dramas or plays written

• for reading rather than for staging. ( E.g. Pocketbooks )

• Macasaquit * Santos * Silvestre 51

• ELEMENTS OF DRAMA/THEATER

• 1. PLOT – the brief sequencing of events and incidents of which a story is composed
• wherein the basis could be either the conflict, struggle, or the problem within.
• 2. CHARACTERS – the participants/ artist/ actors in the story that portray certain role
• endowed to them by the writer and the director with physical, emotional, and
• intellectual qualities.
• TYPES OF CHARACTERS
• A. PROTAGONIST – the main character/s in the story that is being surrounded with
• problems and issues depending upon the type of drama or story.
• B. ANTAGONIST – the so –called “villain” that opposed the actions and decisions
• conducted by the protagonist.
• C. CONFIDANT – a character that is closely related to the main character with similar
• ideas, actions, and decisions.
• D. FOIL – a character that is also closely related to the protagonist but his actions are in
• contrast to the main character.
• 3. THOUGHT – it is compose of the main idea/s and emotions telling the entirety of a
• story.
• 4. LANGUAGE – it is composed of the dialogue or the conversation of the characters in
• the story that can be either in prose or in poetry type.
• TYPES OF DIALOGUE
• A. NATURALISTIC DIALOGUE – refers to the actual way that people talk or the
• normal/usual/ daily conversation of individuals.
• B. RHETORICAL DIALOGUE – it is high flown, florid and oratorical
• C. VERSE DIALOGUE – it makes use of certain conventions of poetry with
• Certain rhyme and meter.
• 5. THEME – it is the meaning of the story that is either directly or indirectly stated. The
• Stated Theme is considered as the “heart of the play”.
• 6. CLIMAX and DENOUEMENT – it refers to the highest peak of the story that is
• composed of intense feelings and emotions while denouement is the “unravelling” of
• the plot that is about the success or failure of the decisions conducted by the characters
• in the story.
• 7. MUSIC and SPECTACLE – it serve as the background music or usually the original
• sound track of the drama or the “theme song”, while spectacle serves as distinct
• sound/s for every speech and movements of the characters to heighten the atmosphere
• of the story and intensifies emotions whether it is vitality, terror, happiness,
• melancholy, or sorrow.
• 8. COSTUMES and MAKE-UP – composed of appropriate dresses, wardrobes, apparels
• and other accessories of all types and facial coloring depending upon the character or
• role in the story that enhances the moods and interests of both characters and the
• audience.
• 9. SCENERY and LIGHTING – includes realistic view of furniture-painted backdrops,
• large props and other effects. Lighting devices provide certain mood and emotion in the
• drama or to make emphasis about the details of the story. ( E.G. Bright Colors are pink,
• yellow, white/Dull Colors are blue and green emphasizing “cold effect”/Red and Purple
• may produce mysterious effect).