The Language of Formal Elements

LINE: 

  • path of movement
  • active – passive
  • bold – delicate
  • flowing – light
  • straight -curved
  • thick – thin
  • dark – light
  • broken – continuous
  • geometric – organic
  • implied – actual
  • precise – irregular
  • contour (outline, edge)
  • implied (lines with movement/direction)
  • expressive (lines the represent and expression/feeling)

 

SHAPE/FORM:

  • 2-dimensional
  • 3-dimensional
  • solid – void
  • concave – convex
  • circle – sphere
  • square – cube
  • triangle – pyramid – cone

 

SPACE:

  • 2-dimensional
  • 3-dimensional
  • positive – negative
  • open – closed
  • filled – empty
  • actual – implied
  • interior – exterior
  • illusion of space

 

LIGHT/COLOR/VALUE

  • value – shading – contrast
  • tint
  • shade
  • hue
  • pigment
  • primary
  • secondary
  • color interactions
  • bright – dull

 

TEXTURE

  • actual – visual
  • soft – hard
  • rough – bumpy