Elements of Design - The Landscape Painter's Principles

Just as athletes must learn the rules and then spend many hours in practice to develop their precision and style, so must the artist learn the rules and then practice. This article is about some of the rules of design that artists must know in order to have a successful painting.

The simplest element of design is the line. A line is a one-dimensional mark. It has only length. If we draw another line, not on top of the first, then we are creating form. Form has both length and width; form is two-dimensional. Lines and forms can be organized into shapes, the third element of design. Complex shapes are often built from simpler shapes, such as circles, ovals, squares and rectangles. The distance between shapes is called space, another element of design. Space also refers to the illusion of depth, or three-dimensions. Thus when properly placed, shapes can give the feeling of three-dimensions in a two-dimensional surface. There are several ways to create visual three-dimensional space. One way is by using one-, two- or three-point perspective. Another is by using overlapping shapes. The landscape painter uses all these elements of design when creating a landscape painting.

In addition to line and form, shape and space, there are other elements of design. The amount of lightness or darkness of an object is the value. A good exercise is to draw a series of ten squares, put black in the left-most one and white in the right-most one, then try to paint shades of grey in the middle blocks, going gradually from dark to light. This is called a grey-scale, but the same could be done with any color. Similarly, we could paint a sphere with the lightest light on one side and the darkest dark on the other, going through all the shades of grey between the two.

Next is the element we all love - color. Color has three characteristics - hue, value and chroma. Hue refers to the color, such as red or green, blue or yellow. Value refers to how light or dark the color is (how it compares to the grey-scale). Chroma refers to how bright or dull the color is - it's saturation level or purity. The landscape painter must understand color in order to use it effectively.

Texture is the last fundamental element of visual design. A surface might be smooth or rough. We might represent a rough surface with thick brush strokes of paint, use of a palette knife or even by adding objects to our painting.

There are other principles of design that the landscape painter uses, according to Mitchell Albala in his book Landscape Painting. These principles refer to the painting as a whole. They are motion, balance, proportion, unity, variety, harmony, pattern, rhythm and emphasis - the focal point. In order to have a successful painting, the painter needs to be aware of all these elements of design and see that his/her painting observes them.

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Drawing, Painting, Design, and Sculptural Art Textures

We see textures all around us everyday. We know whether something is soft, smooth, rough or bumpy. Part of painting and drawing is the addition of texture, whether the piece is realistic or abstract. Seeing the interplay of each against the other makes for an interesting and attention-grabbing piece whether in decorative design or visual fine art.

There are various kinds of textures in art and design. Actual or real textures are those that can be touched such as the smooth surface of a metal sculpture or the spiky surface of a cactus. We can readily identify a material by its texture: glass is smooth and slick; sand is gritty and fine. In three-dimensional works, artists use actual texture to add a tactile quality to the work. On canvas, artists sometimes apply paint thickly (impasto) in order to achieve the desired texture. Other artists create a collage, which is added papers or fabric and other materials to create a textured surface.

Visual textures are those that can be created to look like real textures. They are the roughness of a rock in a photograph or the fluffiness of a cloud painted by an artist. In a two-dimensional work of art, texture gives a visual sense of how an object would feel in real life if touched

Invented textures are two-dimensional patterns created by the repetition of shapes and lines. The patterns do not represent real surface textures but the patterns of light and dark suggest texture. The purpose is to create decorated surfaces that evoke memories of unusual textures.

Artists have an arsenal at their disposal for creating textures in drawing media. Various methods include:

Irregular strokes with varied pressure

Unusual shapes

Cross-hatching

Scribble

Soft blended lines, dots, dashes, and irregular strokes

Contrasting different textures that work in opposition to each other like the smoothness of glass next to a rough piece of driftwood. Or soft blended strokes contrasted with finely drawn wisps of hair on a portrait.

Various media such as ink, charcoal, graphite, marker that render textural effects differently

Highlights, shadows and contrasting darks for reflective surfaces

Creation of texture will allow your drawing to come alive with visual interest. Instead of the same kinds of strokes, use unusual dots, dashes, scribbles, small shapes, or wavy and angular lines in order to define the beauty of textural surfaces. Suggest texture by inventing your own using patterns. Let yourself go and look at the subtle surfaces of objects to create the realism or the visual qualities you want.

Textures in painting are many and varied as well. In watercolor, using the dry brush method can describe very textured wood surfaces such as the side of a barn or an old roof. Using splatter is another method that works well in watercolor. The softness of a feather needs delicate handling in order to achieve the visual qualities of the feeling of the feather. Use of a sponge also creates interesting textures in watercolor or acrylic paint.

Abstract painting or sculpture benefits greatly with varied textural surfaces to hold the viewer's interest. Paint strokes can be made into real textural surfaces when applying very thickly with large bristle brushes. Clay has the benefits of easily applying a number of textures to the surface before adding glazes whether in pottery or sculpture.

Consider the addition of texture or patterns in your next painting or drawing. It will add heightened visual and tactile interest to any work of art.

Beth cook is an artist who loves to write about art. She suggests you also check out art classes McKinney, TX and Allen TX art classes.

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