1. Three-Dimensional Design Resources: Art Elementsskip to main | skip to
sidebar
Three-Dimensional Design Resources
This Blog Linked From Here The Web
This Blog
Linked From Here
The Web
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Art Elements
FORMAL ELEMENTS: The components of a basic visual language. The formal elements
for 3-D design are point, line, plane, volume, mass, space, texture, color and
time
LINE: A point in motion. The element of form which is primarily understood in
terms of its length
ORIENTATION: Horizontal, vertical, curvilinear, or diagonal position of the line
LINEAR: Of or relating to a line or lines
DIRECTION: Implied movement
CONTINUITY: Linear flow
REAL LINE: An existing line, matter aligned upon an axis
IMPLIED LINE: A non-existent line activating empty space, implied by the
directional interaction of other lines. Lines that are suggested by the
positions of shapes or objects within a design
CONTOUR: The edge or line that defines or bounds the inner and outer edges of a
form and suggests three-dimensionally
PRIMARY CONTOUR: Outer edges
SECONDARY CONTOUR: Created by internal edges
PLANE: The element of form which can be described in 2 dimensions, characterized
by surface
PLANAR: Of or relating to a plane or planes

2. REAL PLANE: An existing plane, matter distributed upon a surface
IMPLIED PLANE: A non-existent plane activating empty space, implied by the
directional interaction of lines
SURFACE: The planar areas of an object which are exposed to the viewer
FORM/SHAPE: The total visual appearance of a 3-D object, or parts of it
ORGANIC/BIOMORPHIC: Irregular, uneven shapes that have structure without
angularity that visually suggests nature or natural forces
GEOMETRIC: A 3-D form derived from or suggested of geometry (cubes, spheres,
tetrahedron, etc.)
FIGURATIVE/ANTHROPOMORPHIC: Shapes or forms representing the human figure
STATIC: Without movement
DYNAMIC: Energetic, vigorous, forceful; creating or suggesting change or motion
GESTURE: The underlying sense of movement or overall expressive qualities of an
object
Kinetic Sculpture
KINETIC: A form that actually moves
FUNCTION: An object that requires a specific purpose

3. MASS: A solid 3-D form. The perceived weight or density of an object (affected
by visual density, value, material, surface characteristics, and spatial
orientation)
REAL MASS: The real weight of an object (e.g. a steel cube)
IMPLIED MASS: The implied weight of an object (paper cube painted to look like
steel)
SPATIAL ORIENTATION: Relationship of an object to the ground plane and other
objects
VOLUME: Defined or coherent space that can be described in 3-Dimensions.
Enclosed capacity
of an empty form
IMPLIED VOLUME: Space- not occupied by matter- sensed as coherent and resulting
from the interaction of surrounding elements of form, usually planes. (can also
be referred to as Negative Space)
REAL VOLUME: Matter occupying space. (can also be referred to as Positive Shape)
VOLUMETRIC: Of or relating to a volume or volumes
SPACE: The 3-D field in which the artist works, an area within or around an area
of substance
Negative Space_____________________________ Positive Space
NEGATIVE: A clearly defined area around a positive shape or form
POSITIVE: An area of physical substance in a 3-D Design
ACTIVATED SPACE: The area controlled by a physical object, including its
physical
volume or mass and the surrounding or enclosed space
TEXTURE: The tactile surface characteristics of a 3-D object that are either
felt or perceived visually

4. REAL TEXTURE: Texture that is inherent to the material (e.g. the bark of a tree)
APPLIED TEXTURE: Texture that is added to an existing object (e.g. tool marks on
a piece of wood)
This sculpture looks like the texture would feel like plastic, but it is made of
marble
COLOR: An aspect of surface which can obscure or reveal the nature of material.
REAL COLOR: The natural, inherent color of a material (e.g. the rust color of
steel)
APPLIED COLOR: Color that is added to a surface artificially, concealing or
changing its original color (e.g. a painted steel sculpture).
HUE: The name of the color (red or yellow) that distinguishes it from all the
others and assigns it a position in the visual spectrum
VALUE: The relative lightness or darkness of a color
INTENSITY: The purity or saturation of a color (fire engine red-high, brick
red-low)
SATURATION: The purity, chroma, or intensity of a color
GRADATION: Any gradual transition from one color to another or one form to
another
VALUE: The relative lightness or darkness of a surface
SCALE: Size relative to other elements within or outside of an object. It is
also a physical measurement, and a way of relating forms by comparison
(hand-held, human scale, or monumental)
TANGIBILITY: The substantiality of an object or the degree to which an object or
a force can
be felt
TIME: Movement, or change in an object over a period of time
TRANSITION: Process of changing from one state or form to another (smooth to
rough surface)
Posted by Jessica Van Swol at 8:59 PM
No comments:
Post a Comment

5. Newer Post Home
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) Blog Resources
All of the information on this blog is used for educational purposes only.
Images are linked to their source page, unless they are originals.
Blog Archive
â–¼ 2010 (12)
â–º April (1)
â–º March (2)
â–º February (2)
â–¼ January (7)
Art Processes
Moldmaking
Art Principles
Wire Sculpture
Relief Tile Series
Relief
Art Elements
Search This Blog
powered by