Elements of Art

A broken line can suggest incompleteness or movement. Exam tip: treat dashed line as suggestive line.

Line can make both outer boundary and inner details. Exam tip: connect line with outline and detail.

A square has clear corners and straight sides. Exam tip: treat square as a geometric shape.

A circle has a continuous curved boundary, so it has no corners. A triangle has 3 corners, while a square and a rectangle each have 4 corners. Exam tip: a completely round shape with no sharp turns has no corners.

A triangle has exactly three sides and three angles, so it is the correct answer. A quadrilateral is a close distractor, but it has four sides. Exam tip: identify polygons by counting their sides.

A square has four equal sides and four right angles, so it is a regular quadrilateral. A rhombus may also have equal sides, but its angles are not necessarily all equal; therefore, it is not always regular. Exam tip: identify a regular quadrilateral as a square.

A cube is a three-dimensional form because it has depth. Exam tip: remember three dimensions of form.

A football is a three-dimensional object with length, width, depth, and volume, so it is an example of form. A flat circle and a printed triangle are two-dimensional shapes, while a line on paper represents the element of line. Exam tip: identify form by checking whether an object has depth and volume.

Shading creates the feeling of volume in a flat shape. Exam tip: connect shading with form illusion.

The small area of a sphere that receives the most direct and intense light is called the highlight. A shadow is the darker area away from the light source, while reflected light is the softer light that bounces onto the shadow side from nearby surfaces. Exam tip: In a shaded three-dimensional object, the brightest small patch is the highlight.

The dark area of a sphere represents the part of its surface that does not receive direct light, so it is the shadow. Main light is the brightest illuminated area, while a tint is a lighter colour made by adding white. Exam tip: in sphere drawings, dark values generally indicate shadow.

The colour wheel shows colour relationships in an organized way. Exam tip: remember colour wheel for colour relationship.

A monochromatic scheme uses light and dark forms of one colour. Exam tip: remember mono means one.

Different values of one colour create variety. Exam tip: remember value variation in monochrome.

Black white and grey are examples of neutral colours. Exam tip: understand neutral colours as calm base colours.

Yellow can give a warm and bright effect. Exam tip: connect yellow with brightness and warmth.

Blue is generally considered a cool colour and is associated with calm natural scenes such as the sky and water. It can therefore create a feeling of peace, stability, and relaxation. Red is more commonly linked with energy or excitement, so it is not the best choice. Exam tip: remember that cool colours are usually associated with calm emotions.

Green is commonly associated with plants, leaves and the environment; therefore, it represents nature. Red, orange and yellow are more commonly used to show fire. Exam tip: remember green as the colour of nature and growth.

Texture tells surface quality such as smooth or rough. Exam tip: connect surface quality with texture.

Silk feels soft, even and free from rough projections, so it creates the effect of a smooth texture. Rough or sandy textures suggest an uneven, grainy surface, unlike silk. Exam tip: associate silk, glass and polished surfaces with smooth texture.