Elements of Art

Two primary colours make secondary colours. Exam tip: remember green orange purple as secondary colours.

In traditional painting colour mixing, red and yellow combine to make orange. Green is made by mixing yellow and blue, so it is a plausible but incorrect option. Exam tip: memorise the primary-colour pairs that produce secondary colours.

Texture refers to the actual or visual quality of a surface, such as rough, smooth, soft, or grainy. Shape describes an outline, not a surface quality. Exam tip: words about surface feel usually indicate texture.

Mixing yellow and blue produces green, so green is the correct answer. Orange is made by mixing yellow and red, while purple is made by mixing red and blue. Exam tip: learn the secondary colours formed by mixing primary colours.

Complementary colours are positioned opposite one another on the colour wheel. Because they differ strongly in hue, placing them together usually produces vivid contrast and attracts attention. For example, red beside green or blue beside orange can make both colours look more intense. Artists may use this effect to highlight an object, create energy, or separate forms clearly. The result is not usually dull or without contrast.

The question asks about the possible effect of complementary colours. Their opposite relationship creates strong visual opposition, so option C is correct. “Very little attention” and “no contrast” describe the reverse of the usual effect. The exact appearance can change with brightness, area, and surrounding colours, but strong contrast is the standard school-level answer.

Red and green are considered opposite on the colour wheel. Exam tip: remember red green as a complementary pair.

Making shade with dots is called stippling. Exam tip: remember dot shading as stippling.

Hatching uses parallel lines to make shade. Exam tip: connect parallel lines with hatching.

Cross-hatching is a drawing technique used to create tone, shade, and texture. The artist first makes a group of parallel lines and then adds another group that crosses the first group, often at an angle. More layers or closer lines usually make an area appear darker, while wider spacing leaves it lighter. This method is useful when smooth colouring or painting is not being used.

The question asks what is used in cross-hatching. The defining feature is intersecting sets of lines, so option C is correct. A single dot is not cross-hatching, and white colour or a folded sheet does not describe the technique. The word “cross” helps recall that the lines overlap or cut across one another to build value.

Surfaces like sand and stone are shown through texture. Exam tip: keep rough surfaces under texture.

The soft surface of cloth is shown by texture. Exam tip: connect cloth texture with soft surface.

Sharp short lines show thorny texture. Exam tip: understand the relation between line and texture.

Space helps understand the figure and background relation. Exam tip: connect figure ground with space.

Negative space brings balance and clarity to a composition. Exam tip: treat empty area as part of design.

Space means the area around and between objects. Exam tip: connect space with empty and filled areas.

Making distant objects smaller creates a sense of distance. Exam tip: remember size change as a depth cue.

Colour shape and space can make a part look heavy or light. Exam tip: connect balance with visual weight.

In a picture, a large shape usually appears more prominent and draws the viewer’s attention. Therefore, it can help create emphasis or a focal point. A small shape is generally less noticeable than a large one, so option B is incorrect. Exam tip: larger size usually increases visual emphasis.

Repeating small shapes, usually in an organised arrangement, creates a pattern. A pattern can add rhythm, decoration and visual unity to an artwork. The price of paper and sound are not effects of the visual repetition of shapes. Exam tip: when you see ‘repetition’ in art, think of pattern and rhythm.

Dark and light parts create high contrast. Exam tip: connect contrast with value difference.