Texture - An Element in Fine Art

Woods in Winter

Texture is an element in art. There are 2 main textures. Depicted texture will not be felt by touch on the painting surface but it may look real, i.e. painting of an animal’s fur. Actual texture is seen and also felt on the picture’s surface. In my painting Woods in Winter, I have placed thick layers of paint for snow on the branches. We usually see texture in the light and local colours. Texture is not seen in the background. Occasionally texture is used to define a pattern of lines, shapes.

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Shape - An Element in Fine Art

A shape is an area that is separate from other shapes in the art work because of a distinct or implied boundary due to differences of value (light to dark, gray scale), colour (hue & temperature) or texture. (Art Fundamentals, Theory & Practice of Art, by Ocvirk et al) Shapes can be positive, i.e. figure, or negative, i.e. background. It is best to have only 3 to 5 major shapes in the work. Although there is a dominant value, temperature and hue in the shape, a shape should have a small amount of another of these elements. If a shape is primarily dark in value, you can use gradation to add a lighter value.

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Compositional Structures in Art- The Triangle

The Wreck

My Original Fine Art Painting

Acrylic on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars

This is my painting, The Wreck and a Zazzle mug with the image of the painting. A triangular structure in art work is used frequently by artists. When the triangle sits on its base, the structure is more stable. The top of the triangle gives visual weight. Many old masters put images of the Virgin Mary at the top of their triangular structures. A triangular structure that does not sit on its base is unstable and creates tension. The wrecked ship in my painting uses this instability.

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Eye Movement in Art & My New Zazzle Shop

The Grain Mill

Artists create a path in their art work that will move the viewers through the painting. This can be done with similar shapes. In my painting, The Grain Mill, the trees on the left curve around and continue behind the mill on the right side. This technique moves the viewer’s eyes.

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Unity, Variety and Dominance in Art

There are several principles in art. One key principle is unity. Unity is achieved in several ways. Artists repeat elements in their paintings or drawings. A colour, i.e. red, may be repeated. A shape or line may be repeated. However, one element should be dominant. In my previous post, I wrote about light and dark values. A painting might be predominantly light value but there should still be mid dark and dark values in the painting. This painting might have mainly yellow hues but there would be other colours as well. These principles are dominance and variety.

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Light and Dark Values in Fine Art - A Gray Scale

The Grain Mill

Converted to a gray scale
Posted in colour on August 17, 2009

Artists frequently narrow their eyes [squint] when looking at a scene or their art. This reduces the colours, i.e. red, and artists see the scene in light and dark values. This is a gray scale; it allows artists to see the shapes, lines and contrasts. I changed my painting, The Grain Mill, to a gray mode. The foreground rocks are light and link together. The dark shapes in the middle ground also link. These shapes are connected by the light water, a bridge unifying the painting.

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Fine Art Painting, The Focal Point-"The Grain Mill"

The Grain Mill

Original Fine Art Painting
Acrylic on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars
20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches

I was attracted to the grain mill and the light on the roof. This is my focal point. It has the lightest light and the darkest dark. It has the most detail, hard edges and saturated colour. I have tried to show entry from each edge of the canvas to the grain mill. It is approximately a third horizontally and vertically on the canvas.

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Colours in Art-Simultaneous Contrast

The Rose
Acrylic on watercolour paper
19.13 by 14.03 cm, 7.5 by 5.5 inches, including a 1.3 cm, .5 inch white border

I used red and green colours (hue) in my fine art painting. The colours are complementary colours and therefore, each colour enhances the other colour (simultaneous contrast). I previously posted this painting as well as information about simultaneous contrast.

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Compositional Structures in Art-The Grid & The Circle

There are two main compositional structures used by artists in most paintings. Other structural compositions could be added. These structures are the grid and the circle. The grid comprises shapes and lines in vertical and horizontal directions. These directions provide stability and security. The circle suggests a center point. It moves around the art work as well as in and out of the work suggesting depth.

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Compositional Structures in Art-My Painting, "The Lighthouse"

The Lighthouse
Acrylic on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars
20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches

Artists use compositional structures to help achieve our expressive goals but also unify a painting. I wrote about the cantilever and the bridge structures. My painting, The Lighthouse, has both structures. The access ramp enters the painting and the lighthouse is connected to this cantilever shape. The smaller ramp also acts as a bridge, joining the lighthouse and access ramp. Artists frequently use more than one compositional structure.

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Compositional Structures in Art-The Bridge

Jan Van Eyck
Giovanni Arnolfini and his Bride, 1434
Oil on wood
National Gallery, London

A compositional structure that artists use is a bridge. Two shapes/formations are linked by another shape. The famous painting by Jan Van Eyck done in 1434, Giovanni Arnolfini and his Bride, show two figures linked by the joining arms-the bridge. Van Eyck also used other compositional structures in this painting. I again refer you to the chapter on compositional structures in the excellent book by Nathan Goldstein, Design and Composition.



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Compositional Structures in Art-The Cantilever

There are a number of compositional structures that artists use. The cantilever structure is when any large formation enters the art work from a side and ends within the work. Normally the cantilever connects with other positive shapes/formations in the art but it can stand alone. Sometimes cantilevers meet with similar ones entering from the other side. The heavy visual weight of a cantilever usually must be balanced by another positive shape. Artists such as Cezanne and Matisse frequently used the cantilever structure in their paintings. A chapter on compositional structures is in the excellent book by Nathan Goldstein, Design and Composition.

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