Page 111 - ART FORM AND MENTAL HEALTH - Ingrid Pénzes
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Table 1. The five categories and the seventeen formal elements SHAPE
Geometry
Geometry refers to geometric shapes, such as rectangles, circles, and triangles. The opposite of geometric is organic.
Contour
Contour refers to the sharp edges, outlines, and borders of and between sepa- rate parts of the art product. Contour is formed by the use of sharp lines or dis- tinct borders. Shapes are completely accentuated by lines and/or have distinct borders as if they were “cut out”. The opposite of contour is pictorial, diffuse artwork.
COMPOSITION Symmetry
Symmetry is formed by an optical vertical axis of the middle of the artwork. The left and right half of the art product are mirrored and are equal with regard to color and/or shape, line, or figure. The opposite of a symmetric composition is a chaotic overall composition.
Rhythm
Rhythm refers to the regular return of lines, shapes, or colors. It is a repeated pattern that can be predicted once it is recognized.
Line quality
The quality of a line is strong when it is serried, straight, sharp, and fluent. The opposite is a line that is broken, sketchy, wavered, crumbled, and cautious. To judge line quality, the quality of the lines present is observed rather than the number of lines.
Linearity
Linearity refers to the extent to which an artwork consists of lines. A line is
a stripe not broader than the tip of the used tool (graphic art material) or the brush. Lines can form shapes. The opposite is a pictorial artwork that lacks lines.
Movement
Movement consists of a combination of elements, such as diagonals and over- lap. Movement varies in amount.
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