Gesture drawings capture moments quickly, usually in 30 seconds to 5 minutes, to depict the pose or movement. Visual rhythm is created through repeated similar shapes or patterns that guide the eye in a work. Movement in art directs viewers through lines, edges, and shapes, often toward a focal area. Balance arranges elements so no part seems heavier than others, and symmetrical balance is often most pleasing.

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VA COMP S.L.O. Study Guide
Gesture Drawing – a workof art definedbyrapiddrawingstyle.Usuallylookshurriedand“messy.”The
pointof a gesture drawingistocapture the “gesture”of a moment.Gesture drawingsare drawnvery
quicklyandusuallyonlytake about30 secondsto 5 minutes.
gesturedrawing example
Visual Rhythm – visual rhythmisrhythmyoureceive throughyoureyesratherthanyour ears.Visual
rhythmis createdbyrepeatedsimilarshapes.Visual rhythmcansometimesbe shownbyrepeated
patternsand/orrepeateddesigns;thisis called“visual beat.”
both imagesare examplesof VisualRhythm
Movement– (inArt) visual movementisusedbyartiststodirectviewersthroughtheirwork,oftentoa
focal area or a focal point.Suchmovementscanbe directedalonglines,edges,shapes,andcolorswith
the work. It can also meanwhenanartist usesdesigntoproduce the lookof actionin an artwork.
movementis created by all the curved lines that draw theviewer into
following thearc of thebig waveand onto the boatsbelow
Balance – (inArt) isarrangingelementssothatno one part of a workoverpowersorseemsheavierthan
any otherpart. There are two majortypesof balance:symmetrical andasymmetrical.Humansoftenfind
symmetrical balance tobe the mostpleasingandcalming.

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Variety– (inArt) refersto the wayof combiningvisual elementstoachieve complex relationships.Itisa
technique usedtocreate visual interest.
This artworkshowsa variety of shapesand lines to create interest
Varietythrough Repetition– Whenan artistusesrepeatingshapesordesignsbutvarieseachdesignin
some slightwayto create furtherinterest.
The triangle shapeof slices changeslightly with each slice. The repetition is
the pie slice; the varietyis that each oneis slightly different.
Form Vs. Shape
Shape– usuallyrefersto2D (drawing,painting,printmakingetc.)
Form– usuallyrefersto3D (sculpture,clay,plush)
Shape-2D Form- 3D
Hue – a color
Tints – anycolor + the colorwhite (think:tintrhymeswithmintandmintsare white)
Shades– any color– the color black(think:blackoftenmeans“SHADow”
Monochromatic Color Scheme – a colorscheme thatconsistson1 hue and tintsand shadesof that hue.
We paintedmonochromaticself-portraits,remember?

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Contrast - (inart) referstothe arrangementof opposite elements(lightcolorsv.darkcolors;rough vs.
smoothtextures;large shapesvs.small shapesetc.) Often,artistsuse complementarycolorstoshow
contrast.
ComplementaryColors – Colorsthatare opposite one anotheronthe colorwheel.Complementary
colorsoftenappearto “vibrate”whenputnexttoone another.
ComplementaryColorScheme – a color scheme thatismade of twocolorsthat are opposite eachother
on the colorwheel.Thisscheme looksbestwhenyouputa warmcolor againsta cool color.For
example,redversusgreen.
Redis the complementof Green
Blue isthe complementof Orange
Yellowisthe complementof Purple
Color Intensity– examineshowbrightordull acolor is (how intense acoloris).The brightestintensity
wouldbe the pure color (orhue) fromthe color wheel while the dullestwouldbe whereyoucan’teven
discernwhatthe color isotherthan itlookslike gray.Mixingtwocomplementarycolorsmakesadark
gray/browncolor;thiswouldbe a lowintensitycolor.
Texture – (inart) isthe perceivedsurface qualityof aworkof art. In 2D art, itis called implied texture
because the artisthas to implywhatthe texture of asurface is (like paintingatree sothat it appearsto
have the texture of bark). Actual texture istexture thatis3D it istexture youcan touch.
the animalsappearfurry and fluffy (implied texture)

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Emphasis – (centerof interest/thefocal point) –isan area that firstattracts the attentionof the viewer
inan artwork. The area ismore importantthan whencomparedtootherelementsof the same artwork.
emphasis:leaf emphasis:circle
Stepsin the Creative Process
Artistsuse the followingstepsinthe followingorderinorderto“solve the problem”of makinganew
creation. DBEWR
1. Define the problem
2. Brainstormsolutions
3. Evaluate possiblesolutionsandchoose 1direction
4. Work
5. Refine/revise the work
Aesthetics– nature of art, beauty,andtaste,withthe creationandappreciationof beauty.Studyof
sensoryjudgements.Critical reflectiononart,culture,andnature.For example,everyone hashis/her
own“aesthetic”.Youraestheticisaboutthe visual images,colors,anddesignsthatyouare mostdrawn
to, mostlikelytoselectasyourfavorite,and/ormostlikelytouse (inartwork,ina recipe,indecorating
your home etc.). Whenwe studyaestheticsinArtclass,youare examiningwhyyoulike anartwork
(yourpersonal aesthetic) andwhyanartist usedcertaincolors,ideas,shapes,andthemes(the aesthetic
of the artist).Itis a bigfancy word,butit reallymeanswhatvisual informationyoulikeandwhatvisual
informationotherpeople like.
Art Criticism– is respondingto,interpretingmeaning,andmakingcritical judgmentsaboutworksof art.
Wheneveryoulookatan artwork(of any kind) and think/state youropinion,youare participatinginart
criticism.
Art Analysis– identifyingandexaminingspecificpartsof artworksto see how theyworkindividuallyand
as part of a largerartwork.
Purpose of Museums– the purpose of modernmuseumsistocollect,preserve,interpretanddisplay
itemsof cultural,artistic,historical,orscientificsignificance forthe educationof the public.

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Value of AncientArtwork – We studentancientandold art because bydoingso we learnaboutour own
creative expression,andthose of the past.Also,manyancientartworksinformotherculturesand
artists.For instance,DutchpainterVincentVanGogh(1800s) washeavilyinfluencedbyprintmaking
workof Japanese artists(1400s-1600s). AndPabloPicasso(1800-1900’s) was influencedbyancient
Africanmasks.
Almond Blossomby Van Gogh (1890) Cherry Blossomview of Mt.Fugi by Hokusai(1852)
painting by Picasso (1900s), nearleft ancient African mask
Illustration– a picture illustratingabook,newspaperetc.Anartworkthattellsa storythroughvisual
means. Illustrators(anartistwhomakesillustrations) provide avisual representationthatcorresponds
to the contentof a text,like astoryfor a bookor fora comic.