Using visual elements in development
Artists use the visual elements in different combinations to create particular creative effects and styles. The visual elements are:
- line
- tone
- colour
- shape
- form
- texture
- pattern
Olive Trees, Vincent van Gogh, 1889, oil on canvas, National Galleries of Scotland
The development stage should involve exploring and experimenting with several visual elements and deciding which you enjoy and which you show strength in using.
The key visual elements you focus on will depend on the theme and style of work you are developing.
For example, a student who is inspired by the work of Van Gogh may choose to concentrate on:
- line
- texture
- expressive use of colour
Red-Blue Chair, Gerrit Rietveld, 1917, wood, Picture Partners / Alamy Stock Photo
A student working on a product design who is inspired by Gerrit Rietveld may choose to concentrate on:
- geometric forms
- bold colours
- smooth surface texture
By the time you move to working on a final piece, you should have made decisions about your intended style and which visual elements are the most important.
