Critiquing Tools

PRINCIPLES AND ELEMENTS OF DESIGN LIST

Line Line can be considered in two ways. The linear marks made with a pen or brush or the edge
created when two shapes meet.

Colour Also called Hue

Texture Texture is the surface quality of a shape - rough, smooth, soft hard glossy etc. 
Texture can be physical (tactile) or visual.

Shape A shape is a self contained defined area of geometric or organic form. A positive
shape in a painting automatically creates a negative shape.

Form Form is any three dimensional object. Form is also defined by light and dark. Form
may be created by the combining of two or more shapes

Stability The arrangments of elements, in a stable composition within a grid. Where all
elements sit vertically, horizontally or diagonally on the grid

Dynamics Dynamics is the arrangement of visual elements in a composition to suggest
the illusion of movement or direction. The effective use of dynamics in a design can add
an emotive characteristic to your design making it appear restful and calming or active
and energetic.

Rhythm Rhythm is the repetition or alternation of elements, often with defined intervals
between them. Rhythm can create a sense of movement, and can establish pattern and texture. 

Scale The principle where elements have been enlarged or reduced dramatically to contrast
against other elements.

ART VOCABULARY LIST

Negative Space is the space around and between the subject of an image. Negative space
may be most evident when the space around a subject, and not the subject itself, forms an
interesting or artistically relevant shape

Hirachy A hierarchy is an arrangement of items in which the items are represented as 
being "above," "below," or "at the same level as" one another. Abstractly, a hierarchy is
simply an ordered set or an acyclic directed graph.

Dominant path of movement: Sometimes a work has a dominant path of movement that
adds to a mood.  The sense of movement may come from a tall, vertical form reaching
upward.  Sometimes there is a path of motion leading to a center of interest.  Even the
absence of motion can be expressed.  For example, a quiet, still, calm feeling may come 
from the use of many horizontal lines or forms.

Emphasis by dominance Dominance describes a situation where something dominates
(is more important or more noticeable than its surroundings). Information is rarely of 
uniform interest in art (except in wallpaper). Most art is used to communicate 
-- to tell a story or present a point of view. There is usually a focal point, a place where
 the action begins.

Construction Lines Usually the first lines that you will use on your artwork, they may 
show definition of shape, form or texture. These lines are not visible once artwork is finished.

ADJECTIVE LIST

Pigment is a material that changes the color of reflected or transmitted light as the result
of wavelength-selective absorption Pigments appear the colors they are because they
selectively reflect and absorb certain wavelengths of visible light.

Shade is where black has been added to darken.

Tint is where white has been added to a colour to create a lighter colour.

Caricature the lines on a portrait or face which suggest characteristics of that person.

Curved lines are generally used to create a sense of flow within an image. They are also
generally more aesthetically pleasing, as we associate them with soft things