Elements of Design

Today in class we formally discussed the Elements of design. This was a lecture and you can find the notes under the 7th Grade Art tab. We also performed an activity where students had to formally use and explain the elements in a master art work in front of the class.

We then went over some beginning color theory:

• Primary colors - are colors that cannot be made or derived from mixing other colors
• Red
• Yellow
• Blue

• Secondary colors - colors that are created by mixing two primary colors

• Red + Blue = Violet 
• Yellow + Red = Orange
• Blue + Yellow = Green

• Tertiary colors - colors that are created by mixing a primary color with its analogous secondary color.
• Analogous - a "next door neighbor" on the color wheel. 
• Yellow + Orange = Yellow Orange
• Yellow + Green = Yellow Green
• Red + Orange = Red Orange
• Red + Violet = Red Violet
• Blue + Violet = Blue Violet
• Blue + Green = Blue Green 

• Complementary colors - colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel
• Red - Green
• Yellow - Purple
• Blue - Orange 
• Yellow Green - Red Violet
• Analogous colors - colors that live next to each other on the color wheel

Next we discussed the terms that are used when you add Black, White, or Grey to a color. These can help achieve value (light to dark) in your art work:

• Shade - Add Black (darkens or deepens the color)
• Tone - Add Grey (tones down or mutes the color)
• Tint - Add white (lightens a color - For example Pink)

Moving Forward

We will be using the Elements to create a Waterfall booklet. For next class please have some sketches or designs for your booklet. 

image sources: http://www.colormatters.com/color-and-design/basic-color-theory