Visual Basics
Visual Basics
DOT
Everything begins with a simple dot in space.
It is a small, round spot which marks the beginning and the end of the line.
When we draw a dot on the canvas or paper, it starts to have meaning. Two dots create connection and with many dots we can create a complete composition.
Every painting, drawing or photograph is a collection of dots and… lines.
LINE
It is a path made by a point moving in space. From the way an artist uses the pen or brush we can say whether the line was made quickly or slowly and gently.
The line has endless creative possibilities and shows where the object starts and ends.
Lines can be thick or thin. It can also be vertical, horizontal, diagonal, straight, wavy, spiral, zigzag and curved.
Even when we draw 2 or 3 lines, they create a contour and immediately start to resemble something – a human, landscape or object.
When we fill the shape with colour, we add a new meaning.
Whilst straight, horizontal line suggests width, calmness and steadiness, a wavy line is bendy – either gracefully or vigorously.
Its fluid curves may be visually comforting and contain sensual qualities.
More defined curves bring in dynamics and energy.
Zigzag lines are a combination of diagonal lines connected at points.
They suggest action and movement, as they change their direction frequently.
They may also indicate excitement, danger, destruction, confusion or anxiety as they are uneven and jagged.
PRIMARY COLOURS
YELLOW
Yellow is a sunny colour. When we think of yellow, we often imagine the sun, smiley faces and sunflowers.
It exudes positive energy, happiness, hope and spontaneity. Yellow also evokes a feeling of optimism and well-being.
RED
Red carries very powerful meanings.
It contains the heat of energy, passion and love, but at the same time it is the colour of blood, anger, power and danger.
It embraces vitality, strength and excitement. Red is believed to stimulate appetite.
BLUE
It is the most popular colour in the world. Blue is the colour of the sky and water.
It is serene, soothing and relaxing, however with the diverse palette of undertones it connotes different meanings.
Light blue is peaceful and gentle whereas dark blue can signify depth, expansiveness and power.
It is also melancholic and steady.
SECONDARY COLOURS
ORANGE
Orange is an energetic and flamboyant colour as it combines the heat of red with the playfulness of yellow.
This youthful and lively hue emanates vibrancy and fun.
It connotes enthusiasm and stimulates the brain, that is why it is also associated with creativity.
PURPLE
Born from the combination of blue and red, purple is associated with dignity and royalty and hence its exclusiveness.
It blends the passion of red with the serenity of blue, therefore it is perceived as prestigious and luxurious.
Purple may also signify spirituality and mysticism.
GREEN
White emanates simplicity, freshness, cleanliness and innocence.
It creates a minimalist aesthetic. It can also be a symbol of youth and perfection.
In Western cultures it is often associated with purity, while in some East Asian countries it is the colour of grief.
Nothing can be pure white except unfiltered sunlight. Although white light contains all the colours of the spectrum, to the naked eye it remains the opposite – the absence of colour.
COLOURS THAT ARE NOT COLOURS
IN A TECHNICAL SENSE WHITE AND BLACK ARE NOT COLOURS.
THEY ARE SHADES, BUT THEY EXIST IN OUR PALETTE AS COLOURS AND EVOKE FEELINGS.
WHITE
White emanates simplicity, freshness, cleanliness and innocence.
It creates a minimalist aesthetic. It can also be a symbol of youth and perfection.
In Western cultures it is often associated with purity, while in some East Asian countries it is the colour of grief.
Nothing can be pure white except unfiltered sunlight. Although white light contains all the colours of the spectrum, to the naked eye it remains the opposite – the absence of colour.
BLACK
We cannot find it in a visible spectrum of colour. Black is the absence of light and it can exist in nature without any light at all.
Nothing can be pure black except the depths of a black cave or hole. That is why black is powerful and mysterious.
It is used to express what is unknown, enigmatic and terrifying, under cover of darkness.
It is also associated with elegance and sophistication. In most Western cultures blacks symbolizes grief.
SHAPE
Everything is ultimately a shape. All objects are composed of shapes and all visual elements are shapes in some way. Shape builds on line and colour, as it has to be made of one or both of these. Shape is the property of a two-dimensional form and is measured by height and width, with a recognizable boundary, an outline defined by lines that form their edges or through colour, texture or tone that contrast with the area surrounding the shape, which is referred to as negative space.
Shapes are a powerful way to communicate. Just as lines have meanings, so do shapes. Different feelings, moods and associations are evoked by circles, squares and triangles, by objects with gentle curves or sharp edges. However simple or complex, it is often the relationship between shapes that can trigger feelings convey messages, engage audience, and add emphasis to a portion of a layout and create movement.
Very often the meaning behind shapes is culturally constructed and negotiated. For example, as with lines, vertical shapes are seen as strong while horizontal shapes are seen as peaceful. Curved shapes are associated with movement and happiness. They are also interpreted as more feminine than sharp shapes which often convey energy, violence and anger.
When creating a composition, we should always consider how the shapes interact and work together to present and communicate the intended message.
GEOMETRIC SHAPES
These are mathematical shapes that can be drawn using a ruler or compass such as squares, rectangles, circles, cubes, spheres, and cones. Their regular patterns and symmetry convey structure, order and organization. Squares and rectangles can convey strength and stability, while circles and ellipses can represent continuous movement and softness. Triangles usually lead the eye upwards and so inverted triangles can create a sense of imbalance and tension.
CIRCLES AND ELLIPSES
Circles have no beginning or end and are thus a symbol of completeness, the infinite and unity.
They suggests harmony, community, integrity, and perfection.
Circles are an archetypical form representing the Sun, the Earth, the Moon and other celestial objects but also suggest familiar objects such as wheels, balls or fruit.
Their curves are seen as feminine, warm, comforting and give a sense of sensuality and love. Circles can protect or restrict by confining what’s within and keeping the rest out.
SQUARES AND RECTANGLES
Squares and rectangles are the most common geometric shape we encounter.
The majority of texts we read are set in rectangles or squares.
They have right angles and represent order, mathematics, rationality, and formality, suggesting honesty, strength, stability, security and peace.
TRIANGLES
Triangles have three angles and their balance is often associated with hierarchy, power, law, science and religion.
They often suggest masculinity and represent movement, dynamism, action and aggression, being linked to power, conflict or strength.
They can be used to suggest familiar objects or themes such as pyramids or arrows.
ORGANIC SHAPES
Organic shapes can be drawn free hand or shapes found in nature, for example fruit, vegetables, leaves, flowers, seeds or shells but are also found in the more ephemeral forms of clouds and water.
They are also associated with anatomical forms (heart or kidney shapes).
They are often irregular and free-form, giving a sense of formation and development and often suggesting softness, sensuality, flexibility and fluidity.
As such, they are often comforting and pleasing but also add interest and suggest spontaneity, creativity and freedom.
