2D Art Fundamentals List
Photo by Green Chameleon https://unsplash.com/@craftedbygc from Unsplash
Introduction
People often ask, "What are the art fundamentals?" This article seeks to list out each of the art concepts that I think a student should have a firm understanding of if they want to pursue 2D digital art / painting. The definitions included are for context, as a beginner may be unfamiliar with these terms. It is a guide to give you ideas on what to study or practice next. Unfortunately, I will not be able to teach you these concepts personally. It will be up to you to seek out knowledge. Resources can be found everywhere, especially from your favorite artists.
What order should I study these in?
This list is not necessarily in any kind of order. Many of the fundamentals influence each other, so in my opinion, there is no true linear order. An artist could choose to study either one or several of these at a time. It's up to you to figure out what works for you and build study habits accordingly. It's okay to pick a focus for a period of time. Please do not expect to completely 100% master a particular fundamental before moving on. Except to learn these gradually over a long period of time. All fundamentals listed are important. Think of each fundamental as a puzzle piece that fits into a greater whole. The goal for a beginner is to gain a basic understanding of each concept and the ability to demonstrate that knowledge in their work.
List of Fundamentals
Shape
Cube / Square
Sphere / Circle
Pyramid / Triangle
Positive vs Negative
Shape Language
Gesture
Value
How light or dark something is on a scale of white to black. Light to shadow.
Form
Highlight
Cast Shadow
Ambient Occlusion / Occlusion Shadows
Reflected (Bounce) Light
Terminator
Local Color / Local Value
Edges
Hard (very sharp edge)
Firm (strong edge slightly softer)
Soft (soft blend between edges)
Lost (no delineation between edges)
Color Theory
Understanding of color and effects on mood, perception, symbolism, culture, etc.
Hue (Color Appearance)
Chroma (Perceived intensity of color)
Saturation (Purity of color/ vibrancy of color)
Warm vs Cool
Color Harmony
Color Constancy (Human interpretation of color is subjective and based on context, regardless of lighting.)
Color Wheel
Primary (red, blue, yellow)
Secondary (orange, purple, green)
Tertiary (mixes of primary and secondary colors)
Color Schemes:
Monochromatic
Analogous
Complementary
Split Complementary
Triads
Perspective
1 Point
2 Point
3 Point
Atmospheric (Appearance of objects at distance)
Proportion
Relative size and relationship between parts / objects.
Using the head to measure
Proportion (Human)
Male
Female
Androgyny
Faces
Child / Elderly
Anatomy (Human)
Gesture drawing
Line of action
Construction drawing
Simplified Human Structure
Head
Spine
Rib Cage
Pelvis
Arms
Legs
Simplified Muscular Structure
Pecs
Traps
Deltoid
Tricep & Bicep
Abs
Obliques
Serratus
Lats
Calf
Other
Different Body Types
Fat / Adipose Tissue
Breasts
Hands
Feet
Hair
Head & Face
Loomis Head Method
Reilly (Rhythms) Head Method
Facial Planes (Asaro Head)
Eyes
Nose
Lips
Ears
About the Artist
I am a self-educated artist dedicating to improving my craft and helping others on their art journey. More about me https://www.artgram.co/LillenArt/blog/about-the-artist