Hearts Clip Art

The human heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body. It is divided into 4 chambers – the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium and left ventricle. Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium through the vena cava. It then moves to the right ventricle, which pumps it to the lungs to absorb oxygen. The oxygenated blood returns to the left atrium, then fills the left ventricle which pumps it out to the rest of the body through the aorta. This cycle repeats itself continuously to provide the cells of the body with oxygen and nutrients.

The heart contains valves between chambers and vessels to ensure one-way flow of blood. The tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral and aortic valves open and close in coordination with heart contractions. Heart valves can become damaged, leading to complications.

Symbolism and Meaning of Hearts

The heart shape is universally recognized as a symbol for love and romance. Its symmetrical and whimsical design has associations with human emotions. The origins of the symbolic heart shape may have come from plant seeds, or human female anatomy. Hearts can represent affection, caring, desire and compassion in visual arts and culture. They are incorporated in expressions of love for family, partners, friends. A wounded or broken heart signifies emotional pain of heartbreak. Hearts convey deep bonds and intimacy between lovers. The gift of handmade arts and crafts in the shape of a heart attempts to physically embody these complex human feelings.

Heart Iconography in Art

Representations and motifs of hearts have been popular through many art movements. Heart designs decorated architecture and tapestries in the medieval and Gothic period. The focal point in religious paintings was often a sacred heart, highlighting Christ’s love and sacrifice. Renaissance artwork showed cupids aiming arrows at lover’s hearts. Pop art introduced more commercial, mass media interpretations of hearts through Andy Warhol’s screen prints and Roy Lichtenstein’s graphic comic panels. Hearts remain a central symbol of affection in 21st century visual culture, seen everywhere from street art to designer brand logos.

Heart Motifs in Architecture and Design

Ornate heart details feature on many historical buildings, furniture and fashion accessoires as decorative symbols of love. Heart motifs are carved into stone on churches and palaces. Tudor houses display timber beams arranged in a carved heart pattern. Baroque architects incorporated carved emblems in wood and plaster to accentuate interiors of royal residences. Heart designs enhance textiles like quilts and tapestries hung on walls for warmth and acoustic purposes. Heart shapes embellish ceramics like mugs and plates, especially for engagement and wedding gifts. Elaborate asymmetric heart patterns distinguish Gothic jewelry pieces.

Celebrating Heart Day

The most famous heart-centric holiday is St. Valentine’s Day on February 14th, originating from old European marriage traditions and Roman festivals. It is commemorated with gift exchanges of cards, flowers, sweets and meals between loved ones. Competitions are held to craft unique heart shaped containers and sculptures. Other holidays culturally linked to hearts and affection include Mother’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, anniversaries, weddings and engagement parties. Celebratory icons include the heart symbol, associated pink or red colors, depiction of roses, doves and cherubs.

Heart Health and Wellness

Taking care of our physical heart is vital for health in daily life. Getting exercise, eating nutrient rich diets, maintaining ideal weight and having proper work-life balance all impact on heart wellness. Activities that strain the cardiovascular system such as overexertion, smoking and unhealthy eating habits can be avoided. Listening to one’s body, managing stress levels and scheduling regular check ups helps sustain a healthy functioning heart. Some easy lifestyle adjustments like taking stairs, drinking more water, reducing salt intake make big differences long term.

Heart Transplants and Medical Advances

Advancements in heart surgeries and transplants give hope and save lives around the world. Techniques allow repairs of heart defects and replacement of damaged parts in open heart surgery. Machine perfusion preserves donor hearts for longer periods when matched to a recipient. Success rates of transplantation have seen major improvements with better matching, imaging, medications and mechanical support alternatives. However issues around organ rejection and lifelong medication requirements means research continues into stem cell therapy and artificial substitutes.

Heart Metaphors in Language

Hearts form the foundation for extensive emotional symbolism and metaphorical language. When we love someone we say they “have our heart”. Heartache describes intense grief and longing. Learning things “by heart” is to memorize completely. Putting “your heart into something” means to be earnest and passionate about your efforts. Having a “change of heart” demonstrates evolved thinking. Referring to close friends as “heartmates” implies a deep spiritual connection. Someone may be “cold hearted” and unfeeling. We wish for solutions to be “heartfelt”. Other heart idioms permeate our cultural expressions and creative works.

Types of Digital Heart Clip Art

Heart graphics are available in many decorative styles, from minimalist outlines to intricate lace patterns. Simple small hearts in bright neon shades are used to accent short text media like greeting cards and stickers. Photorealistic heart graphics mimic three dimensional qualities through shadows and are blended into natural backdrops. Big bold hearts convey fun, playful feelings for arts, crafts and scrapbooks. Animated beating hearts and overlapping hearts communicate romance and excitement. Abstract geometric hearts and mosaic heart collages have a modern and eclectic aesthetic. Customized heart clip art generates unlimited templates on demand.

Creating and Sharing Heart Clip Art

Basic heart shapes are easy to construct using software drawing tools. Start with a triangle base to build on. Customize colors by adjusting hue settings or using presets like red for love or pink for sweetness. Increase dimensions and elongate proportions for dramatic impact. Soft blurred edges suggest warmth against sharp outlines signalling precision. Add layers of symmetry for kaleidoscopic effects. Apply other shapes like arrows, stars, frames or backgrounds. Save files at maximum size and resolution for printing clarity. Share your original heart art legally using Creative Commons licenses that request attribution. Embed heart images online with care not to associate brands without permission.

In this page clipartix present 89 hearts clipart images free for designing activities. Lets download Hearts Clip Art that you want to use for works or personal uses.