The Elements
and Principles
of Art
The Elements of Art
The building blocks
or ingredients of art.
LINE
A mark with length and direction.
A continuous mark made on a surface
by a moving point.
Ansel Adams Gustave Caillebotte
Pablo Picasso
COLOR
Consists of Hue (another word for color),
Intensity (brightness) and Value (lightness
or darkness).
Henri Matisse
Alexander Calder
VALUE
The lightness or darkness of a color.
MC Escher Pablo Picasso
SHAPE
An enclosed area defined and determined
by other art elements; 2-dimensional.
Joan
Miro
Gustave Caillebotte
FORM
A 3-dimensional object;
or something in a 2-dimensional artwork
that appears to be 3-dimensional.
For example, a triangle, which is 2-dimensional, is a
shape, but a pyramid, which is 3-dimensional, is a form.
Jean Arp Lucien Freud
Robert Mapplethorpe
Claude Monet
S P A C E
The distance or area between, around, above, below,
or within things.
Positive (filled with
something) and Negative
(empty areas). Foreground, Middleground and
Background (creates DEPTH)
TEXTURE
The surface quality or "feel" of an object, its
smoothness, roughness, softness, etc. Textures
may be actual or implied.
Cecil
Buller
The Principles of Art
What we use to organize the
Elements of Art,
or the tools to make art.
BALANCE
The way the elements are arranged to
create a feeling of stability in a work.
Alexander Calder
Symmetrical Balance
The parts of an image are organized
so that one side mirrors the other.
Leonardo DaVinci
Asymmetrical Balance
The parts of an image are organized
in a way that creates an overall sense
of balance, but not necessarily
mirroring each other.
Franz Kline
EMPHASIS
The part or parts of an artwork that are
given the most attention, often to create a
focal point.
Diego Velazquez
CONTRAST
The use of opposing elements, such as
light and dark, big and small, or rough and
smooth, to create interest and importance.
Caravaggio
RHYTHM
A repeated pattern or movement in an artwork,
often created by repeating elements such as
lines, shapes, or colors.
Marcel Duchamp
UNITY
When all the elements of an artwork come
together to create a sense of wholeness or
harmony.
Rembrandt
PROPORTION
The size relationships between different parts
of an artwork.
Leonardo DaVinci
VARIETY
The use of different elements and techniques
to create interest and diversity in an artwork.
Frida Kahlo
MOVEMENT
The suggestion of motion or action in an artwork.
Edgar Degas
These elements and principles of art are the foundations for creating and understanding art. Artists use these tools to communicate ideas, emotions, and experiences through their work. By recognizing and appreciating these elements and principles, viewers can gain a deeper understanding and connection with art.
Asymmetrical Balance
The parts of an image are organized
in a way that is visually balanced, but not
symmetrical.
RADIAL BALANCE
Elements are arranged around a central point,
radiating outwards.
EMPHASIS
When one element or area in a work stands out
more than others.
CONTRAST
The juxtaposition of different elements to create
visual interest or tension.
HARMONY
The use of similar elements or colors to create a
sense of unity in a work.
MOVEMENT
The suggestion of action or direction within a work.
RHYTHM
The repetition of elements or patterns to create a
sense of movement or visual flow.
PROPORTION
The relationship between the sizes of different
elements in a work.
VARIETY
The use of different elements or techniques to add
visual interest or diversity to a work.
The Elements of Art and Principles of Art are foundational concepts in visual art that artists use to create and organize their artwork. By understanding and applying these elements and principles, artists can create visually pleasing and engaging compositions.