Elements and Principles

• Line• Color• Texture• Value• Shape• Form• Space

• Balance• Movement• Emphasis• Pattern (repetition)• Unity (compare)• Variety (contrast)• Proportion• Rhythm

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Elements• Line

• Color

• Texture

• Value

• Shape

• Form

• Space2

LineI. a continuous mark, made on a surface, or in

space, by a moving point

A. Actual - Fully drawn lines or Implied - Lines that are ‘hinted’ at B. Directional

Vertical – Up and down Horizontal – Side to side, like the horizon

Diagonal – Any line that is not vertical or horizontal. C. Descriptive

Adjectives and Adverbs

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ColorII. produced when light, striking an object, is

reflected back to the eye.

A. Hue - the name we give to a color (red, yellow, etc.).

B. Intensity - the strength and vividness of the color. Describe the color blue as (bright, rich, vibrant) or "dull" (grayed).

C. Value4

TextureA. Actual - the way something actually feels when touched

B. Implied/Visual - the visual "feel" of something. The way something appears to feel.

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ValueIV. A colors lightness or darkness. The terms

shade and tint are in reference to value changes in colors

A. Tint - when white is added to a pure hue

B. Shade - when black is added to a pure hue

C. Tone – when white AND black are added to a color

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ShapeA. Organic – An irregular 2D enclosed area, like that which might be found in nature.

B. Geometric – 2D enclosed area created by exact mathematical law.

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FormA. Organic – An irregular 3D enclosed area, like that which might be found in nature.

B. Geometric – 3D enclosed area created by exact mathematical law.

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SpaceA. Actual – the real distance between or around areas or components within of a piece.B. Implied/illusionary - the appearance of space or depth within a work of art.

C. Positive – Solid areas or objectsD. Negative – ‘air’ around solid objects, space where other things are not present

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Principles• Balance• Movement• Emphasis• Pattern (repetition)• Unity (compare)• Variety (contrast)• Proportion• Rhythm

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Balance• the ways in which the elements (lines, shapes,

etc.) of a piece are arranged

• Symmetrical - elements are given equal "weight" from an imaginary line in the middle of a piece.

• Near symmetry- same weight…not the same stuff. • Asymmetrical - occurs when elements are placed

unevenly in a piece, but work together to produce harmony overall.

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Movement• a visual flow through the composition as

you move from object to object by way of placement and position

• Actual – an object that has true motion.

• Implied - the suggestion of motion in a design.

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Emphasis• The area of a piece that is given

dominance by the artist. In other words, the artist makes part of the work stand out, in order to draw the viewer's eye there first

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Pattern(Repetition)• the repetition of an element (or elements)

in a work

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Unity(Compare)• How an artwork or elements in an artwork

are alike and appear to ‘go together’.

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Variety(Contrast)• How things are different. This creates

visual interest.

High contrast= VERY different

Low contrast= a little different

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Proportion• The size, color.... Ratio, of something

compared to other similar things in a work of art.

Ex. The trees were out of proportion because they

were the same size as the people in the painting.

Ex. The toothbrush was in proportion because it appeared to be as long as two fingers.

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Rhythm• Rhythm, in art, is a visual beat.

- example, Lines can produce rhythm by implying movement.

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