Elements of Art & Principles of Design

1. Elements of Art & Principles of Design Girard Middle School Ms. V. Smith

3. Line An element of art that refers to the continuous mark made on some surface by a moving point (pen, pencil, etc.).

4. Shape An element of art referring to a two-dimensional area clearly set off by one or more of the other visual elements such as color, value, line, texture, and space.

5. Color An element of art made up of three distinct qualities: hue, the color name, e.g., red, yellow, blue; intensity, the purity and brightness of a color e.g., bright red or dull red; and value, the lightness or darkness of a color.

6. Value An element of art that describes the lightness or darkness of a hue.

7. Form An element of art, it describes an object with three-dimensions.

8. Texture The element of art that refers to the way things feel, or look as if they might feel if touched.

9. Space An element of art referring to the distance or area between, around, above, below, or within things.

11. Balance A principle of design, it refers to a way of combining art elements to create a feeling of equilibrium or stability in a work.

12. Contrast Closely related to emphasis, a principle of design, this term refers to a way of combining art elements to stress the differences between those elements.

13. Emphasis A principle of design, it refers to a way of combining elements to stress the differences between those elements.

14. Movement A principle of design used to create the look and feeling of action and to guide the viewer’s eye throughout the work of art.

15. Pattern A principle of design which serves to decorate surfaces with planned repeated units.

16. Rhythm A principle of design, it refers to the careful placement of repeated elements in a work of art to cause a visual tempo or beat.

17. Unity The look and feel of wholeness or oneness in a work of art.