ELEMENTS OF ART Principles of Art

The elements and principles of art and design are

the foundation of the language we use to talk
about art. The elements of art are the visual tools
that the artist uses to create a composition.
These are line, shape, color, value, form, texture,
and space.

The principles of art represent how the artist

uses the elements of art to create an effect and
to help convey the artist's intent. The principles
of art and design are balance, contrast,
emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, and
unity/variety. The use of these principles can help
The artist decides what principles of art
he or she wants to use in a painting.
While an artist might not use all the
principles of design in one piece, the
principles are intertwined and the use
of one will often depend on another. For
example, when creating emphasis, the
artist might also be using contrast or
vice versa. It is generally agreed that a
successful painting is unified, while also
having some variety created by areas of
contrast and emphasis; is visually
The 7 principles of art
Balance refers to the visual weight of the elements of the
composition. It is a sense that the painting feels stable
and "feels right." Imbalance causes a feeling of
discomfort in the viewer.

Balance can be achieved in 3 different ways:

Symmetry, in which both sides of a composition have the

same elements in the same position, as in a mirror-image,
or the two sides of a face.
Asymmetry, in which the composition is balanced due to
the contrast of any of the elements of art. For example, a
large circle on one side of a composition might be
balanced by a small square on the other side
Contrast is the difference of elements of
art in composition such that each
element is made stronger in relation to
the other. When placed next to each
other, contrasting elements command
the viewer's attention. Areas of contrast
are among the first places that a
viewer's eye is drawn. Contrast can be
achieved by juxtapositions of any of the
elements of art. Negative/Positive space
is an example of contrast.
Complementary colours placed side by
Emphasis is when the artist creates an
area of the composition that is visually
dominant and commands the viewer's
attention. This is often achieved by
contrast.

Movement is the result of using the

elements of art such that they move the
viewer's eye around and within the
image. A sense of movement can be
created by diagonal or curvy lines,
Pattern is the uniform repetition of any of
the elements of art or any combination
thereof. Anything can be turned into a
pattern through repetition. Some classic
patterns are spirals, grids, weaves. For
examples of different pattern types see
the Artlandia Glossary of Pattern Design. A
popular drawing practice is *Zentangles, in
which an abstract or representational
outline is divided into different areas, each
of which contains a unique pattern. (*
creating patterns, dots, lines, orbs etc.)
Rhythm is created by movement implied
through the repetition of elements of art in
a non-uniform but organized way. It is
related to rhythm in music. Unlike pattern,
which demands consistency, rhythm relies
on variety.

Unity/Variety You want your painting to feel

unified such that all the elements fit
together comfortably. Too much unity
creates monotony, too much variety creates
What are the elements and principles of
art?
The elements of art are color, form, line,
shape, space, and texture.

The principles of art are scale, proportion,

unity, variety, rhythm, mass, shape, space,
balance, volume, perspective, and depth.

Use the elements of art and design – line,

shape/form, space, value, color, and texture
ELEMENTS OF ART:
Line
Shape
Form
Value
Space
Colour
Texture
Saturation
Line
A moving point in space defines an art element. Lines might be
two-dimensional or three-dimensional, descriptive, oblique, or
abstract. In art, a line is essentially a dot or a succession of dots.

A line is formed by the dots, and it can vary in thickness, color,

and shape. Unless the artist adds volume or mass to a line, it is a
two-dimensional shape.

When an artist employs several lines, the result is a drawing that

is more identifiable than a line that creates a form that resembles
the shape's outside.

Lines can also be inferred, such as when a hand points up and the
viewer's eyes follow it upwards without even seeing a true line.
Shape
A two-dimensional, flat, or height-and-width-
limited piece of artwork. Space refers to the
region surrounding the art piece's main point and
can be positive or negative, shallow or deep, open
or closed.

Space refers to the area surrounding an art form;

in the case of a structure, it refers to the area
behind, over, inside, or adjacent to it.

The shape of a structure or other work of art is

determined by the area surrounding it. The
Form
A three-dimensional element of art that encloses
volume and encompasses height, breadth, and
depth (as in a cube, sphere, pyramid, or cylinder).

The free-flowing form is another option. Whether it's

the restrictions of a line in a painting or the edge of
a sculpture, the form provides structure to a work of
art.

It can be two-dimensional, three-dimensional with

height and weight restrictions, or free-flowing. In a
piece of work, the form also expresses all of the
Value
Tones or colours' brightness or blackness. The lightest value is white,
while the darkest value is black. Middle grey is the value that is halfway
between these two extremes.

Space
A technique for defining positive and negative areas in a work of art or
creating a sense of depth. Space refers to the region surrounding the art
piece's main point and can be positive or negative, shallow or deep, open
or closed.

Space refers to the area surrounding an art form; in the case of a

structure, it refers to the area behind, over, inside, or adjacent to it.

The shape of a structure or other work of art is determined by the area

surrounding it. The children are dispersed around the image, providing
space between them and giving each figure its own identity.
Colour
Colour is a three-dimensional art element
with three properties: hue, value, and
intensity. Hue, value, and saturation are all
qualities of color. Red, yellow, and blue are
primary hues as well as primary colours.

When two primary colours are combined,

secondary hues, also known as secondary
colours, resulting in orange, violet, and
green.
Texture
An aspect of art that refers to how things feel, or
appear to feel, when handled. To the touch, the
texture might be rough or smooth, simulating a
specific feel or feeling.

The texture of a surface also determines how your

eye perceives it, whether it is flat with little
roughness or has changed on the surface, simulating
rock, wood, stone, or fabric.

With great brushwork and layers of paint, artists gave

texture to buildings, landscapes, and portraits,
creating the illusion of reality.
Saturation
The degree to which a colour is
saturated, and when a colour is fully
saturated, it is in its purest form or
most true version.

The three fully saturated hues are

the primary colours in their purest
form. When white or black is
introduced, the colour becomes
PRINCIPLES OF ART:
Rhythm
Balance
Emphasis
Proportion
Gradation
Harmony
Variety
Movement
Rhythm
A design technique that creates a visual tempo or
rhythm by carefully placing repeated motifs in a
work of art.

In art, rhythm refers to a sort of repetition that is

employed to show movement or expanse.

In a painting of waves smashing, for example, the

spectator will notice movement as the wave
concludes. Brushwork that is aggressive and
directed can help provide movement to a
painting.
Balance
A method of blending materials to give a work of art a
sense of balance or stability. Asymmetrical and
symmetrical are the two main types.

Emphasis (contrast)
A method of combining items to emphasize the
distinctions between them. Colour, unity, balance, or any
other principle or aspect of art utilized to establish a
focal point can all be employed to create emphasis.

Artists will utilize accent techniques such as placing a

gold ribbon in a dark purple field. The gold text stands
Gradation
A technique for merging materials that
involves a sequence of progressive
adjustments in the elements. (big
shapes to little ones, dark to light hues,
and so on.)

Harmony
A technique for merging similar parts in
an artwork to emphasize their similarity
Variety
A design principle focused on contrast
or diversity. In a work of art, variety is
accomplished by using varied shapes,
sizes, and/or colours.

Movement
A design approach that is utilized to
generate the appearance and sense of
activity while also guiding the viewer's
eye around the piece of art.
Proportion
The relationship of particular elements to the whole and
each other is referred to as a design principle. The
relationship between items in a painting, such as the sky
and mountains, is called proportion.

It seems out of proportion if the sky takes up more than

two-thirds of the artwork. In art, scale is akin to
proportion, and when something is not to scale, it can
appear strange. It will appear out of scale if there is a
person in the photo with hands that are too huge for
their body.

Artists can also employ scale and proportion to their

advantage by exaggerating persons or scenery.