Art Elements

A continuous mark made from a pointed tool or brush. Line

Shape When a line is connected it becomes a _______; this is 2- dimensional.

Form 3 dimensional object. Can be actual or illusional.

Color What the eye sees when light is absorbed and reflected from an object.

Value Lights and Darks of Colors and Neutrals. Helps us to see volume.

Texture The tactile experience of a work of art. Can be actual or simulated.

Space The area around the objects in a work of art. Can be real or simulated.

Art Principles

the arrangement of elements to create equal visual weight. Balance

leads the viewer to sense action in a work, or it can be the path the viewer’s eye follows through the work. Movement

The repetition of visual movement – colors, shapes, or lines; the path the viewer’s eye follows as you “bounce” or “glide” from one similar shape to the next. Rhythm

a way of combining elements to stress the difference between them. Contrast

making an element or an object in a work stand out; drawing the viewer’s attention to an important part of a work. Emphasis

a two-dimensional, decorative visual repetition Pattern

to achieve a sense of order and completeness in a composition; when all elements work together and are not competing against each other. Unity