1. ELEMENTS & PRINCIPLES GUIDE SHEET
These 7 Elements & 6 Principles are the formal properties of art and the vocabulary we use to discuss art. Not all art contains all 13 of these characteristics. They are the rules. Once you learn them, it’s fun to learn how to break them!

2. Elements of Art (7): Basic parts that are put together to compose an artwork

3. Reds: love, anger Yellows: happy, joy sad, calm
1. Color is light reflected off objects. Color has three main characteristics: hue or its name (red, green, blue, etc.), value (how light or dark it is), and intensity (how bright or dull it is). There are several color schemes including primary, secondary, tertiary, monochromatic, analogous, complementary, split-complimentary, and neutral.
Color relates to different emotions.
Reds:
love, anger
Yellows:
happy, joy
Blues:
sad, calm

4. Color Schemes can help in creating cohesive works of art.
If you use a color scheme, just pick one.
Primary:
RED
BLUE
YELLOW
Secondary: Mix Primary + Primary
GREEN
(BLUE + YELLOW)
ORANGE
(RED + YELLOW)
VIOLET
(BLUE + RED)
Tertiary: Mix Primary + Secondary (primary color name first)
RED-VIOLET
RED-ORANGE
BLUE-GREEN
BLUE-VIOLET
YELLOW-GREEN
YELLOW-ORANGE

5. Monochromatic: Complimentary: Analogous: Warm: Cool: Neutrals:
Any 1 color + its tints, shades, & tones
Complimentary:
Opposites on color wheel
Analogous:
Any 3 or more colors touching on color wheel
Warm:
Reds
Yellows
Oranges
Cool:
Violets
Blues
Greens
Neutrals:
Browns
Tans
Grays

6. All colors can be mixed with white, black or gray to create variations of values of the colors.
Tint:
Any color plus white >>>>>>>>
Shade:
Any color plus black >>>>>>>>>
Tone:
Any color plus gray, white, & black

7. Label the color wheel on the outside of the circles.
Color using only red, blue & yellow colored pencil.
YES, you will have to mix & blend!

8. 2. Value is the relative lightness or darkness of tones or colors
2. Value is the relative lightness or darkness of tones or colors. Value is used to show form (make things look 3-D), texture, contrast, etc.
Complete this value scale by shading with a pencil. Each box should be shaded individually.
Complete this value scale using hatching. Each box should be hatched individually.
Complete this value scale using cross hatching. Each box should be cross-hatched individually.
Complete this value scale using stippling. Each box should be stippled individually.

9. List colors with light values:
yellow, yellow-orange, orange, yellow-green
tints of colors: pink, baby blue, seafoam green, lilac
List colors with medium values:
red, red-orange, blue, blue-green, green
tones of colors: olive green, periwinkle, cinnamon
List colors with dark values:
blue-violet, violet, red-violet
shades of colors: maroon, midnight blue, emerald green
What is the general mood or feeling of an image with mostly dark values?
scary, mysterious, ominous
What is the general mood or feeling of an image with mostly light values?
lively, happy, calm, peaceful

10. Define and give examples of each of the following types of line:
3. Line is a mark with greater length than width. Lines can be horizontal, vertical or diagonal, straight or curved, thick or thin, real or implied (think “dotted line” or “sight line”).
Define and give examples of each of the following types of line:
Implied line:
suggested
understood
“eye” sight line
Examples:
The Boating Party by Mary Cassatt
is a good example of eye “sight” line.
Directional line:  
directs viewer around the composition
HORIZONTAL
VERTICAL
DIAGONAL
“S” CURVE
Emotional line:  
conveys feeling
ANGRY
CALM

11. 4. Shape is a closed line. Shapes can be geometric, like squares and circles; or organic, like free formed shapes or natural shapes. Shapes are flat and can express length and width.
Draw 4 examples of GEOMETRIC shapes
in this box:
Draw 4 examples of ORGANIC shapes
in this box:

12. Turn each shape into a form.
5. Forms are three-dimensional shapes, expressing length, width, and depth. Balls, cylinders, boxes and triangles are forms. Form can be implied, like in a painting, or real, like a sculpture.
Turn each shape into a form.

13. 6. Space is the area between and around objects
6. Space is the area between and around objects. The space around objects is often called negative space; negative space has shape. Positive space is the objects themselves. Space can also refer to the feeling of depth. Real space is three-dimensional; in visual art when we can create the feeling or illusion of depth we call it space. Foreground, middle ground, and background also describe space.
Label the positive space and negative space.
negative space
positive space
Label the foreground, middle ground, & background
background
middle ground
foreground 
HINT: Overlapping is the key to creating the illusion of space!!!!

14. 7. Texture is the surface quality that can be seen and felt
7. Texture is the surface quality that can be seen and felt. Textures can be rough or smooth, soft or hard. Textures do not always feel the way they look; for example, a drawing of a porcupine may look prickly, but if you touch the drawing, the paper is still smooth. Texture, like line and form, can be either real or implied.
Draw 3 examples of texture. Label them under each box.
scales
furry
your choice

15. Principles of Design (7):
How the elements are put together in a work of art

16. Visually balanced, not the same Symmetric:
1. Balance is the distribution of the visual weight of objects, colors, texture, and space. If the design was a scale these elements should be balanced to make a design feel stable. In symmetrical balance, the elements used on one side of the design are the mirror image of those on the other side; in asymmetrical balance, the sides are different but still look balanced. In radial balance, the elements are arranged around a central point and may be similar.
Asymmetric:
Visually balanced, not the same
Symmetric:
Mirror image, same on both sides
Radial:
Same all the way around from a central point
Label each type.
  symmetrical   
radial
asymmetrical

17. 2. Emphasis is the part of the design that catches the viewer’s attention. Usually the artist will make one area stand out by contrasting it with other areas. Often, the artist leads you to the center of interest using the Elements. The area will be different in size, color, texture, shape, etc. Emphasis is also called “Center of Interest” or “Focal Point.”
Where is the emphasis in this image? What elements tell you that?  
The emphasis is here
Elements that are in this artwork are directional lines, organic shapes, variety, and repetition that help convey emphasis

18. 3. Rhythm is created when one or more elements of design are used repeatedly to create a feeling of organized movement. Variety is essential to keep rhythm exciting and active, and moving the viewer around the artwork. Rhythm creates a mood like music or dancing. Pattern can sometimes be used to create rhythm.
Create a pattern showing rhythm.

19. 4. Variety is the use of several elements of design to hold the viewer’s attention and to guide the viewer’s eye through the artwork. Different sizes, colors, shapes, etc… provide variety.
What gives this M.C. Escher image variety?
Different sizes of sphere also show variety
Similar spiral ribbons have different imagery

20. What gives this M.C. Escher image unity?
5. Unity is the feeling of harmony between all parts of the artwork creating a sense of completeness.
What gives this M.C. Escher image unity?
The repetition of the circular shapes and curvy lines serve to unify a piece of work.

21. 6. Contrast is a great difference between two things:
black & white, life & death, red & green, big & small, etc.
Draw a doodle using geometric and organic shapes showing contrast.

22. 7. Movement is the path the viewer’s eye takes through the artwork, often to focal areas. Such movement can be directed along lines edges, shape and color within the artwork.
Use a highlighter, marker or colored pencil to trace the path of the viewer’s eye around this image of The Scream, by Edvard Munch.

23. **MEDIA (P) OR MEDIUM (S): The correct term used to talk about art supplies used
in making an artwork.
Make a list of as many types of media as possible.
dry media:
Pencil
Pen
Sharpie
eraser
Crayons
Color markers
Graphite
Charcoal
Colored pencils
Oil pastels
Chalk pastels
Found objects
wet media:
Tempera paint
Acrylic paint
Oil paint
Watercolor
Ink
Glue