Elements of Arts and Principles of Design

Elements of Art
The Elements of Art are the “tools” that artists use to make art. There are 7 of them:
1. Line
2. Value
3. Texture
4. Shape
5. Form
6. Space
7. Color
Line
– is a mark on a surface that describes a shape or outline. It can create texture
and can be thick or thin. Line can be actual or implied, such as the horizon line
in a Landscape.
 Five basic line types – horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curved, and zig
zag
 Line quality refers to the description of a line – thick, thin, dotted,
etc.
 Horizontal Lines are generally restful, like the horizon, where the
sky meets land.
 Vertical lines seem to be reaching, so they may seem inspirational

like tall majestic trees or church steeples
 Diagonal lines tend to be disturbing. They suggest decay or chaos
like lightening or falling trees.
 Lines can convey emotion as well. They may show excitement, anger,
calmness, tension, happiness, and many other feelings. Because of
this, some are said to be expressive.
Anger Happiness
Expressive Lines tend to be found in nature and are very organic.
Other lines that are very measured, geometric, directional and angular are called
Constructive lines. They tend to appear to be man-made because of their
precision.
Shape
Shape is created when a line becomes connected and encloses space. It is the
outline or outward appearance of something. Shapes are 2 Dimensional (2-D)
which means there are 2 ways they can be measured. You can measure its
HEIGHT and its WIDTH.
There are two basic types of shape.

Geometric shapes have smooth even edges and are measurable. This include
the square, the circle, the triangle and the rectangle.
Organic shapes have more complicated edges and are usually found in nature.
Leaves, flowers, ameba, etc.
Form
–is a three-dimensional object having volume and thickness.
A Form is a shape that has become 3- Dimensional (3-D)
Form has HEIGHT, WIDTH and DEPTH--which is the 3rd
dimension.Depth shows the thickness of the object. Forms
are NOT flat like shapes are!
It is the illusion of a 3-D effect that can be implied with the

use of light and shading techniques in a 2-D work of art. Form can be viewed
from many angles.
Value
– is the degree of light and dark in a design. It
is the contrast between black and white and all
the grays between. Value applies to colors as
well, with all the tints, shades, and tones
between the primary, secondary and
intermediate colors.
In drawing value can be added several ways:
A. Cross-hatching is when you use irregular lengths of

parallel lines that cross over each other diagonally. The closer together the lines
are placed, the darker the value.
B. Stippling is the use of dots to create shade. This is

accomplished by placing dots very close together to create dark values and
farther apart to create lighter values.
C. Soft shading is when you use your pencil to

create soft gradual movements from one
value to the next using full value range.
Color
– refers to specific hues (another word for color) and
has properties of Intensity and Value. The color wheel
is a way of showing the chromatic scale in a circle
using all the colors made with the
Primary triad (red, blue, and yellow)
Secondary colors (orange, purple, and green) are

mixed from the primary colors.
Intermediate (tertiary) colors are a combination of a

primary and a secondary color (found next to each
other on the color wheel) mixed (blue-green).
When light is reflected through a prism, colors can be seen. These colors are:
Red, Yellow, Orange, Green, Indigo, Blue and Violet
Remember the anagram: ROY G BIV
Black and white can be added to produce tints (add white), shades (add black),
and tones (add gray).
Complimentary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel (yellow, purple).
Color can add interest and reality to artwork. The use of a 12-step color wheel
will help us understand color more effectively.
Texture
is the way the surface of an object actually feels.
In the artistic world, we refer to two types of texture---tactile and implied
Tactile (or Real) Texture is the way the surface of an object actually feels.
Examples would be sandpaper, cotton balls, tree bark, puppy fur, etc.
Implied Texture is the way the surface of an object looks like it feels. This is the
type of texture that artists use when they draw and paint. Textures may look
rough, fuzzy, gritty, or scruffy, but can’t actually be felt.
Space is basically divided into 3 parts: Foreground, Middle Ground and
Background
Generally, the background area is considered to be the upper 1/3 of the picture
plane. The middle ground area is considered to be the middle 1/3 of the picture
plane. The foreground area is considered to be the lower 1/3 of the picture plane.
Space can be shallow or deep depending on what the artist wants to use. Shallow
space is used when the artist has objects very close to the viewer.
Deep Space may show objects up close, but objects are
shown far away too.
Principles of Design
A principle is something that can be repeatedly and dependably combined and

used with the elements to produce some visual effect in a composition. The
principles of design are the recipe for a good work of art. The principles combine
the elements to create an aesthetic placement of things that will produce a good
design. Principles of design help artists carefully plan and organize the elements
of art so that an artwork will hold interest and command attention. This is
sometimes referred to as visual impact. Principles of design successfully “glue”
the artistic elements together.
BALANCE – a feeling of visual equality in shape, form, value, color, etc. Balance
can be symmetrical (evenly balanced) or asymmetrical and unevenly balanced.
SYMMETRICAL Balance
Achieved by placing identical objects on either side of a
central point.
 Creates a quiet, restful feeling.
 Suggests restraint, orderliness, formality.
 Also called, FORMAL balance.
ASYMMETRICAL Balance
Achieved by placing different objects of equal visual
weight on either side of a central point.
 Creates more interesting arrangements.
 Suggests informality, relaxed.
 Also referred to as INFORMAL balance.
RHYTHM – a sense of movement in which some

elements recur regularly. Like a dance, the work
will have a flow of objects (shapes), lines, or colors
that will seem organized similar to the beat and
rhythm of music.
It leads the eye from one point to another, creates
motion.
SCALE & PROPORTION

 Scale relates to the size of a design in relation to the height and width of the
area in which it is placed.
 Proportion relates to the parts of the object and how one part relates to
another.
Scale
Relates to the actual and relative size and visual weight of
the design and its components.
 Furniture and accessories must be in scale to the
room
Proportion
The Golden Mean – the division of a line or form so that the
smaller portion has the same ratio to the larger as the larger has to the whole.
 Effective Ratios are 2:3, 3:5, 5:8, 4:7, etc.
 Square is the least pleasing shape.
 Rectangles are more pleasing, especially with a ratio of 2:3.
The creative use of color, texture, pattern, and furniture arrangement can create
illusions of properly proportioned space.
CENTER OF INTEREST/EMPHASIS
This refers to the area that first attracts attention in
a composition. When there is a feature that
commands attention and makes a design visually
interesting. This area is more important when
compared to the other objects or elements in an
artwork. Emphasis can be created by placement in
the format, contrast of values or more colors.
Ways to create emphasis:

 Arrangement of furniture around a focal point.
 Use of color, texture, or pattern.
 Placement of accessories.
 Use of lighting.
The point of emphasis should command attention, but not dominate the overall
design.
Other features within the room should not compete for the emphasis.
HARMONY/UNITY/VARIETY
A composition brought together with similar units or elements. If an artwork
were begun using wavy lines and organic shapes, it would need to be finished
with the same types of line and shapes. A single geometric shape or a single
straight line would disrupt the harmony and unity. Using the combination of
wavy lines as well as organic shapes creates variety in the composition.
There are 2 types of harmony.
 Unity
 Variety
Unity occurs when all the parts of a home or room are
related by one idea. A unified design has consistency
of style
Variety- when two or more different

elements of design are used to add interest
to a design. Variety can be achieved by
combining different styles and materials, if
they are compatible.
Harmony is achieved when unity and variety

are effectively combined.
 Carrying variety too far creates confusion.
 A lack of unity may make a small home
seem even smaller.

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Elements of Art

 Vertical lines seem to be reaching, so they may seem inspirational

Expressive Lines tend to be found in nature and are very organic.

There are two basic types of shape.

It is the illusion of a 3-D effect that can be implied with the

In drawing value can be added several ways:

A. Cross-hatching is when you use irregular lengths of

B. Stippling is the use of dots to create shade. This is

C. Soft shading is when you use your pencil to

Secondary colors (orange, purple, and green) are

Intermediate (tertiary) colors are a combination of a

Remember the anagram: ROY G BIV

A principle is something that can be repeatedly and dependably combined and

RHYTHM – a sense of movement in which some

SCALE & PROPORTION

Ways to create emphasis:

Variety- when two or more different

Harmony is achieved when unity and variety

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