Art Production

The Elements of Art



LINE: A line is the path of a moving point, a mark made by a tool or instrument as it is drawn across a surface.



SHAPE: A shape is a two-dimensional area that is defined in some way, perhaps with an outline or solid area of color. Shapes may also be implied.



FORM: Forms are objects that have three dimensions: length, width, and depth.

SPACE: Shapes and forms exist in space. On a flat surface, artists can employ various means to imply the illusion of three-dimensional space, such as modeling to show volume, objects diminishing in size as they move to the background, overlapping, showing more detail and brighter colors in the foreground with duller colors and less detail in the distance.



TEXTURE: Texture refers to the way things feel or how they look as if they would feel if you could touch the surface.



COLOR: Color is produced by light waves reflected from objects to our eyes. Color is possibly the most expressive element of art, but the most difficult to describe. Colors appeal directly to our emotions and can stand for ideas and feelings.



VALUE: The term value refers to relative lightness or darkness, whether in color or in black and white.

The Principles of Design



RHYTHM AND MOVEMENT: The term rhythm as a principle of design indicates the repetition of visual elements, such as shapes, lines, or spaces. Visual rhythm creates the sensation of movement as the viewer's eyes follow the "beats" through a work of art.



BALANCE OR SYMMETRY: Balance is the principle of design concerned with equalizing visual forces, or elements, in a work of art. Visual balance causes you to feel that the elements have been arranged appropriately.

PROPORTION: Proportion is the principle concerned with the size relationship of one part to another.



VARIETY: Variety is concerned with difference. Too much sameness might be dull. Artists add variety to their work to make it more interesting.



EMPHASIS: This principle makes one part of a work dominant over the other parts. An artist uses emphasis to focus the viewer's attention on the most important areas of a work of art.

UNITY: Unity allows the viewer to see a complex combination as a complete whole. If all of the parts are joined together in such a way that they appear to belong to a whole, the work of art will be unified.