Art I
Elements of Art
and
principles of Design
7 Elements of
Art
7 principles of
Design
Line
Shape
Form
Color
Value
Texture
Space
Balance
Movement
Rhythm
Contrast
Emphasis
Pattern
Unity
The Elements of Art
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Line
Shape
Form
Color
Value
Texture
Space
The Elements of Art: LINE
…a dot that moves… defines space, contours and
outlines, or suggests mass and volume.
Vincent van Gogh - Cottage Garden 1888
Dominance Portfolio, Blue - Bridget Riley 1977
Straight, curved, vertical, horizontal, jagged, dotted
The Elements of Art: SHAPE
An enclosed space defined by other art elements such as line,
color and texture.
MC Escher – Dogs 1938
MC Escher – Cycle 1938
Henri Matisse - Icarus 1947
May be geometric or organic
The Elements of Art: FORM
Appears 3-dimensional and encloses volume such as a cube,
sphere, pyramid or cylinder.
Also refers to the characteristics of an artwork’s visual elements as
distinguished from its subject matter.
Anish Kapoor – Cloud Gate 2004
Alexander Calder – Mobile at the Seagram Building
Organic Form
Geometric Forms
The Elements of Art: COLOR
Has three properties: Hue, Value, Intensity
Complimentary, Warm, Cool
Vincent Van Gogh – Cafe Terrace on the Place du Forum 1888
Vincent Van Gogh – Night Café 1888
Complimentary colors accentuate each other
The Elements of Art: VALUE
Refers to the light and dark areas of an art work –
CHIRASCURO or contrast
Leonardo Da Vinci– Study of Arms and Hands 1474
El Greco – Allegory, Boy lighting candle in the
company of an ape and a fool 1598-92
The Elements of Art: Texture
The surface quality of an artwork usually perceived
through the sense of touch. Texture may also be
implied.
Michelangelo – Pietà 1499
Vincent Van Gogh – Sunflowers 1887
The Elements of Art: SPACE
The distance around, between, above, below, and within
an object. Negative Space or Positive Space
Frank Lloyd Wright – Fallingwater 1936-39
Richard Estes – Chipp’s 1976
The Principles of Design
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Balance
Movement
Rhythm
Contrast
Emphasis
Repetition/
Pattern
• Unity
The Principles of Design: BALANCE
Equal distribution of VISUAL weight on either side of a
composition’s center
Used to create a sense of stability - can be asymmetrical
or symmetrical or radial
Salvador Dali – Lips Sofa 1937
Winslow Homer– On the Trail 1892
The Principles of Design: MOVEMENT
Combines elements in an art work to create the illusion
of action.
Edvard Munch – The Scream 1893
Fang Ligun – Untitled
The Principles of Design: RHYTHM
Repeats elements in an art work to create a visual tempo.
Victor Vasarely – Vega-Nor 1969
Rene Magritte – Golconde 1953
The Principles of Design: CONTRAST
Combining elements to point out their differences
Edgar Degas – Little Dancer Aged Fourteen 1878-81
Marisol Escobar – Self Portrait looking at
the last supper 1982-84
The Principles of Design: EMPHASIS
A focal point or center of interest.
Georgia O’Keefe – Cow’s Skull: Red, White, and Blue
Edward Hopper – Nighthawks 1942
The Principles of Design: REPETITION
Repetition of elements or combinations of elements in a
recognizable organization.
Andy Warhol – 100 cans
Wassily Kandinsky – Color Study of Squares
The Principles of Design: UNITY
Total visual effect achieved by blending the elements of
art and principles of design.
Sam Gilliam – Untitled 1971
Claude Monet – Water Lilies 1919