The Elements and Principles of Art
The Elements of Art- components
that make up an artwork. They are......
Line
 Shape
 Form
 Value
 Texture
 Color
 Space


Line can be considered in two ways. The linear
marks made with a variety of mediums or the edge
created when two shapes meet.
Elizabeth Catleet, Sharecropper.
1970
Gerorges Braque, Violin and
Candlestick, Paris, 1910
Shape-A shape is a self contained two-dimensional
area that is defined. Shapes are either geometric or
organic. A positive shape in a painting automatically
creates a negative shape.
Henri Matisse,
L’escargot,1953
Joan Miro, Harlequin’s Carnival, 1925
Form- Objects having three dimensions. Forms
are either geometric or organic.
David Smith, Cubi IX, 1964
Georgia O'Keefe, Jack-in-the –pulpit No. 5
Value- the darkness and lightness of a color.
Rembrandt,
The Night
Watch, 1642
Man Ray, Tears
Texture-
how things feel or look as if they might
feel if they were touched. Texture is perceived by
touch and sight.
Georges Seurat, A
Sunday in la
Grande Jatte, 1884
Jean Arp
Color-
Derived from reflected light
Henri Matisse, The Joy of Life
Marques Vickers
Space-The emptiness or area between, around,
above, below, or within objects. Positive space is
the object and negative space is around the object
Keith Haring
The Principles of Art-How artists organize
the elements of art.
Balance
 Variety
 Rhythm
 Emphasis
 Unity
 Proportion

Balance-equalizing visual forces, or elements, in a
work of art. If a work has visual balance, the viewer feels
that the elements have been arranged in a satisfying way.

Symmetrical (formal balance)- to halves of a balanced
composition are identical, mirror images of each other.

Asymmetrical (informal balance)- unlike objects have
equal visual weight or eye attraction.

Radial Balance-Type of balance which forces or elements
of design come out (radiate) from a central point.
Symmetrical Balance
Egyptian Antique
Diego Rivera, Flower Day,
1925
Asymmetrical Balance
Frida Kahlo, Frida and Diego
Rivera, 1931
Bernini, David, 1623
Radial Balance
MC Escher
Variety-a principle of art that is concerned with
contrast or difference.
Robert Rauschenberg, Trophy II,
1960
Edward Weston, Pepper
no. 30, 1930
Frank Stella
Rhythm-indicates movement by the repetition of elements.
Visual rhythm is perceived through the eyes and is created by
repeating positive spaces separated by negative spaces.

There are five types of rhythm: random, regular, alternating,
flowing, and progressive.
Regular- identical motifs
& equal space
Flowing-created by repeating
wavy lines.
Progressive-a
change in the
motif each time
the motif is
repeated.
Alternating-changing
spaces or position of the
motif
Random- same motif but in no
apparent order
Emphasis-principle of design that makes one part of a
work dominant over the other parts. The element that is noticed first
is called the dominant the elements notices later are called
subordinate.
Roy Lichtenstein
Seymour Lipton
Unity-The quality of wholeness or oneness that achieved
through the effective use of the elements and principles of art. Unity is
created by simplicity, repetition, proximity, and continuation.
Degas
Louise Nevelson, Sky
Cathedral, 1958
Proportion-Principle of art concerned with size
relationships of one part to another.
Albrecht Durer, Virgin and Child
with Saint Anne, 1519
Claes Oldenburg and Coosje
van Bruggen, Spoonbridge and
Cherry, 1985-88