Fundamental Principles and Elements of Visual Art

Principles of Art

The principles of art are the means an artist uses to organize elements within a work. These include: balance, emphasis, movement, proportion, rhythm, unity, and variety.

Rhythm

A principle of design that indicates movement, created by the careful placement of repeated elements in a work of art to cause a visual tempo or beat.

Balance

A way of combining elements to add a feeling of equilibrium or stability to a work of art. Major types are symmetrical and asymmetrical.

Emphasis (Contrast)

A way of combining elements to stress the differences between those elements.

Proportion

A principle of design that refers to the relationship of certain elements to the whole and to each other.

Gradation

A way of combining elements by using a series of gradual changes in those elements (e.g., large shapes to small shapes, dark hue to light hue).

Harmony

A way of combining similar elements in an artwork to accent their similarities (achieved through use of repetitions and subtle gradual changes).

Variety

A principle of design concerned with diversity or contrast. Variety is achieved by using different shapes, sizes, and/or colors in a work of art.

Movement

A principle of design used to create the look and feeling of action and to guide the viewer's eye throughout the work of art.

Elements of Art

The visual components of art include: color, form, line, shape, space, texture, and value.

Line

An element of art defined by a point moving in space. Line may be two- or three-dimensional, descriptive, implied, or abstract.

Shape

An element of art that is two-dimensional, flat, or limited to height and width.

Form

An element of art that is three-dimensional and encloses volume; includes height, width, and depth (as in a cube, a sphere, a pyramid, or a cylinder). Form may also be free-flowing.

Value

The lightness or darkness of tones or colors. White is the lightest value; black is the darkest. The value halfway between these extremes is called middle gray.

Space

An element of art by which positive and negative areas are defined or a sense of depth is achieved in a work of art.

Color

An element of art made up of three properties:

• Hue: Name of color.
• Value: Hue's lightness and darkness (a color's value changes when white or black is added).
• Intensity: Quality of brightness and purity (high intensity = color is strong and bright; low intensity = color is faint and dull).

Texture

An element of art that refers to the way things feel, or look as if they might feel if touched.