what will you learn?
The elements and principles of design are the building blocks used to create a work of art.
Elements of Art are the visual "tools" that artists use to create an art work - they are what makes up an image or an art object: line, shape/form, value, color, space, and texture.
Principles of Design are the ways artists use the Elements of Art in an artwork - this is "what we do with the Elements" - how we arrange them, how we balance them, what is being emphasized, etc. The principles are: balance, contrast, repetition, emphasis, and unity.
elements of art
Elements of Art are the visual "tools" that artists use to create an art work
Artists manipulate these elements, mix them in with principles of design and compose a piece of art. Not every work has every last one of these elements contained within it, but there are always at least two present.
For example, a sculptor, by default, has to have both form and space in a sculpture, because these elements are three-dimensional. They can also be made to appear in two-dimensional works through the use of perspective and shading.
There are six Elements of Art:
- Line
- Shape / Form
- Value
- Color
- Space
- Texture
line
shape
value
color
space
texture
principles of design
Principles of Design are the ways artists use and arrange the Elements of Art in a composition.
The Principles of design is what we do to the elements of art. How we apply the Principles of design determines how successful we are in creating a work of art.
balance
contrast
repetition
emphasis
unity
