Terminology

• visual arts elements


  the basic components that make up a work of art

  
• color


  an element of visual art; the visible range of reflected light; saturation, tint, value/shading.

  
• form


  an element of visual art; a three dimensional object that has height, width, and depth

  
• line


  an element of visual art; the flat path of a dot through space used by artists to control the viewer's eye movement; a thin mark made by a pencil, pen, or brush

  
• shape


  an element of visual art; a closed space made when a line connects itself

  
• space


  an element of visual art; the area above, below, around and within a work of art.

  
• texture


  an element of visual art; how something feels or appears to feel; stippling, hatching, cross-hatching, scribbling, broken lines, repeating lines, and shapes.

  
• value/shading


  an element of visual art; the lightness and darkness of a line, shape, or form

  
• visual arts principles of organization and design


  the system of organizing the elements of a work of art

  
• balance


  a principle of organization of visual arts; an arrangement of elements that makes individual parts of artwork appear equally important.

  
• contrast


  a principle of organization of visual arts; using opposite qualities side-by-side. (light against dark, heave against light, textured against smooth.)

  
• emphasis/dominance


  a principle of organization of visual arts: importance given to certain objects or areas in an artwork: color, texture, shape, space and size.

  
• harmony


  a principle of organization of visual arts; the creation of unity through the use of stressing similarities of separate, but related parts of the artwork.

  
• movement


  a principle of organization of visual arts; the use of art elements to draw a viewer's eye through an artwork.

  
• pattern


  a principle of organization of visual arts; the repetition of arts elements in an organized way

  
• proportion


  a principle of organization of visual arts; the relationship of parts to a whole or to one another referring to size and placement.

  
• repetition


  a principle of organization of visual arts;
• rhythm


  a principle of organization of visual arts; the use of repeated arts elements to create
• unity


  a principle of organization of visual arts; a successful combination of arts elements to create a sense of wholeness and visual completion in an artwork

  
• variety


  a principle of organization of visual arts: the use of arts elements to create differences in an artwork for visual interest

  
• abstract


  art based upon a recognizable object, which is then simplified to show purer and underlying shape or form

  
• focal point


  the part of an artwork that attract the eye of the viewer

  
• medium


  the material chosen by the artist to create a work of art, such as paint, pencil or clay.

  
• perspective


  a way to create the appearance of depth on a two-dimensional surface

  
• radial balance


  a type of balance in which visual arts elements come out from the center of the artwork

  
• relief


  a type of sculpture in which forms project from a flat background

  
• sketch


  a drawing without much detail, usually completed in a short amount of time; sometimes used as a rough draft for later work

  
• symmetrical balance


  having balance; exact appearance on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane