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• Line


  An element of art that is used to define shape, contours, and outlines, also to suggest mass and volume. It may be a continuous mark made on a surface with a pointed tool or implied by the edges of shapes and forms.
• Characteristics of line


  • Form - curved, dotted, or broken lines
  • Direction - vertical, horizontal, or diagonal lines
• Horizontal line


  Creates an impression of serenity and perfect stability
• Vertical line


  Creates an impression of strength and perfect stability
• Diagonal line


  Creates an impression of action
• Curved line


  Creates an impression of gradual change of direction
• Circular line


  Creates an impression of abrupt change of direction
• Types of lines


  • Outlines - made by the edge of an object or its silhouette
  • Contour lines - describe the shape of an object and the interior detail
  • Expressive lines - catch the movement and gestures of an active figure
  • Sketch lines - capture the appearance of an object or impression of a place
  • Calligraphic lines - the elegant handwriting or lettering done by hand
  • Implied lines - lines that are not actually drawn but created by a group of objects seen from a distance
• Shape


  An area that is enclosed by a line or lines. Shapes are two dimensional figures with height and width.
• Types of shapes


  • Geometric shapes - circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, and other geometric shapes
  • Organic shapes - shapes found in nature and are free flowing, informal and irregular (abstract shapes)
  • Positive shapes - the solid forms in a design
  • Negative shapes - the space around the positive shape
  • Static shapes - shapes that appears stable and resting
  • Dynamic shapes - shapes that appears moving and active
• Color


  The way we see light reflected from a surface or refracted through a prism. Colors we see in nature are reflections of light on the surfaces around us.
• Types of colors


  • Primary colors - red, blue, and yellow
  • Secondary colors - purple, green, and orange
  • Tertiary colors - amber, vermilion, magenta, violet, teal, and chartreuse
  • Analogous colors - colors that lie next to each other based on the color wheel
  • Complementary colors - colors that are opposite to each other based on the color wheel
  • Monochromatic colors - several values of one color
  • Warm colors - yellow, amber, orange, vermilion, red, and magenta
  • Cool colors - purple, violet, blue, teal, green, and chartreuse
• Space


  Distances or areas around, between or within components of a piece and refers to the arrangement of objects on the picture plane (two-dimensional).
• Types of space


  • Positive space - the part which is enclosed in a shape
  • Negative space - the opposite part which the shape is enclosing
• Perspectives


  • One-point perspective - the position of objects meets at one point on the horizontal line
  • Two-point perspective - the position of objects meets at two points on the horizontal line
• Texture


  The element that appeals to our sense of feel on things rough or smooth, bumpy or slippery. It is the character of the surface of an artwork.
• Types of texture


  • Real texture - the actual texture of an object
  • Implied texture - made a piece of art to look like a certain texture
• Value


  The lightness or darkness of a color in a given artwork.
• Types of value


  • Tint - the lightness of a color
  • Shade - the darkness of a color
• Form


  The three-dimensionality of an object. It has dimensions of height, width, and length.
• The elements of art are the visual tools that the artist uses to create a composition. Principles of art represent how the artist uses elements of art to create an effect and convey the artist's intent.
• Rhythm


  The repetition of certain elements to produce a pattern.
• Movement


  The illusion of motion in a painting, sculpture, or design.
• Balance


  The visual weight in a picture. It refers to the even distribution of positions of elements in an artwork.
• Types of balance


  • Symmetrical balance - an artwork wherein its both sides has the same elements in the same position
  • Asymmetrical balance - an artwork wherein it is balance through the contrast or differences of any of the elements of art
• Proportion


  The relationships of the size of objects in a body of work.
• Contrast


  Shows differences between elements of art in an artwork. It shows how stronger each element of art in relation to one another.
• Variety


  The diversity or the different elements used in an artwork to make it more interesting.
• Emphasis


  The greater impact or highlight given to a certain element in an artwork.
• Harmony


  The unity of an artwork. It is about the arrangement of the related elements that makes an artwork to be viewed as a whole.