Elements of a Visual Art

• Elements of Visual Arts

  1. Line
  2. Shape
  3. Color
  4. Value
  5. Texture
  6. Form
• Line


  is a series of points that extends in two opposite directions without end.

  • A pathway between two points.
  • A progression/series of points.
• Shapes

  • Close figures
  • Geometric Shapes
  • Organic Shapes
• Value


  lightness and darkness of colors.

  • Hue
  • Shade
• Hue


  These are the purest and brightest colors. They form the full spectrum of colors which progress around the Primary Color Wheel in gradual increments.
• Tint


  It's simply any color with white added.
• Shade


  is simply any color with black added.
• Tone


  is created by adding both white and black. Any color that is "greyed down" is considered this.
• Color

  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Tertiary
• Primary


  Pure yellow, red, and blue.

  • Can't be created by mixing any other colors.
• Secondary


  When you mix any 2 of the pure hues, you get 3 new children.

  • Y + R = Orange
  • R + B = Violet/Purple
  • B + Y = Green
• Tertiary


  When you mix the main colors with their children you get 6 new colors.

  • Y + O =Yellow Orange
  • R + O = Red Orange
  • etc...
• Color Harmonies

  1. Triad
  2. Split-Complementary
  3. Rectangle (Tetradic)
• Triad


  colors that are evenly spaced around the color wheel.

  • tend to be quite vibrant, even if you use pale or unsaturated version of your hues.
• Split-Complementary


  is a variation of the complementary color scheme. In addition to the base color, it uses the two colors adjacent to its complement.
• Rectangle (Tetradic)


  uses four colors arranged into two complementary pair.

  • this rich color scheme offers plenty of possibilities for variation.
• Texture


  Smoothness and roughness of a surface/art work

  • can be identified by touch or sight.
• Form


  the entire work.
• Composition of Visual Arts

  1. Harmony
  2. Balance
  3. Movement/Direction
  4. Rhythm
• Harmony


  unity of all elements of arts: lines, shapes, colors, values, texture, form
• Rhythm


  beat/music in an artwork.
• Balance


  state of equilibrium in artwork.
• Types of Balance

  1. Symmetrical Balance - Linear
  2. Symmetrical Balance - Radial
  3. Asymmetrical Balance