Elements of Art and Principles of Design of the Masconomet Regional School District Art Department:

Elements of Art:

Line:  The path of a moving point (“a dot going for a walk”).

Color:   Color is the light reflected from a surface. 

Color has three distinct qualities:
Hue/Color—the identity of the color 
Value—lightness to darkness of a color
Intensity—brightness to dullness of a color

Value/Tone:  The lightness or darkness of a color.

Texture:  The actual or implied surface of an object. 

Shape:  A two-dimensional area enclosed by an outline.

Form:  A three-dimensional shape containing height, width, and depth.            

Space:  Organizes elements in a composition while also referring to the 
             distance or area between, around, or within a shape or form.


Principles of Design:

Unity:  This refers to the sense of wholeness, harmony and order in a work of art.

Variety:  The differences among and between the elements in a composition.

Balance:  The weighted relationship between elements in a composition.

Emphasis:  Emphasis can be applied to one or more of the elements to create dominance.

Rhythm:  The repeated use of an element to achieve visual movement in a composition.

Repetition:  The use of an element or elements more than once in a composition.

Proportion:  The size relationship of all parts, to each other and to the whole, in a composition.

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