art

ELEMENTS

ART ELEMENTS are the

building blocks of art.
They are made with materials,
techniques and processes.
Here are some words to
describe the main Elements

COLOUR

primary, secondary, tertiary,

analogous, complementary,
limited palette, dull, bright, dark,
warm, cool, flat, tints, modulated,
contrasting, intense, harmonious,
tonal, monochromatic, shades,
luminous, iridescent...

RHYTHM

LIGHT

FORM

unnatural, natural,
harsh, soft, gentle,
[is 3-dimensional]:
fluorescent,
tungsten,
simulated,highlight,
o rganic,
spotlight,
interlockin
g,
lowlight,
chiaroscuro,
hard-edge
d, soft,
diffuse,
luminous,
undulating
, realistic
stark,
brilliant,
flash- ,
ing, hypnotic...

LINE
hesitant, architectural,

hard, soft, ambling,

jagged, geometric,
dynamic, angular,
broken, diagonal,
spontaneous...

SHAPE

[is 2-Dimensional]:
negative/positive
space, distinct,
indistinct, figurative,
geometric, organic,
inorganic, abstract,
triangular, round
etc...

FORM

[is 3-dimensional]:
simulated, organic,
interlocking,
hard-edged, soft,
undulating, realistic,

UNITY
LINE

Do the elements work together

to create a unified whole? How
is this achieved? What is the
overallarchitectural,
effect of this?
hesitant,

FOCAL POINT
When one aspect of an artwork stands out
more than another. This creates a sense of
importance and is intentionally used
to communicate a message
or feeling.

hard, soft, ambling,

jagged, geometric,
dynamic, angular,
broken, diagonal,
spontaneous...

BALANCE

SOUND

TEXTURE

loud soft, soothing,

distorted, melodic,
atmospheric, sparse,
discordant, abstract,
harmonious, jarring,
evocative, intense,
dynamic, immersive,

smooth, rough, shiny,

impasto, velvety,
matte, grainy, furry,
soft, gritty, toothed...

crescendo, diminishing,

disembodied...

SPACE

Making an artwork
involves the arrangement
of elements in 2D or 3D
space. This includes
foreground,
middleground and
background, picture
plane and the distance or
areas around, between
and within.

ART PRINCIPLES

are ways of thinking about

the overall

result, effect,

or composition of artwork.
Elements work together
to make these structures
in works of art.

TONE

light, heavy, contrasting,

deep, varied, limited, flat,
overlapping, gradual,
subtle, stippled, layered,
cross-hatched, dramatic

TIME

Actual time includes

time-based work and
media, artwork that
changes through time,
and the effect of time on
artwork and its meaning.
Implied time can be
represented in the
captured moment, an
illusion of time passing,
or the evidence of time
passed.

art

PRINCIPLES