MODULE: HUM001 – ART APPRECIATION
CHAPTER 6 - ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF ARTS
A. Assess assumptions about art and clarify common misconceptions surrounding the Elements
and Principles of Art.
B. Evaluate personal experiences and interpretations of various forms of art to enhance
appreciation and understanding of artistic expression.
C. Examine the role of art within the broader context of the Humanities and its significance as a
field of study.
ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF ARTS
The elements and principles of art and design constitute the
fundamental framework upon which discourse surrounding art is
based. The elements of art encompass the visual tools wielded by
artists to craft a composition, comprising elements such as line,
shape, color, value, form, texture, and space.
In contrast, the principles of art delineate how artists utilize
these elements to achieve specific effects and communicate their
artistic intentions. These principles include balance, contrast,
emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, and unity/variety. Their
judicious application plays a pivotal role in determining the success and completeness of a painting.
Artists exercise their discretion in selecting which principles of art to incorporate into their works.
While it is not imperative to employ all principles in a single composition, it is essential to recognize
their interdependence. For instance, the pursuit of emphasis often involves the simultaneous utilization
of contrast, and vice versa. Generally, the consensus is that a compelling painting is characterized by
a harmonious integration of these principles, resulting in visual equilibrium, fluidity in guiding the
viewer's gaze, and a judicious balance between unity and diversity. Consequently, the implementation
of one principle invariably impacts the overall effect and resonance of another.
THE 7 ELEMENTS OF ART
Art is like a puzzle made up of seven important pieces. These pieces, known as "The 7 Elements
of Art," are like the building blocks for artists. They include things like lines, shapes, colors, and textures.
Together, these elements help artists express their feelings and tell stories through their creations. In
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MODULE: HUM001 – ART APPRECIATION
this introduction, we'll explore what these elements are and how artists use them to make their art
special.
1. LINE: Think of a line as a path made by a dot moving around. Lines can be thin or thick, go
in different directions, and be long or short.
2. SHAPE: Shapes are like lines that connect to form closed areas. They have an inside and
an outside but are flat with only length and width.
3. FORM: Forms are like shapes but in 3D. They have height, width, and depth, so they're not
flat.
4. SPACE: Space is the area around and between things in a picture. Artists use space to
arrange objects in their artwork.
5. TEXTURE: Texture is how something feels or looks like it would feel. It can be real (like
touching a rough rug), created (like thick, bumpy paint on a canvas), or just suggested
through shading.
6. TONE: Value is about how light or dark a color is. You can change the value of a color by
adding white to make it lighter or black to make it darker.
7. COLOR: Color is all about the way light reflects off things. Artists and scientists have studied
how colors work together for a long time, and this is called color theory.
Artists manipulate these seven elements, mix them in with principles of design, and compose a
piece of art. Not every work of art contains every one of these elements, but at least two are always
present.
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MODULE: HUM001 – ART APPRECIATION
For example, a sculptor, by default, has to have both form and space in a sculpture, because these
elements are three-dimensional. They can also be made to appear in two-dimensional works through
the use of perspective and shading.
Art would be sunk without line, sometimes known as "a moving point." While line isn't something
found in nature, it is absolutely essential as a concept to depicting objects and symbols, and defining
shapes.
The elements of art are important for several reasons. First and most importantly, a person
cannot create art without utilizing at least a few of them. Secondly, knowing what the elements of art
are, it enables us to describe what an artist has done, analyse what is going on in a particular piece
and communicate our thoughts and findings using a common language.
THE 7 PRINCIPLES OF ART
1. BALANCE refers to the visual weight of the elements of the composition. It is a sense that the
painting feels stable and "feels right." Imbalance causes a feeling of discomfort in the viewer.
BALANCE CAN BE ACHIEVED IN 3 DIFFERENT WAYS:
1. Symmetry, in which both sides of a composition have the same elements in the same
position, as in a mirror-image, or the two sides of a face.
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MODULE: HUM001 – ART APPRECIATION
2. Asymmetry, in which the composition is balanced due to the contrast of any of the
elements of art. For example, a large circle on one side of a composition might be
balanced by a small square on the other side
3. Radial symmetry, in which elements are equally spaced around a central point, as in the
spokes coming out of the hub of a bicycle tire.
2. CONTRAST is the difference between elements of art in a composition, such that each
element is made stronger in relation to the other. When placed next to each other, contrasting
elements command the viewer's attention. Areas of contrast are among the first places that a
viewer's eye is drawn. Contrast can be achieved by juxtapositions of any of the elements of
art. Negative/Positive space is an example of contrast. Complementary colors placed side by
side is an example of contrast. Notan is an example of contrast.
3. EMPHASIS is when the artist creates an area of the composition that is visually dominant and
commands the viewer's attention. This is often achieved by contrast.
4. MOVEMENT is the result of using the elements of art such that they move the viewer's eye
around and within the image. A sense of movement can be created by diagonal or curvy lines,
either real or implied, by edges, by the illusion of space, by repetition, by energetic mark-
making.
5. PATTERN is the uniform repetition of any of the elements of art or any combination
thereof. Anything can be turned into a pattern through repetition. Some classic patterns are
spirals, grids, weaves
6. RHYTHM is created by movement implied through the repetition of elements of art in a non-
uniform but organized way. It is related to rhythm in music. Unlike pattern, which demands
consistency, rhythm relies on variety.
7. UNITY/VARIETY You want your painting to feel unified such that all the elements fit together
comfortably. Too much unity creates monotony, too much variety creates [Link] need
both. Ideally, you want areas of interest in your composition along with places for your eye to
rest.
• Marder, L. (2019, May 22). The 7 Principles of Art and Design. ThoughtCo.
• Marder, L. (2019, May 22). The 7 Elements of Art and Design. ThoughtCo.