Elements & Principles of Art Vocabulary

Front

An element of art that is an enclosed area determined by line, value, texture, space, or any combination of these elements. It has two dimensions, length and width. May be either geometric or organic/freeform.

Back

Shape

Front

An element of art that is three-dimensional and encloses space. Like a shape, a _____ has length and width, but it also has depth. Ex. cone, cube, sphere, cylinder, rectangular prism, and pyramid

Back

Form

Front

An element of art derived from reflected light. It has three properties: hue (name of ____), intensity (strength), and value (lightness or darkness).

Back

Color

Front

An element of art that relates to the lightness and darkness of a color or tone.

Back

Value

Front

An element of art which refers to the area around, between, above, below, and within an object. Positive ______ is the area which makes up the objects (mass) and negative ______ is the area inside and around the objects.

Back

Space

Front

A principle of art that relates to a type of movement in a design, often created by repeated lines, shapes or colors.

Back

Rhythm

Front

A principle of art that relates to the sense of oneness or wholeness in an artwork. All the parts look like they belong together.

Back

Unity

Front

A principle of art in which elements of art are repeated at regular intervals. For example: Ω...∞//Ω...∞//Ω...∞//Ω...∞//Ω...∞//

Back

Pattern

Front

A principle of art which refers to the use of elements of art to create a sense of motion (For example, diagonal, curved, spiraled and zig-zag lines) or actual motion (as in a mobile).

Back

Movement

Front

An element of art which is used to define space, contours, and outlines or to suggest mass and volume. It is a mark that is made with a tool across a surface. They may have various personalities such as jagged, dotted, straight, curved, etc.

Back

Line