This document defines and describes key elements and principles of design used in visual art. It discusses line, shape, form, value, texture, space, color, and principles of composition including balance, repetition, variation, scale, emphasis, pattern, and unity. Specific elements like primary/secondary/tertiary colors and principles such as symmetrical/asymmetrical balance are defined. Examples of famous artworks are referenced to illustrate various principles.

1. Line
Path made by a moving point

2. Vertical Line
• Vertical lines in
art represent
strength and
stability

4. Horizontal Line
• Horizontal lines
represent calm
in an artwork.

6. Diagonal Lines
• In artwork
diagonal lines
represent energy
or movement.

8. Shape
The area enclosed by a line 2-D

9. Organic Shapes
• Shapes found in
nature or have a
natural flow.

11. Geometric Shapes
• Man made
shapes found in
mathematics

13. Form
Area enclosed by shapes (3D)

14. Like shapes there are organic and
geometric forms
• Organic
• Geometric

16. Value
Relationship between lights and
darks.

17. Value
• In a 2 dimensional
work (painting,
drawing,
photograph, etc.)
Value is used to
show form and
depth. Also called
shading.

19. Texture
• Surface quality of an
object, how it feels.

21. Space
Area in or around an object

22. Positive Space
• The space
that is the
subject of an
image.

23. Negative Space
• The area
between or
around an object

25. Color
• How light reflects
off of an object.
Has intensity,
hue, and value

27. Primary Colors
• Can not be made
by mixing other
colors.
– Primary = 1st

29. Secondary Colors
• Colors made by
mixing 2 primary
colors
– Secondary = 2nd

30. Tertiary Colors
• The third tier of colors,
comes from mixing a
primary color with a
near secondary color.
Names are primary
first then secondary.
– Example : Red-violet

31. Red
– Facts about red
• Red is the universal
sign for stop.
• Red is a color of
extremes, extreme
love and extreme
anger.
• Red is a very
powerful color and
should be used
sparingly in artwork.

32. Yellow
– Facts about yellow
• Yellow is the first color
your eye sees
• In most cultures
yellow symbolizes
happiness, sunshine,
and warmth.
• Yellow is the only
color that reacts badly
to black.

33. Blue
• Facts about blue.
• Blue is the number
one favorite color in
the world.
• Where red is an
appetite stimulant
blue is an appetite
suppressant.
• Blue in artwork can
evoke sadness or
depression.

34. Principles of Design
• How you use the
elements in a
composition
• Composition- layout
• If the elements are
of an artwork.
the tools, principles
are the rules for using
them.

35. Balance
• Symmetrical – In
symmetrical balance
both sides of the
image are the same.
• Asymmetrical – In
symmetrical balance
both sides of the
image are different,
but have equal
visual weight.

36. Leonardo Da Vinci, The Last Supper, 1495-1498

37. • Salvador Dali, Persistence of Memory, 1931

38. Repetition
• Repeating of the
elements in an
artwork.

39. Variation
• The changing of
elements in an
artwork.
Piet Mondrian, Diagonal Composition, 1921

40. Scale
• Size relationships
of objects in an
artwork.

41. Emphasis
• Focusing the
viewer to one or
some areas of an
artwork.
Leonardo Da Vinci, The Last Supper, 1495-1498

44. Pattern
• Structured
repetition of
elements in an
artwork.

45. Unity
• Feeling of togetherness or completeness in an
artwork.