The Elements of Art and Principles of Design

The Element of Art

The elements of art are the basic components of art-making. It is impossible to create a work of
art without using at least one of the seven elements of art. In order to be successful in art creation, an
artist must be able to intelligently use the elements of art. Artwork can also be analyzed according to
the use of the elements on a work of art.

The elements of art are the building blocks of all art. Every piece of art ever created includes
one or more of these elements. Learn about line, color, shape, form, value, space and texture.

1. Line – A line is an element of art. It is a mark made upon a surface. In order to be a line, the
mark’s length must be longer than its width. There are many different types of lines, including
horizontal, vertical, wavy, diagonal and more. Line may be two o three-dimensional, descriptive,
or abstract.
Horizontal lines are lines of repose and serenity. They express ideas of calmness and
quiescence. Horizontal lines are found in reclining persons, in landscapes, calm bodies of water,
and in the distant meeting of the earth and sky in what is commonly called the horizon.
Vertical lines are lines that denote action. They suggest poise, balance, force, aspiration,
exaltation, and dynamism. Vertical lines also tend to express as well as arouse emotions of
exaltation and inquietude; this is evident in monumental architecture.
Diagonal lines suggest action, life and movement. They give animation to any composition in
which they appear.
Curved lines suggest grace, subtleness, direction, instability movement, flexibility, joyousness,
and grace. They are never harsh or stern since they are formed by gradual change in direction.
They tend to impart these qualities to any work where they are used.
Crooked or jagged lines express energy, violence, conflict, and struggle.
2. Shapes – These are areas of enclosed space that are two-dimensional. Shapes are flat, and can
only have height and width. The two different categories of shapes are geometric and organic.
Geometric shapes are mathematical, like circles and squares. Organic shapes come from nature,
like clouds and leaves.

3. Space – It deals with the illusion of depth on a flat surface. You might overlap shapes to make
some look closer, or make objects in the distance smaller to look like they are farther away. The
elements of space can be used in three-dimensional art as well.

4. Value – This refers to the lightness and darkness of areas in an art work. White is the lightest
value, while black is the darkest. The value halfway between these extremes is called middle
gray.

5. Color – Color is the most prominent element of design and is one of the most powerful and yet
subjective elements in art.
Color is an element of art made up of three properties: hue, value and intensity.
a. Hue: is the name of color or the dimension of color that gives color its name. Color names
such as red, blue, green, violet and yellow indicate hue. Blue, red and yellow are primary
hues. If these primary hues are mixed in equal parts, the secondary hues are produced. The
 secondary hues are orange, green, and violet. Orange is produced by mixing red and yellow;
green by mixing yellow and blue, and violet by mixing blue and red.
Colors may either be warm or cool. Red, orange and yellow are the warm hues. The cool
colors are those where blue predominates like green, blue-green, blue and blue-violet.
b. Value: hue’s lightness and darkness (a color’s value changes when white or black is added).
Value sometimes called chiaroscuro, refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. It is a
quality which depends on the amount of light and dark in color. They give the expression of
depth and solidity and lend form to paintings.
Tints are value above the normal and shades are values below the normal. Pink is a tint of
red, maroon is a shade of red. Sky blue is a tint, navy blue is a shade.
c. Intensity: quality of brightness and purity (high intensity=color is strong and bright; low
intensity=color is faint and dull). It refers to its brightness or darkness.

Through the mixing of colors infinite other hues are born but there are four true color from
which more and more other kinds of colors may be thus created. Red is the color of fire, blue of
the air, green of the water, and grey of the earth….. white and black are not true colors but are
alterations of other colors.

There are two kinds of color harmonies:

a. Related color harmonies. Related color harmonies may either be monochromatic or
adjacent. Monochromatic is made up of several tones of one hue, like for instance orange,
tan, brown, and others tones from the orange family. In adjacent or neighboring harmony,
two or three hues on the color circle are used together. For examples tones of green, yellow
and orange can produce delightful harmony.
b. Contrasted color harmonies. Colors which lie directly opposite to each other in the color
circle are called complementary colors. Red and green, orange and blue, and violet and
yellow are complementary colors. They contrast which each other strongly; therefore, they
are more difficult to use harmoniously than related color combinations.

6. Texture – An element of art that refers to the way things feel, or look as if they might feel if
touched. The term texture describes the surface quality of an artwork. Texture is an important
element of design because it engages the sense of touch as well as vision. Objects can be rough,
or smooth, wet or dry, sticky or slick, hard or soft, brittle or flexible. The two main approaches to
texture are actual texture and implied or simulated texture. Actual texture is primarily –
though not exclusively – sculptural, while implied texture is primarily used in two-dimensional
works of art.

7. Form – An element of art that is three-dimensional and encloses volume; includes height, width
and depth (as in a cube, a sphere, a pyramid, or a cylinder). Form may also be free flowing.

8. Perspective – Perspective deals with the effect of distance upon the appearance of objects, by
means of which the eye judges spatial relationships. It enables us to perceive distance and to
see the position of objects in space.
There are two kinds of perspective:
a. Linear Perspective is the representation of an appearance of distance by means of
converging lines. Linear perspective involves the direction of the lines and the size of
objects.
 b. Aerial perspective is a form of representing more distant objects in art forms as fainter and
more blue. Aerial perspective, also called atmospheric perspective, method of creating the
illusion of depth, or recession, in a painting or drawing by modulating colour to simulate
changes effected by the atmosphere on the colours of things seen at a distance.

Elements of Auditory Arts and Combined Arts

● Poetic devices such as
✔ Rhythm
✔ Image
✔ metaphor
● Properties of musical sound such as
✔ pitch
✔ duration
✔ volume
✔ timbre

Graffiti are writings or drawings which have been scribbled, scratched or painted on walls or other
surface materials often within public view. Graffiti ranged from simple written words of drawings to
elaborate wall paintings. Graffiti do not express stylistic and artistic expression. More often they express
socio-political messages.

Poetry-performance is specifically composed for or during a performance before an audience.

Performance art is a performance which is presented to the audience. It can be presented in many
ways. Performance may:
✔ either be scripted or unscripted
✔ either random or carefully orchestrated
✔ be spontaneous or carefully planned
✔ be with or without audience
✔ be live or via media
Likewise, performance can be present or absent. Performance can be any situation where the four
elements are involved: time, space, the performer’s body or presented in a medium and the
relationship between performer and audience.

Digital art. This art introduces the digital artists to the world of possibilities for putting their artistic and
creative skills to work online in any number of fields. Artistic expression covers rules governing images,
where to find them and how to manipulate images and word art, logos, and banner.

Modified Art Expression. Modified art expression is a fascinating collection of artworks that
demonstrates each artist’s personal interrelation of the texts, transforming literary works into visual
ones and creating powerful new forms of expression.

Transcreation (creative translation). This is the process of adapting a message from one language to
another while maintaining its intent, style, tone and context. A message that was successfully
transcreated evokes the same emotions and carries the same implications in the target languages as it
does in the source language. In other words, transcreation is taking the essence of a message and re-
creating it is another language or dialect.
Purpose of Transcreation. The purpose of transcreation is to transfer the intent, style, vocal tone, and
emotional salience of the message from the source language to that of the targeted audience. Thus, to
produce effective transcreation, local language copywriters need to have extensive knowledge of their
market, excellent language skills and the ability to creativity adapt message for the target market.

Transcreation and Translation. In translation, a word for word translation is inadequate. The best
translation takes into account the vocabulary, grammar, syntax, idiom and local ways of the target
audience while remaining faithful to the text as well as to the context of the original document. On the
other hand, transcreation expands the translation by focusing not so much as the literal text but n
discerning the emotional response by viewers in the target market. In short, transcreation is taking a
concept in one language and completely recreating it in another language.
Transcreation of text to music. In a novel or poetry, one can generate music with emotional feeling.

Transcreation of text to dance. It’s using a dialogue or text to influence and enhance dance
performance.

Transcreation of dance to visual art. Sculptures and paintings on pots represented dancers. Relief
sculptures in tombs included scenes of dancers.

Principles of Design

The principles of art and design are the foundation in creating an art. They represent how the
artist, the elements of art to create a better effect as well as to help the artist to convey his intent.

The use of principles will tell us whether an art (for example, painting) is successful and beautiful
and whether or not the painting is finished.

The artist has the right to choose which principles he wants to use in his art work.

The proper arrangement of the different art elements on order to produce something beautiful
is called design. The design of things makes objects differ from one perception to another. Good design
is the result of careful and correct application of the principles of design. The most important factor for
artist to remember is to execute these principles in order to achieve beauty and better perception.

Elements of arts are parts of a whole while perceptions of art design are rules of guides to help
one put these elements together.

Design differs from art in that it has to have a purpose. Visually, this functionality is interpreted
by making sure an image has a center of attention, a point of focus. These principles of design are the
rules a designer must follow to create an effective composition that clearly delivers a message to its
audience. Hereunder are the different principles of design:
1. Balance is the distribution of the visual weight of objects, colors, texture, and space. If the
design was a scale, these elements should be balanced to make a design feel stable. Balance is a
condition or quality which gives a feeling of rest, repose, equilibrium or stability.
 Visual weight is the quality which gains and holds attention. In other words, it is the power of
attraction of each of the elements of art. Objects should be balanced horizontally, vertically or
diagonally, that is the attraction should be distributed on either side of the vertical, horizontal,
or diagonal axis of any arrangement.
In symmetrical balance, the elements used on one side of the design are similar to those on the
other side. Formal or symmetrical balance is the balance of equal visual weights place at equal
distance from the axis. Formal balance may be subdivided into two: bisymmetrical absolute or
perfect balance and symmetrical apparent or obvious balance. Bisymmetrical balance is the
balance of identical objects (identical in form, value, size, texture is the balance of identical
objects (identical in form, value, size, texture and color) placed on each side of the central axis
and equally distant from the center. Symmetrical or obvious balance is the balance of objects
with nearly identical description.
In asymmetrical balance, the sides are different but still look balanced. In radical balance, the
elements area arranged around a central point and may be similar. Informal or Asymmetrical
balance is the balance of unequal visual weights, the heavier one being nearer the axis and the
lighter one farther. It is sometimes referred to as occult balance and free balance. Slant or
diagonal balance is a form of informal balance in which the objects are balanced on a diagonal
axis.

2. Emphasis is a part of the design that catches the viewer’s attention. Usually the artist will make
one area stand out by contrasting it with other areas. The area should be different in size, color,
texture, shape, etc.
Emphasis is the principle of art which tends to carry the eyes from the center of interest or
dominant part of any composition to the less important or subordinate part.
Methods of Emphasizing Objects:
a. By arrangement or grouping of objects. If objects are grouped together, the one to be
emphasized should be located at the center and should be the biggest and brightest in color.
b. By decoration. Objects which have decorations are given more emphasis than those without
them.
c. By color contrast. Contrasting colors such as the complementary combination and the triads
are more emphatic than analogous or any other related harmonies. Hues of great intensities
are more noticeable than those having lower intensities. The use of contrasting values
makes one value more dominant than the other.

3. Pattern is the repeating of an object or symbol all over the work of art.
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.

4. Repetition works with pattern to make the work of art seem active. The repetition of elements
of design creates unity within the work of art.

5. Proportion is the feeling of unity created when all parts (sizes, amounts, or number) relate well
with each other. When drawing the human figure, proportion can refer to the size of the head
compared to the rest of the body.
Proportion is the art principle which shows pleasing relationship between a whole and its parts
and between the parts themselves. It can be achieved through proper arrangement of space
divisions. Proportions are generally expressed in terms of ratios.
 There are three aspects of proportion:
a. Proportion in the grouping of objects
b. Proportion in space divisions
c. Proportion in scales
An arrangement or grouping of objects may show god or bad proportion. In arranging objects, it
is more pleasing to group three objects with another three, or two objects with three than to
group two objects with two or two with four. It is because odd numbers are more interesting
than even numbers. Very small objects should not be grouped with very large ones. Otherwise,
they will be out of proportion. Harmony of size is the same as good proportion.

6. Rhythm is created when one or more elements of design are used repeatedly to create a feeling
of organized movement. Rhythm creates a mood like music or dancing. To keep rhythm exciting
and active, variety is essential.
A unit or motif is a dominant feature or part repeated in a design or decoration.
Rhythm is classified into formal and informal. Formal is the repetition of a motif in regular
arrangement. Informal is the repetition of a motif with variation in its form and arrangement
.
7. Variety is the use of several elements of design to hold the viewer’s attention and to guide the
viewer’s eye through and around the work of art.

8. Unity is the feeling of harmony between all parts of the work of art, which creates a sense of
completeness.

9. Harmony is the principle which produces an impression of unity through the selection and
arrangement of consistent objects or ideas. It is the quality which unifies every part of an
arrangement. If there is harmony, there is order. Every orderly arrangement is harmonious.
Following are the five aspects of harmony. They are:
a. Harmony of lines and shapes. Lines are made harmonious by either repeating the shape of
the lines or by connecting transitional lines to contrasting lines. A transitional line or merely
transition is usually a curved, graceful line which connects two opposing or contrasting lines.
The latter are straight lines which intersect each other and form angles. Lines made in this
manner are called contrasting or opposing lines. Contradiction, strictly speaking, is a form
of transition, but because it is not harmonious, it may be classified under the lines in
contrast. Contradiction is straight line connecting two opposing lines diagonally.
b. Harmony of size. Harmony of size refers to good proportion.
c. Harmony of color. Creating harmony of color means using two or more colors in decorating
an article or object. It does not mean the mixing of colors.
d. Harmony of texture. The character of texture can be determined by feeling the object with
the fingertips or by looking at it. Coarse texture should not be combined with fine textures.
e. Harmony of idea. Combining antique and modern furniture in the same room does not
show harmony of idea. A store window displaying dresses, hardware and school supplies
would be a very poor display.

10. Movement. Movement is the result of using the elements of art 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.
 11. Novelty of Newness. Novelty provides the best opportunity for developing one’s creative ability.

12. Utility, Adaptability or Function. A work of art must not only possess beauty but also the utility.
The objet must be adaptable to the purpose for which for which it is made.

13. Contrast. This art principle is synonymous to opposition or contradiction. It has some
relationships with balance and emphasis. Two contrasting lines or colors may balance each
other. The center of interest in a composition is in contrast with the subordinating parts in the
same composition.

The Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is also called the “rule of thumb”. This is a guideline which appears to the
process of composing visual images like designs, films, paintings, and photographs. The proponents of
this technique claim that aligning a subject with these points creates more tension, energy, and intent in
the composition than simply centering the subject.