LESSON 6

ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF ART

Elements and principles are fundamental concepts in art and design, describing the basic components
of a visual composition like line, color, shape, texture, and space, and how these elements are used to
create balanced, visually appealing compositions.
ELEMENTS OF ARTS AUDITORY
Together with literature music as an art form is classified as auditory art. However some would argue
that it is under the broad category of performance art, either way, music, much like the visual arts, has
its own building blocks or elements. Perhaps one of the most widespread forms of art, whose
intersection in daily life is most perceptible is music.
Some of the common elements of music are the following rhythm, dynamics, melody, harmony timbre
and texture.
ELEMENTS OF ART: VISUAL
These elements of art generally produced when something is done to the medium after the technique
is carried out. It must be underscored. However, that all works of art require all elements to be present.
Some art forms also necessitate some of the elements as they are inherent in the very nature of them.
LINE - a line, a point moving on a path, defines composition perimeters and can vary in orientation,
direction, shape, and thickness, importing visual elements and conveying meaning.
SHAPE AND FORM - shape and form are related concepts in art, defining the space occupied by the
object. Shapes are two dimensions, while form is three dimensions. Both can be identified by visual
components.
SPACE - space, related to shape and form, is often inferred from a sense of depth, with real space being
three-dimensional, while two-dimensional artworks use techniques to manifest this element.
COLOR - color enhances artwork appeal by allowing viewers to respond based on memory, emotion, and
instinction, among other factors.
TEXTURE - space texture, a real or implied element in an artwork, is experienced through the senses,
making the object tactile.
PRINCIPLES OF ART
These principles will provide explicit ways in which these elements are used, how they are
manipulates, how they are interact, and how they inform the overall composition of the artwork to assist
the artist in conveying his intentions. The use of these principles can help determine whether a painting
is successful and whether or not the painting is finished.
These principles are:
> BALANCE
> SCALE AND PROPORTION
> EMPHASIS AND CONTRAST
> UNITY AND VARIETY
> HARMONY
> MOVEMENT
> RHYTHM
> REPETITION AND PATTERN