What are Elements and Principles of Art

Elements of Art

Elements of art are the basics of art and are necessary to know to practice any type of art. These elements of art are referred to as a toolbox for an artist to practice the art. There are seven essential elements of art. These elements of art are necessary to get acknowledged for an artist to pursue art as a profession. These elements include line, form, colour, shape, value/tone, space, and texture as well.

Line

The line is a long thin mark drawn/made by a pencil or pen. It is the very first element of art. It is also a multipurpose element that C for the sake of art. There are several types of lines that may come in use in several ways to make an artwork.

Shape

The shape is also a key element of art. The shape consists of the combination of other elements including space, line, colour, form, value/tone, and texture as well. In this scenario, the shape is as an enclosed area determined by other elements of art. This area is 2-D (two dimensional) or 3-D (three dimensional) space that identifies via edges, settings, etc.

Colour

Colour is also one of the primary elements of art. It affects more strongly on our emotions as compared to the rest of the elements of art. The colours of the artwork tell its viewers about the mood or atmosphere of the artwork.

Form

The form of artwork is one of the essential elements of art. It is somehow concerned with the shape of the artwork. Likewise, shape, the form also has two types, i.e., the geometric forms and the organic forms.

Space

Space is one of the most potent elements of art. Space refers to the distances or areas around, between, and within the components of a piece of artwork. Likewise, other elements of art, space also carries many types, including the positive space, the negative space, the opened space, the closed space, the shallow space, the deep space, 2-D space (the two-dimensional space) or 3-D space (the three-dimensional space). 

Texture

The texture is also one of the essential elements of art. It describes the way a 3-D (three dimensional) artwork feels when it gets touched. In 2-D (two dimensional) artwork, such as painting, it may refer to the visual "feel" of a piece.

More details on elements of art can be found here.

The Principles of Art

The principles of art come in use to organize the elements of art. There is a difference between elements and the principle of art, i.e., the element is meant by the tools of art, while the Principe of art is the techniques to use these tools to practice art. The principles of art consist of balance, emphasis, rhythm, unity, pattern, contrast, and movement. These are further in detail in the following:

Balance

It is a state of equalized tension and equilibrium. It is not necessary that the balance is calm always. It can express the sense of union or division in a piece of artwork. It has three types. 

1. Symmetry balance

2. Asymmetry balance

3. Radial balance 

Emphasis

Emphasis shows the idea of the interest of the artist. It tells us about the primary purpose of a specific artwork, by using the elements or tools of the element, including colour space, texture, line, shapes, etc. The emphasis is an artwork that seeks the attention of views to make them acknowledged through the main idea the art of work depends upon.

Rhythm

It deals with the expression of moment or action on a piece of artwork. By repeating the elements of art, including lines, shapes, colours, and more, It shows a virtual flow in a piece of artwork to move the viewer's eyes according to the artist's main idea.

Unity

The author of the element of graphics design, Alex white, said, "The main goal of graphic design is to achieve unity into it." All the elements of art get together with specific reference to an argument to make a piece of artwork unified. There should be an unbeatable balance between the verity and unity of artwork to avoid a lifeless piece of art. The unity is also called harmony.

Pattern

A pattern is an essential principle of art whereby a sense of continuity from manmade objects to organic materials and attraction by the usage of the element of art in an organized method. 

Contrast

The contrast in a piece of artwork can come into being by the opposition of two elements of art, e.g., a photograph, i.e., light against dark warm against cool, bright or dull.

Movement

Movement is also a fundamental principle of art that is shaped via a regular repetition of elements of art to produce the look and feel of the environment. It makes the viewer's eyes move according to the artist's desire. The movement inherent in the image is crucial as it tells you the story through the use of lines.

Variety

Variety is one of the basic principles of art. All the elements of art come into contact with each other in several ways to achieve variety in an artwork. The purpose behind generating variety in an artwork is to increase its visual interest.

Proportion

Proportion is an essential principle in the creation of an artwork. The proportion of artwork is basically about the relative size of that artwork. It comes in use while comparing the size of two artworks individually.

More details on the principles of art can be found here.