Creating beautiful artwork is about more than inspiration or a great idea, it’s about understanding the fundamentals of the subject. Although it’s possible to spend years studying the nuances of design and the many varying takes on how to be successful at it, there are a handful, or two, of basic elements that every designer should know before beginning any project. Rules were made to be broken, of course, but you have to know what they are first.

Contour Line

Version of outline drawing, in which the artist, looking closely at the contour (curving shapes) of an object, transfers it to a figure with form or the effect of dimension simply by adjusting the direction and shape of lines. Contour lines can illustrate simplicity and flatness of a figure or form as evidenced in the first image of faces, and contour lines may be used to create the effect of depth.

Shape

Shapes, geometric or organic, add interest. Shapes are defined by boundaries, such as a lines or color, and they are often used to emphasize a portion of the page. Everything is ultimately a shape, so you must always think in terms of how the various elements of your design are creating shapes, and how those shapes are interacting.

Space

It refers to the area that a shape or form occupies. Space can be defined as positive or negative. Positive space is the filled space, the object(s) or element(s) in the design. Negative space is the result of unfilled portions of a piece that help to create an overall image. Use negative space to create shapes as you would any other element. 

Emphasis

Emphasis is way of bringing a dominance and subordination into a design or painting. Major objects, shapes, or colors may dominate a picture by taking up more space or by being heavier in volume (size) or by being darker in color than the subordinate objects, shapes and colors. There must be balance between the dominant and subordinate elements.

Scale (Size)

Scale is the size of one object in relation to the other objects in a design or artwork.

Proportion

Proportion has to do with different sized elements and the relationship of one thing to another. For example, something can't be "big" unless there is something "smaller" beside it to illustrate the relationship of proportion in an artwork.

Texture

Texture refers to the surface quality in a work of art. We associate textures with the way that things look or feel. Everything has some type of texture. We describe things as being rough, smooth, silky, shiny, fuzzy and so on. Some things feel just as they appear; this is called real or actual texture. Some things look like they are rough but are actually smooth. Texture that is created to look like something it is not, is called visual or implied texture.

Texture may be used in a work of art to:

• create visual interest or a focal point in a composition

• to create contrast within a design composition

• to help visually balance a design composition

Balance

There are two schools of balance: symmetry and asymmetry. While most designers, artists and creative folks much prefer asymmetry for its eye-catching nature, symmetry does have its place. Sometimes.

It can also be boring. Symmetrical balance is often used in architecture. While symmetry achieves balance through repetition, asymmetry achieves balance through contrast. Asymmetrical, or informal balance, involves different elements that have equal visual weight; the weight is equal but the elements are not identical.

Harmony

Harmony in visual design means all parts of the visual image relate to and complement each other. Harmony pulls the pieces of a visual image together. Harmony can be achieved through repetition and rhythm. ... Rhythm is the flow depicted in a visual image.