Art Concepts


The 7 basic elements of visual art are LINE, SPACE, SHAPE, FORM, TEXTURE, VALUE and COLOR.

Below is a short description of each element's characteristics and concepts.

1. LINE: A mark on a surface.

Characteristics of line

  • WIDTH Is it thick or thin? Even thickness or uneven? Tapering?

  • LENGTH: Is it short or long? Continuous or broken?

  • DIRECTION: Is it horizontal, vertical or diagonal? Curving, perpendicular, parallel, radial or zigzag?

  • FOCUS: Sharp, blurry, fuzzy, or choppy?

  • FEELING: Sharp and jagged or graceful and smooth?

Concepts of line

  • OUTLINE: Lines made by the edge of an object, its silhouette.

  • CONTOUR: Lines that suggest the silhouette, the shape and interior detail.

  • GESTURE: Strong, energetic lines that reflect the movement and gestures of an active figure.

  • SKETCH: Lines that capture the appearance of an object or impression of a place with some detail.

  • CALLIGRAPHY: Precise, elegant handwriting or lettering done by hand.

  • IMPLIED: Lines that are not actually drawn but created by a group of objects seen from a distance, or by the direction an object is pointing to, or the direction a person is looking.


2. SPACE: The area inside, around or between flat objects on the same plane or between foreground and background objects.

Concepts of space

  • POSITIVE SPACE: The enclosed line that represents an object.

  • NEGATIVE SPACE: The space around the outside of an object.

  • PICTURE PLANE: The flat surface of your drawing paper or canvas.

  • COMPOSITION: The organization and placement of the elements on the picture plane.

  • FOCAL POINT: The object or area that most draws the viewer's attention.

  • DEPTH: The use of perspective to create a 3-dimensional illusion on a 2-dimensional surface).

Perspective types

  • NON-LINEAR: The use of position, overlapping, size variation, color and value to create depth.

  • LINEAR: The use of line to create depth by using one-point, two-point, or 3-point perspective.


3. SHAPE: Formed when a line or lines cross to enclose a space, giving an object height and width but no depth.

Concepts of shape

  • GEOMETRIC: Circles, squares, rectangles and triangles as seen in architecture and manufactured items.

  • ORGANIC: Free flowing, informal and irregular shapes as seen in nature.

  • POSITIVE: The shape of an object.

  • NEGATIVE: The shape of the area around an object.

  • STATIC: Shapes that appear stable and resting.

  • DYNAMIC: Shapes that appear moving and active.


4. FORM: A 3-dimensional shape.

Concepts of form

  • REAL: An actual 3-dimensional object that can be held, walked around or walked inside of.

  • IMPLIED: The visual representation of the 3-dimensional qualities of an object through the use of line, space, shape, color and value.


5. TEXTURE: How an object feels when touched.

Concepts of texture

  • REAL: The actual texture of an object when it is touched.

  • IMPLIED: The visual representation of the actual texture of an object through the use of line, color, value, and space.


6. VALUE: The range of darkness to light.

Concepts of value

  • TINT: The adding of white to a color to create lighter values.

  • SHADE: The adding of black to a color to create darker values.

  • VALUE SCALE: A scale showing the gradual changes in value from the lightest to the darkest.

  • HIGH-KEY: The values of the picture are all on the light side of the value scale.

  • LOW-KEY: The values of the picture are all on the dark side of the value scale.

  • CONTRAST: Using light and dark values next to each other to create contrast.


7. COLOR: The spectrum of light broken down by light hitting an object and being reflected into the eye.

Concepts of color

  • HUE: The basic name given to a range of colors, like red or blue.

  • INTENSITY: The strength or vivacity of a color.

  • VALUE: The relative lightness or darkness of a color

  • TEMPERATURE: The warmth or coolness the viewer feels when looking at a color.


7 Laws of Perspective

seven-laws-of-perspective.pdf