Elements of Art

(Paraphrased from Art: Images and Ideas by Laura H. Chapman)

Almost a hundred years ago, an American artist and teacher of art named Arthur Wesley Dow wanted his art students to be able to see, describe and create visual qualities in a systematic way. Dow wrote about the “elements of art” in 1899. Over the years, it has been changed and expanded by artists and experts.

The following is a list of the most commonly "Elements of Art" used today.

Line

path of movement
active - passive
bold - delicate
flowing - light
straight - curved
thick - thin
dark - light
broken - continuous
geometric - organic
implied - actual
precise - irregular
contour - outline
calligraphy
caricature

Shape/Form

2D-3D
solid - void
concave - convex
positive - negative
figure - ground
ambiguous - complete
organic - geometric - free-form
circle - sphere
square - cube
triangle - pyramid-cone

Space

2D-3D
positive – negative
open – closed
filled – empty
actual – implied
interior – exterior
scale
orientation
spacing
illusion of space
systems of perspective

Texture

actual (tactual) – visual
simulated – invented
matte – semi-gloss – glossy
techniques
- impasto
- rubbings
- frottage
- grottage
- decalcomania
- tromp l’oeil

Light/Color/Value

visible color spectrum
color wheel
value
- shading
- contrast
- chiaroscuro
- tint
- shade

hue
- pigment
- primary
- secondary
- intermediate
- neutral
- color interactions
- simultaneous contrast

color schemes
- warm
- cool
- neutral
- monochromatic
- analogous
- complementary
- split complementary
- triad

intensity
- bright – dull
- high key – low key
local
optical (or atmospheric)
symbolic

If you need further information regarding the "Elements of Design", try these web sites:

John Lovett: Watercolor Artist. (1999). http://www.johnlovett.com/test.htm (shown below)

If you need further information, try completing an internet search using the key words "Design Vocabulary" or "Elements of Design."

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