Art Elements

Movement

A principle of design that is a way of combining elements to produce the look of action or to cause the viewer's eye to sweep over the work in a certain manner.

Pattern/repitition

A principle of design that is established through the repeated use of line or form. It refers to the use of a motif (design) or color in more than one place in a composition.

Contrast

A principle of design that refers to a way of combining art elements to stress the differences between those elements. Thus, a painting might have bright colors which contrast with dull colors, or angular shapes which contrast rounded shapes. Used in this way, contrast can emphasize the direct attention to a point of interest.

Rhythm

A principle of design that refers to a way of combining art elements with a visual tempo or beat. It is often achieved through careful placement of repeated elements which invite the viewer's eye to jump rapidly or glide smoothly from one to the next.

Middle-Ground

That part of a picture between the foreground and the background.

Foreground

The area of space in a perspective picture, depicted as nearest the viewer.( part of the picture nearest the viewer.)

Background

The part of a pictorial representation that appears to be in the distance and that provides relief for the principal objects in the foreground. (Part of the picture furthest from the viewer)

Composition

An orderly arrangement of elements using the principles of design.

Veriety

A principle of design that refers to a way of combining elements in involved ways to achieve intricate and complex relationships. Variety is the difference in scale, surface, line, value, and shape that gives interest to a composition. It is often obtained through the use of diversity and change by artists who wish to increase the visual interest of their work.

Unity/Harmony

A principle of design that refers to a way of combining elements to accent their similarities and bind the picture parts into a whole. Harmony is the unity of all the visual elements in a composition. It is often achieved through the use of repetition and simplicity.

Emphasis

A principle of design that refers to a way of combining elements to stress the differences between those elements to create one or more centers of interest in a work. Often, contrasting elements are used to direct and focus attention on the most important parts of a composition.

Balance

A principle of design that refers to the way the art elements are arranged in an artwork to create a feeling of stability in a work. Balance can be symmetrical or formal or it can be asymmetrical or informal.

Space

is when objects are arranged in a picture in such a way that they create an illusion of depth on a 2-dimensional surface.

Two-Demensional

means it is on a flat surface such as a canvas. It has no depth, only length and width.