What is Art?

art

A leap of the imagination expressed in a creative way.

aesthetic

A sense of what is beautiful or visually pleasing.

shape

An element of design that is a 2-D area that displays both width and length and has clear boundaries.

form

An element of design that is a 3-D object that encloses volume.

line

An element of design that refers to a mark or extended point in space.

beauty

One's understanding of what is visually pleasing.

elements of design

The basic components, or building blocks used by the artist when producing works of art.

color

The element of design that is an aspect of light that involves hue, value, and intensity.

space

The element of design that is the distance or area between, around, above, below, or within things.

texture

The element of design that refers to the surface quality whether it is actual or represented.

value

The element of design that represents the lightness and darkness of tones and colors.

principles of design

The guidelines that use the elements of design together to create a successful work of art.

composition

The order arrangement of the elements of design in a work of art.

design

The organization, plan or composition of a work of art.

emphasis

The principle of design that draws your attention to the focal point of a composition.

variety

The principle of design that refers to the differences among and between the elements in a composition.

unity

The principle of design that refers to the organization of the elements and principles into a whole.

rhythm

The principle of design that refers to the repetition of an element to achieve movement in a coomposition.

repetition

The principle of design that uses an element or elements more than one time in a single composition.

balance

The principle of design that weighs the relationship between the elements of design.