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for understand any field, it’s important to have a solid foundation from which to grow.
For visual art, this means understanding theelements of art.
In fact, many of these elements are taught to schoolchildren as part of basic art education.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom Rabbit Run 11/Shutterstock
when you land a handle on these seven visual elements, creating your own art is easier to do.
But you don’t need to be an artist yourself to find the elements of art useful.
What are the seven elements of art?
“Still Life with Irises” by VincentVan Gogh. 1890.
In visual art, lines don’t only need to be made with marks and outlines.
They can also be implied or abstract.
Lines are the foundation of drawing and are a powerful tool in themselves.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom JKesler/Shutterstock
Throughout art history, artists have used the line as a principle means of visual expression.
Want to know more?Discover the long history of line art.
Color
Still Life with Irises by VincentVan Gogh.
“Simultaneous Counter Composition” (1930) by Theo van Doesburg (Photo: Public domain viaWikiArt)
There’s nothing that changes an artwork’s emotional impact more than color.
Masters likeVan Gogh,Monet, andToulouse-Lautrecall expertly manipulated color in their art to provoke different feelings.
Color can be used symbolically or to create a pattern.
Heydar Aliyev Center (2007-2012) by Zaha Hadid. (Photo:Aleksandr Zykov)
It can be selected for contrast or to set a specific mood.
The moderncolor wheelis a wonderful tool to use.
It is designed to explain how color is arranged and how each color interacts with one another.
“The Tetons and the Snake River” (1942) by Ansel Adams. (Photo: Public domain,via Wikimedia Commons)
Shapes can be used to control how we perceive a composition.
For instance, triangles can help draw the eye to a particular point, while circles represent continuity.
Form
Heydar Aliyev Center (2007-2012) by Zaha Hadid.
(Photo:Guillaume Briard)
Value
The Tetons and the Snake River (1942) by Ansel Adams.
Playing with value can not only change certain forms, but also influence the mood of the artwork.
The placement of these other elements creates space.
“Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix” (1805-1808) by Antonio Canova. (Photo: Public domain viaWikipedia)
Space can be either positive or negative.
Texture
Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix (1805-1808) by Antonio Canova.
It’s defined as a description of the way something feels or looks like it would feel.
Other times, the texture is an implied visual texture that is two-dimensional.
What are the principles of art?
This refers to how the elements of art are used and applied.
By making even small tweaks to one of the principles can result in big changes in your artwork.
They are:
Drawing Lessons
Inspired to start using the seven elements of art?
Here are some drawing lessons to help get you started.
Online Art Classes
Want to learn more?
Here are some online art classes we recommend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the seven elements of art?
The elements of art are line, color, form, shape, space, value, and texture.
