1. Art Vocabulary Better Known as The Elements and Principles of Design
David A. Andrews

2. The Elements of Art are the Foundation of Visual Design
They are Texture, Form, Color, Shape, Space, Value and Line.
A simple mnemonic device to help remember these words is:
The Fat Cat Sang Songs Very Loudly…

3. If the Elements of Art were individual ingredients to a pizza, the Principles of Design would be how that pizza tasted once those ingredients were combined together.

4. Texture is the appearance or consistency of how a surface or substance feels. Texture can be rough, smooth, real, or simulated.

5. Form is the three dimensional projection of a shape. It has volume,
dimension, and appears to have mass.
This element is frequently used in
sculpture and architecture.

6. Color is the character of a surface created by the response of vision to the wavelength of light reflections. Color is typically categorized into warm, cool, primary, secondary, intermediate, analogous, and complementary color schemes.
Color is also thought to affect a person’s mood or emotional response to an image or environment.

7. Shape is a two-dimensional area
made by connecting lines that
establish the contour of an object.
Shapes may be organic or geometric. Shapes may stand out also by a difference of value, color, or texture.

8. Space refers to the distances or areas) around, between, and within things. It includes the foreground, middle ground and background.
In design there are two commonly used types of space: negative space and positive space. Positive space generally refers to the main focus of the picture, while negative space refers to the background.

9. Value is the appearance of lights and darks found in a
work of art. These range from black to white with
numerous shades of gray in between.

10. Line is the path of a moving point at the edge of a flat shape, or outline of a solid object.
They can be simple, or intricate.
It could also be
considered the shortest distance between two points or a “dot” that went for a walk.

11. The Principles of Design are
concepts used to arrange those structural elements
They are contrast, movement, emphasis, balance, unity, rhythm, proportion, variety and pattern
Another mnemonic device to help remember these words is: C, Me, Burp Very Proudly…

12. Contrast shows difference and diversity in an artwork by combining
elements to create visual interest.

13. Movement is used in art to give the feeling of action and to guide the
viewer's eyes throughout the
artwork.

14. Emphasis attracts the
viewer's eyes to a place of
special importance in
an artwork, and can be used
as a focal point or center of
interest.

15. Balance is a distribution
of Art Elements on
either side of
the center line symmetrically,
asymmetrically or radially.

16. Unity is achieved when the use of multiple elements gives a feeling that
the work is whole or
completed.

17. Rhythm is how effectively the viewer’s eye
flows throughout the artwork.

18. Proportion is the relative
size and scale of the various
objects or elements in a design.

19. Variety is an arrangement
of different elements used to make
the viewer look at a certain section or make the artwork more interesting.

20. Pattern is a repetition or
series of recurring Design
elements.