Flashcards › Arts & Music › Visual Art
Elements and Principles of Art
The building blocks of art and the ways artists organize them.
0 of 62 known
62 cards
- LineTermA mark made by a moving point, long and thin
- ShapeTermA flat, enclosed area with height and width
- FormTermA shape with three dimensions: height, width and depth
- ColorTermWhat we see when light bounces off an object
- ValueTermHow light or dark a color is
- TextureTermHow a surface feels or looks like it feels
- SpaceTermThe area around, between and inside things in art
- Positive spaceTermThe area taken up by the main subject
- Negative spaceTermThe empty area around the subject
- Geometric shapeTermA regular shape like a circle, square or triangle
- Organic shapeTermA free-flowing, irregular shape like a leaf or cloud
- Horizontal lineTermA line that goes side to side, feels calm
- Vertical lineTermA line that goes up and down, feels tall and strong
- Diagonal lineTermA slanted line, feels active and moving
- Curved lineTermA line that bends, feels soft and flowing
- Zigzag lineTermA line made of sharp angles, feels energetic
- Contour lineTermA line that outlines the edge of a shape
- Implied lineTermA line suggested by the way objects are arranged, not drawn
- HueTermThe name of a color
- TintTermA color mixed with white
- ShadeTermA color mixed with black
- ToneTermA color mixed with gray
- Intensity (saturation)TermHow bright or dull a color is
- Actual textureTermTexture you can truly feel
- Visual textureTermTexture that is only drawn to look real
- PerspectiveTermA way to show depth on a flat surface
- ForegroundTermThe part of a picture closest to the viewer
- Middle groundTermThe middle part of a picture
- BackgroundTermThe part of a picture farthest from the viewer
- OverlappingTermPlacing one object in front of another to show depth
- Principles of designTermWays artists organize the elements
- BalanceTermHow the visual weight is spread in an artwork
- Symmetrical balanceTermBoth sides are mirror images
- Asymmetrical balanceTermSides differ but still feel balanced
- Radial balanceTermParts spread out from a center point
- ContrastTermDifferences such as light and dark that make things stand out
- EmphasisTermMaking one part of the work the focus
- Focal pointTermThe place the eye goes first
- MovementTermHow the eye is led through an artwork
- RhythmTermRepeated elements that create a beat
- PatternTermA repeated design of lines, shapes or colors
- RepetitionTermUsing an element again and again
- VarietyTermUsing different elements to make interest
- UnityTermWhen all parts of an artwork feel like they belong together
- HarmonyTermUsing similar elements to create calm unity
- ProportionTermHow the sizes of parts relate to each other
- ScaleTermThe size of an object compared to others or to the viewer
- CompositionTermHow the parts of an artwork are arranged
- GradationTermA gradual change in color, size or value
- Rule of thirdsTermPlacing key parts along lines dividing the picture into thirds
- MediumTermThe material an artist uses, like watercolor or clay
- SubjectTermWhat an artwork is about
- Abstract artTermArt that does not show things as they look in real life
- RealismTermArt that shows subjects as they really look
- Representational artTermArt showing recognizable things
- Still lifeTermA picture of objects that do not move
- LandscapeTermA picture of outdoor scenery
- PortraitTermA picture of a person
- Self-portraitTermA picture an artist makes of themselves
- SeascapeTermA picture of the sea
- CityscapeTermA picture of a city
- MuralTermA large painting made on a wall
Download this deck
- CSVExcel, Google Sheets, Numbers
- Anki / Quizlet (tab-separated)Import straight into Anki or Quizlet
- JSONFor programmers and apps
- Plain textOne card a line, “front : back”, ready for Peabody's flashcard maker to print
Want paper cards? Paste the plain-text download into the flashcard maker.