Creative Arts Study Guide
Snohomish County 4-H
Artistic Building Blocks
The elements of design are the building blocks used to create a work of art. Line, shape, form, texture,
color, value, and space are elements that can be used to make any type of design. A finished work of art
usually contains many elements that work together to create a complex composition.
The principles of design describe the ways artists use and arrange these elements to create a work of
art. Balance, emphasis, movement, proportion, harmony, variety, and contrast work together to create a
certain characteristic or quality to a finished piece. A work of art generally uses more than one of these
main principles.
Design: a plan or arrangement of lines, shapes or other elements.
Element: one of the parts of a complex whole.
Elements of Design
Line
Definition: The distance between two points. A narrow elongated mark. The boundary of an area.
Line refers to the continuous movement of a point along a surface, such as by a pencil or brush. The
edges of shapes and forms also create lines. Lines and curves are the basic building blocks of two
dimensional shapes. Every line has length, thickness, and direction.
How do we use lines?
Outside edges or contours of an object can be shown with lines. Lines can be used to show direction.
They can also be used to show emotion or movement.
Direction:
All lines have direction; horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. Horizontal suggests calmness, stability and
tranquility. Vertical gives a feeling of balance, formality and alertness. Diagonal suggests movement,
action or tension.
Creative Arts Study Guide 1 2011
, • Diagonal line: a directional line that causes our eyes to move through a composition at an angle.
Slanting, or cutting across a shape from one corner to another one.
• Horizontal line: a directional line that guides our eyes straight across a composition. Level or
flat; not going up or down, running from side to side.
• Vertical line: a directional line that causes our eyes to move up and down a composition.
Straight up and down.
• Contour line: a line that follows the outside edge of an object.
• Implied line: a line created by boundaries where colors change, or are created by edges of
shapes etc.
• Parallel: lines that are the same distance apart along their whole width.
Emotion:
By using thick, thin, disorganized or playful lines, an artist can convey the overall emotion of an object
or a piece of art.
• Character line: a line that shows emotion or creates moods.
Creative Arts Study Guide 2 2011
Snohomish County 4-H
Artistic Building Blocks
The elements of design are the building blocks used to create a work of art. Line, shape, form, texture,
color, value, and space are elements that can be used to make any type of design. A finished work of art
usually contains many elements that work together to create a complex composition.
The principles of design describe the ways artists use and arrange these elements to create a work of
art. Balance, emphasis, movement, proportion, harmony, variety, and contrast work together to create a
certain characteristic or quality to a finished piece. A work of art generally uses more than one of these
main principles.
Design: a plan or arrangement of lines, shapes or other elements.
Element: one of the parts of a complex whole.
Elements of Design
Line
Definition: The distance between two points. A narrow elongated mark. The boundary of an area.
Line refers to the continuous movement of a point along a surface, such as by a pencil or brush. The
edges of shapes and forms also create lines. Lines and curves are the basic building blocks of two
dimensional shapes. Every line has length, thickness, and direction.
How do we use lines?
Outside edges or contours of an object can be shown with lines. Lines can be used to show direction.
They can also be used to show emotion or movement.
Direction:
All lines have direction; horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. Horizontal suggests calmness, stability and
tranquility. Vertical gives a feeling of balance, formality and alertness. Diagonal suggests movement,
action or tension.
Creative Arts Study Guide 1 2011
, • Diagonal line: a directional line that causes our eyes to move through a composition at an angle.
Slanting, or cutting across a shape from one corner to another one.
• Horizontal line: a directional line that guides our eyes straight across a composition. Level or
flat; not going up or down, running from side to side.
• Vertical line: a directional line that causes our eyes to move up and down a composition.
Straight up and down.
• Contour line: a line that follows the outside edge of an object.
• Implied line: a line created by boundaries where colors change, or are created by edges of
shapes etc.
• Parallel: lines that are the same distance apart along their whole width.
Emotion:
By using thick, thin, disorganized or playful lines, an artist can convey the overall emotion of an object
or a piece of art.
• Character line: a line that shows emotion or creates moods.
Creative Arts Study Guide 2 2011
