The 7 Elements of Art and Why You Should Know Them

The elements of art are like atoms in that both serve as building blocks for creating something. You know that atoms combine and form other things. Sometimes they'll casually make a simple molecule, as when hydrogen and oxygen form water (H₂O). If hydrogen and oxygen take a more aggressive career path and bring carbon along as a co-worker, they might form something more complex, like a molecule of sucrose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁).

The 7 Elements of Art

A similar activity happens when the elements of art are combined. Instead of elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon, in art, you have these building blocks:

1. Line
2. Shape
3. Form
4. Space
5. Texture
6. Value
7. Color

Artists manipulate the seven elements of art, mix them with design principles, and compose art. Not every work of art contains every one of these elements, but at least two are always present.

For example, a sculptor by default has to have both form and space in a sculpture, because these elements are three-dimensional. They can also appear in two-dimensional works through perspective and shading.

Art would be sunk without line, sometimes known as "a moving point." While line isn't found in nature, it is essential to depicting objects and symbols and defining shapes.

Texture is another element, like form or space, that can be real (run your fingers over an Oriental rug or hold an unglazed pot), created (think of van Gogh's lumpy, impasto-ed canvases), or implied (through clever use of shading).

Color is often the whole point for those who are visual learners and thinkers.

Why Are the Elements of Art Important?

The elements of art are important for several reasons. First, and most importantly, a person can't create art without utilizing at least a few of them. No elements, no art—end of story. And we wouldn't even be talking about any of this, would we?

Secondly, knowing what the elements of art are enables us to:

1. Describe what an artist has done
2. Analyze what is going on in a particular piece
3. Communicate our thoughts and findings using a common language

Musicians can talk about the key of "A," and they all know it means "a pitch relating to 440 oscillations per second of vibration." Mathematicians may use the basic word "algorithm" and feel confident that most people know they mean "a step-by-step procedure for carrying out computation." Botanists worldwide will employ the name "rosa rugosa," rather than the much longer "that old-fashioned shrub rose - you know, the one that leaves hips in the fall - with the five-petaled flowers that can be yellow, white, red or pink." These are all specific examples of a common language coming in handy for intelligent (and shortened) discourse.

So it is with the elements of art. Once you know the elements, you can trot them out, time after time, and never put a wrong foot forward in the art world.

Does your instructor want you to write a few words and/or pages on a painting of your choice? Choose wisely, then wax euphoric on form, lines, and color.

Have you found an unidentified work in your great-aunt's attic/toolshed/outhouse? It is helpful when describing the piece to someone who may be able to give more information to throw in some of the piece's elements of art along with: "It's an etching. It's on paper."

Stumped for conversation during an art gallery show? Try "The artist's use of ________ (insert element here) is interesting." This is a much safer course than attempting to psychoanalyze the artist (after all, you may be standing in a clump of people including his or her mother) or using words that leave you uncertain of exact meanings and/or pronunciations.

The elements of art are both fun and useful. Remember ​line, shape, form, space, texture, value, and color. Knowing these elements will allow you to analyze, appreciate, write, and chat about art, as well as be of help should you create art yourself.