Rhythm: is the repetition of visual movement in colors, shapes, and lines or other elements.

1. Line: is often defined as a moving dot. It has length and width, but its width is very tiny compared to its length. They are created by the movement of a tool and pigment, and often suggests movement in a drawing or painting.

2. Shape: is an area that is contained within an implied line, or is seen and identified because of color or value changes. They have two dimensions, length and width, and can be geometric or organic/ free-form.

3. Color: depends on light because it is made of light reflecting off an object. A red shirt will not look red in the dark, where there is no light. The whiter the light, the more true the colors will be. A yellow light on a painting will change the appearance of it’s colors.

4. Form: describes volume and mass, or the three-dimensional aspects of objects that take up space. They have height, width, and depth.

5. Texture: refers to the surface quality of an artwork both simulated and actual. In painting, dry brush technique simulates roughness that can be viewed but not felt, whereas a heavy application of acrylic paint will produce an actual rough quality that can be felt and viewed.

6. Value: refers to how dark or light something is. Contrasts in the lights and darks of an artwork help us to see and understand a two-dimensional work of art.

7. Space: is a three-dimensional volume or area that can be empty or filled with objects. Areas that appear three-dimensional in a painting are an illusion that creates a feeling of actual depth. Positive space is taken up by the object. Negative space is the area around or inside the object.

8. Balance: refers to the distribution of visual weight. The three types are: Symmetrical meaning weight is visually equal; Asymmetrical meaning weight is visually unequal; or Radially Symmetrical meaning the weight is visually equal when wedges are compared.

9. Contrast: refers to the differences in values, colors, textures, and other elements. It creates visual excitement and adds interest to the artwork.

10. Rhythm: is the repetition of visual movement in colors, shapes, and lines or other elements.

11. Movement: is used by visual artists to direct viewers through their artwork along lines, edges, shapes, and colors within the work often leading them to focal areas.

12. Emphasis: is used by artists to create dominance and focus in their artwork often by using contrast to cause colors, values, shapes, or other art elements to stand out.

13. Pattern: uses the art elements in planned or random repetitions to enhance the surface of an artwork. It increases excitement by enriching surface interest.

14. Unity: provides the cohesive quality that makes an artwork feel complete created when all the elements and principles look like they belong together.