When asked this question, many oftentimes have varying answers, as one particular art form may come to mind—such as; painting, drawing, etc. In turn, the genre that the individual chooses is usually based on what he/she has the most experience with—and/or knowledge of prior. However, this can cause confusion for those who are unaware of the differing art forms—and/or categories of each one. Only some—among many—are listed as follows; 1. ceramics, 2. drawing, 3. painting, 4. sculpture, 5. printmaking, 6. design, and 7. crafts. These forms are all created primarily for visual perception, and allow artists to express themselves in a variety of ways.

First and foremost is ceramics, “an art made from ceramic materials—such as clay—that can take several forms, including art ware, tile, figurines, sculpture, and tableware”. Second is drawing, in which “a person uses various drawing instruments to mark paper, or another two-dimensional medium. Instruments include graphite pencils, pen and ink, paints, inked brushes, wax colored pencils, crayons, charcoal, chalk, pastels, erasers, markers, styluses, and various metals”. Third is painting, which is “the practice of applying paint, pigment, color, or another medium to a solid surface”.

Fourth is sculpture, which is where “a wide variety of materials may be worked by removal—such as carving, assembled by welding or modelling, or molded or casted”. Fifth is printmaking, which is “the process of creating artworks by printing, normally on paper. The prints have an elements of originality, rather than just being a photographic reproduction of a painting, and are created by transferring ink from a matrix—or through a prepared screen—to a sheet of paper or other material”. Sixth is design, which is “the intentional creation of a plan or specification for the construction of an object or system, or for the implementation of an activity or process”. And last is crafts, which is “a pastime, or a profession, that requires particular skills, and knowledge of skilled work”.

In conclusion, it is important to know—not just one form of visual art—but all. For, we as humans use each to communicate with one another, throughout history—whether it be through personal expression of the artist, symbolism, narrative purposes, to convey a message, and/or to portray the beauty of the piece itself. As a result, we are able to better understand what has taken place in that of a particular era—and come together, both artists and non-artists alike, through that which is expressed in visual art.

Once a developing artist begins to understand the seven elements of art, he/she may then find himself/herself wanting to further perfect that of his/her craft—as there is always room for improvement. It is through doing so, that he/she may find himself/herself wondering as to what he/she can do to make his/her piece stand out visually. This is where the seven principles of art come into play, which are listed as follows; 1. Rhythm, 2. Balance, 3. Emphasis, 4. Proportion, 5. Harmony, 6. Variety, and 7. Movement. Through the mastering of each of these techniques, those who are practicing the arts, are not only able to understand the importance of each, but to witness it first hand.

First and foremost is rhythm, “a principle of design that indicates movement, created by the careful placement of repeated elements in a work of art to cause a visual tempo or beat”. Second is balance, which is “a way of combining elements to add a feeling of equilibrium or stability to a work of art”. Third is emphasis, which is “a way of combining elements to stress the differences between those elements”. Fourth is proportion, “a principle of design that refers to the relationship of certain elements to the whole and to each other”.

Fifth is harmony, which is “a way of combining similar elements in an artwork to accent their similarities”. Sixth is variety, which is “a principle of design concerned with diversity or contrast—achieved by using different shapes, sizes, and colors”. And last is movement, which is “a principle of design used to create the look/feeling of action, and to guide the viewer’s eye throughout the work of art”.

As a result of these principles, those who are in the process of learning art are able to better understand how to put the pieces together visually—and gain further knowledge as to the effect of each. In combination with the elements of art, individuals may find themselves developing their own unique style, as they gain more experience—and comfortability—with each principle. It is then that one can achieve the effect that he/she wants—within his/her work—with precision and ease. In conclusion, rhythm, balance, emphasis, proportion, harmony, variety, and movement all serve as a guide for both experienced artists, as well as beginners. It is through such that a wide range of individuals are able to create and analyze art, as well as discuss it with others.h

Oftentimes, a wide range of people—will view a piece that impacts them to a certain degree—by bringing about a particular mood or emotion. Yet even so, those who have very little knowledge in regards to art—will consequently “see” the visual, without first seeing the underlying components which make up such. In turn, while these seven elements may be disregarded by the eyes of others—they fail to go unnoticed by the general artist body—and are listed as follows; 1. Color, 2. Form. 3. Line, 4. Shape, 5. Space, 6. Texture, and 7. Value. It is through two or more of these aspects that artists are able to communicate a deeper meaning—and/or understanding—to that of their audience, which might be hidden beneath the work itself.

First and foremost is line, which is “defined by a point moving in space. It may be two or three dimensional, descriptive, implied, or abstract”. Second is shape, “an element of art that is two-dimensional, flat, or limited to height and width”. Third is form, which “encloses volume, and includes height, width, and depth. In addition, it may also be free flowing”. Fourth is value, which focuses on “the lightness or darkness of tones or colors. White being the lightest, and black being the darkest”. Fifth is space, in which “positive and negative areas are defined, or a sense of depth achieved in a work of art”. Sixth is color, “an element made up of three properties being hue, value, and intensity”. And last is texture, which “refers to the way things feel, or look”.

As a result, it is through these elements that both artists—and non-artists alike—can find the importance in not only their own work, but in the work of others. For example, as one begins to examine in detail the constitution—or structure—of a piece, he/she may find himself/herself being able to interpret what is taking place, through the elements that are being used within that particular work.

In conclusion, art can be both influential—and/or essential—but even more so, when one begins to decipher what is being expressed through the hand of the artist. For instance, some art may be created with the intent to affect social issues, and may therefore be difficult to look at—while some art may be beautiful, as well as hard to look away from. In turn, no matter the form of art, these seven elements allow a wide range of individuals to appreciate art to its fullest degree—no matter the message.