1.2 Elements of Art in 2-D Design

Building blocks

The elements of art are the visual building blocks: line, shape, value, texture, space, color, and form. In 2-D Design, shape, color, and space are especially central to composition.

Color

Color is a key 2-D tool: hue (the color itself), value (light/dark), and saturation (intensity). Color schemes (complementary, analogous) shape mood and unity.

Positive & negative space

Space includes positive space (the subject) and negative space (the area around it). Designers use both deliberately — negative space can be as powerful as the subject.

Key terms

Elements of art

line, shape, value, texture, space, color, form

Hue / value / saturation

the color / its lightness / its intensity

Positive space

the subject or figure

Negative space

the area around the subject — used deliberately

Color schemes

complementary, analogous — shape mood and unity

Try an AP-style question

In 2-D design, shape differs from form because shape is…

1. always organic
2. flat and two-dimensional
3. three-dimensional
4. a type of line