THE ELEMENTS OF ART

1
THE ELEMENTS OF ART The Elements are the WHAT
in a work of art the Principles are HOW
theyre used
LINE SHAPE FORM SPACE COLOR VALUE TEXTURE
2
VALUE Value is an element of art. Value deals
with the amount of light you see. It is the
range of lights and darks, from black to white
and every gray in between.
3

• A value scale can be shown as
• steps of dark to light
• or
• gradation, a gradual change from dark to light.

4
When light reflects off of an object, we see its
form.
(Can you tell which direction the light is coming
from? Light and shadow are values that show
form.)
5
Using lighter or darker values to make something
look three-dimensional is called shading, or
chiaroscuro.
Photograph by Edward Weston
6
Value contrast is created by light against dark.