The Artist's Toolkit: Visual Elements and Principles
Explore the Toolkit
See Artists In Action
Encyclopedia
The Artist's Toolkit: Visual Elements and Principles
Explore the Toolkit


Artists use visual elements and principles like line, color and shape as tools to build works of art. Each title below has three sections:

  • Watch an animated demonstration
  • Find examples of the concept in works of art from museums
  • Create your own composition

Line

Line
Line

 

Color




Color
Color

 

Space


Space
Space
Shape
Shape
Shape

 

Balance 
Balance
Balance

 


Movement / 
Rhythm
Movement / Rhythm
Movement / Rhythm
 
Walker Art Center The Minneapolis Institute of Arts ArtsConnectEd
Walker Art Center & The Minneapolis Institute of Arts