(Paraphrased from Art: Images and Ideas by Laura H. Chapman)

Almost a hundred years ago, an American artist and teacher of art named Arthur Wesley Dow wanted his art students to be able to see, describe, and create visual qualities in a systematic way.  Dow wrote about the “elements of art” in 1899.  Over the years, it has been changed and expanded by artists and experts.

The following is a list of the most common “Elements of Art” used today.

Line
path of movement
active – passive
bold – delicate
flowing – light
straight – curved
thick – thin
dark – light
broken – continuous
geometric – organic
implied – actual
precise – irregular
contour – outline
calligraphy
caricature

Shape/Form
2D-3D
solid – void
concave – convex
positive – negative
figure – ground
ambiguous – complete
organic –  geometric – free-form
circle – sphere
square – cube
triangle – pyramid-cone

Space
2D-3D
positive – negative
open – closed
filled – empty
actual – implied
interior – exterior
scale
orientation
spacing
illusion of space
systems of perspective

Light/Color/Value
Visible color spectrum
Color wheel
value
shading
            contrast
           chiaroscuro
           tint
          shade
hue
pigment
           primary
           secondary
           intermediate
           neutral
           color interactions
           simultaneous contrast
color schemes
warm
           cool
           neutral
           monochromatic
           analogous
           complementary
           split complementary
           triad 
intensity
bright – dull
           high key – low key
local
optical (or atmospheric)
symbolic

Texture
actual (tactual) – visual
simulated – invented
matte – semi-gloss – glossy
techniques
           impasto
           rubbings
           frottage
           grottage
           decalcomania
           tromp l’oeil

 

(source)