To paraphrase Thomas Aquinas, there are three requirements for beauty: wholeness, harmony, and clarity. Studio Basics is a study aid designed to help you better understand the elements and principles that make up whole, harmonious and clear visual compositions.

Several important terms commonly used by artists to describe the elements of art and the principles that guide their use are listed above. Clicking on a word leads to a thorough definition of it. In addition, several examples of art works by students, faculty, and other artists are provided for each term. These illustrate the ways in which artists use the element or principle in their work.

For additional information on any given term, contact your art professor and/or consult any of the art books in the holdings of Burling Library.