Final answer:
The element of art that creates all other art and can possess various characteristics like thickness and shape is the line. It is foundational in art, allowing the creation of shape and form, and is essential for constructing the overall composition in a piece of artwork.
Step-by-step explanation:
The element of art that is foundational for creating all other art, able to be thick, thin, bold, dark, light, jagged, free-form, curly, and encompasses many other options is the line. A line in art is essentially a dot that continues from one point to another, and it can vary significantly in its attributes such as thickness, color, and shape. Unlike form, which gives shape to art and can be two-dimensional or three-dimensional, a line is primarily two-dimensional unless the artist imbues it with volume or mass. Furthermore, lines can be used to create shapes, which are defined by lines or changes in color, and ultimately contribute to the form of the artwork. The shape can be geometric with known contours or organic with a free-form outline.
Artists often use lines to direct the viewer's attention within a piece, with even implied lines—such as the suggestion of movement or directionality—contributing to the art's composition. Within a work of art, shape builds upon lines and color, as it must be comprised of one or both elements. These fundamental elements of art, combined with principles such as scale, proportion, unity, and rhythm, contribute to the rich vocabulary with which artists express themselves and viewers interpret art.