The formal elements of art are an fundamental part for visual analysis and describing images. The formal elements are also important vocabulary for you as a visual arts student. On the vocabulary page you will find wordlist for each of the elements of art.
You need to consider that the formal elements you use might not be same when you analyse a painting or a installation or sculpture. Every medium has its specific language and visual elements.
Without knowing what the elements are how can we know what we are missing or what we have?