Advanced English Vocabulary – Art Flashcards
Word 1: Abstract (adjective)
Meaning: Type of art that doesn’t show the literal object. It uses shapes, colors and other techniques to achieve an effect.
Synonyms: Conceptual (adjective)
Antonyms: Realistic; Representational; Photorealistic (all adjectives)
Collocations: Abstract art; Abstract concepts; An abstract painter; Abstract paintings
Example Sentence: I’m more interested in abstract art than more photorealistic work.
Word 2: (A) Watercolour (adjective/noun)
Meaning: A type of paint or painting style that is based in water rather than oil.
Antonyms: Oil Painting; Sketch; Ink Painting
Collocations: Watercolour painting; A watercolour of a + subject of painting (e.g. sunset)
Example Sentence (Noun): I saw some beautiful watercolours of old buildings in the art gallery in Amsterdam.
Example Sentence (Adj): I would love to learn how to create watercolour paintings.
Word 3: Sculpture (noun)
Meaning: A work of art produced by shaping a material e.g. clay, stone, wood, metal.
Word Family: Sculptor (noun, person who sculpts); To sculpt (verb); Sculptured (adj)
Synonyms: Statue (but only of people/animal and made with metal or stone – so more limited).
Example Sentence: I took sculpture classes in college but I never sculpt these days.
مجسمه سازی ، پیکر تراشی ، سنگتراشی کردن .
Word 4: A still life (noun)
Meaning: A type of painting depicting (show) an inanimate (Lifeless) object e.g. flowers, books
Antonyms: Portrait; Landscape (both nouns)
Example Sentence:
The guide at the art gallery showed me an amazing still life called Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers by Van Gogh.
Word 5: Masterpiece (noun)
Meaning: A very high-quality piece of art that is praised by the public, and/or usually is an artist’s best work.
Synonyms: Magnum opus;** Masterwork; A wonder; A triumph** (all nouns)
Antonym: A failure; A dud; A turkey (all nouns)
Collocations: (Something is) An absolute masterpiece; (Something is)
his/her masterpiece; To be hailed * as a masterpiece; (Something is) a real masterpiece.
Example Sentence: Although the Mona Lisa** has been hailed** as a masterpiece, Leonardo da Vinci didn’t consider it his finest piece of work.
- It has reputation
* Everybody says it
Word 6: To depict (verb)
Meaning: Represent a person/animal/object in a piece of art.
Word Family: Depiction (noun); To be depicted (adjective/passive verb)
Synonyms: Portray; Render; Represent; Display (all verbs)
Example Sentence: In her paintings, she often depicts scenes of strong human emotion.
Word 7: Impenetrable (adjective)
Meaning: Very hard to understand or enjoy.
Synonyms: Inaccessible; Baffling; Unclear; Opaque (all adjectives)
Antonyms: Accessible; Approachable (all adjectives) = Easy to understand
Collocations: Somewhat (kind of) impenetrable; Completely impenetrable; (To be) impenetrable to someone
Example Sentence: I must admit that I find a lot of abstract art completely impenetrable. (I just don’t understand)
غیر قابل رسوخ ، سوراخ نشدنی ، داخل نشدنی ، نفوذ نکردنی ،درک نکردنی،پوشید
Word 8: Interpretation (noun)
Meaning: The meaning that a person gets from something e.g. a piece of art.
Word Family: To interpret (verb); Interpreter (person, usually used for
translation)
Synonyms: A reading of something; An understanding of something; A take on something
Collocations: My interpretation of something is…; (Something is) Open to interpretation; A literal interpretation; More than one interpretation.
Example Sentence: While I agree that there can be more than one
interpretation of this piece of work, my interpretation of it is that it shows the struggles of life.
Word 9: Motor skills (noun)
Meaning: Skills related to using hands and fingers in a specific way.
Synonyms: (Manual) Dexterity; Nimbleness (both nouns)
Collocations: Fine motor skills; The development of motor skills
Example Sentence: Studying art is a great way for children to develop fine motor skills.
مهارت حرکتی
Word 10: Innovative (adjective)
Meaning: To be creative and try to create new things/ideas.
Word Family: Innovation (noun, the new thing); Innovator (noun, person); To innovate (verb)
Synonyms: Creative; Inventive; Original; Ingenious (all adjs)
Antonyms: Repetitive; Monotonous (both adjs)
Collocations: Innovative design; To be/Being innovative
Example Sentence: Parents should offer praise to children when they are being innovative, in order to encourage the same behaviour in the future.
بدعت ، ابداع ، تغییر ، چیز تازه ، نو آوری.|نوآوری ، ابداع .
Listen
I find sculpture one of the most interesting art forms. For me, the ability to depict something using clay is a marvel. I enjoy in particular abstract sculptures because they present a challenge and a question - is your interpretation of the work of art the same as someone else’s? And is it the same as the artist originally intended?
What kind of art are you interested in?
I’m very much an old-fashioned art enthusiastic. I don’t like anything too abstract - I find it quite impenetrable. I like oil paintings of famous people & scenes from the past - that’s what I find the most interesting and approachable.
What makes a good art?
I think the** first & most obvious quality** is their fine motor skills - they have to be able to manipulate the brush, pencil or material in a very specific way in order to depict their subject. And then their creativity, their ability to innovate, is also very important.
