General Terms and Concepts

Question 1

Markmaking

Answer 1

A contemporary term but one that is really old as time. It describes the attempts by any artist, craftsperson, shaman, or any human to put their mark on something, to announce their existence in the world. In artwork, markmaking can be done using almost any device—pencil, paintbrush, awl, clay tool, scraper, knife, carver….and using any medium—graphite, paint, clay, chalk, dirt….Some people say markmaking is what differentiates humans from animals. The desire to make a mark indicates higher brain function—to create meaning.

Question 2

Form

Answer 2

The literal shape and mass of an object or figure. More generally, the materials used to make a work of art, the ways in which these materials are utilized in terms of the formal elements (line, light, color, etc.), and the composition that results.

Question 3

Content

Answer 3

The meaning of an image (artwork) beyond its subject matter

Question 4

Process

Answer 4

How the work was created, the media used (the paint, pastel, clay, bronze, paper, etc.)

Question 5

Medium

Answer 5

Any materials used to create a work of art—the paint, pastel, graphite, clay, paper, bronze, glass, etc. The word media is the plural form.

Question 6

Two-dimensional

Answer 6

Height by width; a flat surface ie: drawing paper or canvas. (2-D)

Question 7

Three-dimensional

Answer 7

Height by width by depth. If we say a work of art is three-dimensional, we mean that it is fully articulated in space—that is to say it can be viewed from any angle and exists in the viewer’s space. Usually, three-dimensional works can be walked around, yet there are artists (me, for one) who create 3-D works that are hung on the wall, and thus the back is not important.

Question 8

Subject matter

Answer 8

The subject of an artwork—what the work is about. For example, it may be a painting of a shipwreck (the subject matter), but the meaning (content) is about the difficulties of life.

Question 9

Narrative

Answer 9

More than subject matter; narrative is the story of what you see in an artwork. It’s more complete and thorough than the narrative—it is more fully developed.

Question 10

Composition

Answer 10

The organization or arrangement of the formal elements in a work of art.

Question 11

Formal elements

Answer 11

The visual tools an artist uses to create a work of art. These include but are not limited to the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design.

Question 12

Formal analysis

Answer 12

Literally, analyzing the form of the art work. This means taking inventory of all the elements and tools used by an artist, considering the composition, and understanding how all these components are implemented to create meaning.

Question 13

Symbolism

Answer 13

The use of symbols to represent the invisible, intangible, or abstract (ie: God, death, birth, spirit, good/bad…)

Question 14

Iconography

Answer 14

The images and symbols conventionally associated with a given subject. Also, it is the study of the significance and interpretation of the subject matter. It often incorporates contextual evidence regarding traditions of representation of specific subjects to aid in understanding. In other words, each culture’s iconography is unique and must be viewed within the context of that culture.

Question 15

Picture plane

Answer 15

The flat, two-dimensional surface of a work of art, the “window”

Question 16

Pictorial depth

Answer 16

The aspect of composition on a two-dimensional plane (flat) in which a three-dimensional space is depicted. (shallow, medium, or deep space can be depicted).

Question 17

Verisimilitude

Answer 17

The quality or state of being the “truth.” In the visual arts, this means that something looks life-like, or ‘real’.

Question 18

Naturalism

Answer 18

The quality that makes a work of art appear close to or resemble the natural world—it looks ‘real,’ whatever that is. In general, this term is synonymous with representational. Naturalism also exists on a continuum.

Question 19

Representational

Answer 19

When an artwork is representational, it resembles something from the natural and visual world around us, that is, the world of natural appearance.

Question 20

Realism

Answer 20

An artwork that is realist also resembles the natural world, but once again, realism is a general term and exists on a continuum. In addition, there is a specific historical period in western art occurring in the 19th century called Realism (capital ‘R’). Don’t confuse these two.

Question 21

Abstract

Answer 21

: In art, this term means the rendering of images and objects in a stylized or simplified way, yet they remain recognizable; the formal or expressive aspects are emphasized. Abstract is a relative term. Often when we speak of abstraction in the visual of arts, we must consider the DEGREE of abstraction. This is to say that abstraction exists on a continuum. At one end of the continuum something might be simplified but look almost realistic. Moving along the continuum, this object becomes MORE simplified—almost to the point of not being recognized. When an image is abstract, there is always some vestige of the natural world; otherwise, we would call it non-objective.

Question 22

Impasto

Answer 22

thick paint on a surface (of a painting usually). If you can see the brushstrokes, the artist is painting with a heavy impasto. Usually, this is thought to be an expressive way to paint. It conveys emotions and intensity.

Question 23

Expressionistic

Answer 23

an artwork that is expressionistic, emphasizes the emotional and psychological content of the work. In general, to do this, artists often distort and personally interpret the formal tools like line and color. There is also an historical period in European 20th century art called Expressionism (capital ‘E’). Don’t confuse them. (expressive)

Question 24

Figurative

Answer 24

means that an artwork depicts or shows something that is recognizable and resembles something in the natural world (humans, plants, animals, cars, anything recognizable).

Question 25

Style

Answer 25

Basically, there are 2 kinds of style. Artists have their own unique manner of visual expression that is distinct from others. It is consistent within context of their artistic output. This is called style. Within history, we can also say that a particular style dominates certain eras—this is because of the cultural and social factors that influence art and artmaking. Thus, Impressionism, for example, is a stylistic period occurring in France in the 19th century. But it appeared in other artists’ personal styles in the U. S. as well as many other countries during that same century. In fact, even in our time, some artists still use this style of painting.

Question 26

Mixed media

Answer 26

a contemporary term. Many artists today don’t stay within the confines of a single medium. Rather, they enjoy mixing their media. For instance, my art is 3-D paper sculpture that I paint and draw onto to get the surface to become interesting. I also add found objects into my sculptures. I would consider myself a mixed media artist.

Question 27

Found objects

Answer 27

Any sort of natural or manufactured object that is not made by the artist but found by them and put into their artwork. This is an interesting way to let chance have a hand in the creation of your artwork.

Question 28

Criticism

Answer 28

the art of evaluating or analyzing with knowledge and propriety works of art or literature; to consider the merits and demerits of and judge accordingly.

Question 29

Visual literacy

Answer 29

being educated in the language and terminology of the visual arts.

Question 30

Aesthetic

Answer 30

Pertaining to the study and appreciation of the beautiful, and by extension, to the
appreciation of any form of art, whether it is ‘beautiful’ or not. Each person has his or her own aesthetics (which may or may not change over time). Aesthetics are shaped by experience, culture, time and place. The Ancient Greeks formalized the study of aesthetics and what they considered ‘beautiful.’

Question 31

organic (versus rectilinear)

Answer 31

something organic is curving, rounded, sensuous even, & derived from the natural world. Something rectilinear is geometric & based on right angles.

Question 32

Shaman

Answer 32

a person designated within a group, clan, or tribe, who communicates with the spiritual world. A shaman is a rare individual within that group. They are often isolated from the group, and their communication with the spiritual world often takes the form of seizures, dancing, talking in tongues…etc.

Question 33

Sculpture in the round

Answer 33

this is a piece of sculpture that the viewer can walk around. The sculpture is intended to be viewed from all sides.

Question 34

relief sculpture

Answer 34

sculpture that is raised from the background from which it is carved. There is high relief and low relief sculpture, but both are always attached to a background (which is then usually attached to an entire wall).

Question 35

art history

Answer 35

the study of styles of art and cultures linked to these styles, and individual artist through specific chronological periods.

Question 36

art criticism

Answer 36

Looking critically at artworks to find successes and weaknesses. Critiquing an artwork perhaps involves knowing something of the artist’s previous production so you can judge it from an authoritative (educated) point of view.

Question 37

art appreciation

Answer 37

studying the jargon and language attached to the making of artworks. Learning how to critically view artworks; this is to say that the appreciation of art takes into consideration the successes and weaknesses of individual artworks (criticism). Ultimately, the viewer who appreciates art will understand something of the context as well as the process and the form, and this may lead to an understanding of the meaning of the work. You don’t have to like a work of art to appreciate it. Liking artworks involve an emotional response that is linked to the personal aesthetic of the viewer.

Question 38

studio art

Answer 38

the production of art by artists.