Glossary of Terms

Question 1

a style of art that emerged during the Contemporary period of art history, composed of the art elements themselves - shapes, colors, and forms - and used to convey emotions, sensations, and ideas. Emphasis is on the artist’s creativity, imagination and personal vision and encourages the viewer to explore and engage with the artwork on a deeper level, as the meaning and interpretation can vary from person to person.

Answer 1

Abstract

Question 2

a style of art that became popular in the mid-20th century using color, shapes, and lines to express feelings and emotions and uses bold brushstrokes, splatters and drips of paint. Paintings are often very large, allowing for an immersive viewing experience

Answer 2

Abstract Expressionism

Question 3

a type of paint known for its quick-drying time and vibrant colors. once dry, the paint becomes waterproof and durable, making paintings last for a long time. popular during the Contemporary period.

Answer 3

Acrylic

Question 4

the artistic ingredients a painter uses to create a painting

Answer 4

Art Elements

Question 5

the part of a painting that seems farthest away from the viewer, usually appears behind the main subject or focal point

Answer 5

Background

Question 6

a period of art history occurring in the 17th and 18th century with important historical events such as English colonization, the Seven Years War, scientific discoveries. Paintings are usually formal, showcase tiny details of scenery and costume, have a great sense of energy and movement, and often include sharp contrasts between light and dark areas of the paintings.

Answer 6

Baroque

Question 7

the way an artist uses their paintbrush to apply paint onto a canvas or surface in order to create different textures, strokes, and patterns. Can be loose and free or precise and detailed.

Answer 7

Brushwork

Question 8

(1) a painting; (2) treated fabric, stretched over a frame, to which paint is applied

Answer 8

Canvas

Question 9

a painting technique that uses strong contrasts between light and shadow to create a dramatic effect. Popular in the Renaissance period and also used in the Baroque period. Technique evokes intense emotions in their viewers and add a sense of drama to their work.

Answer 9

Chiaroscuro

Question 10

a technique that involves combining various materials, such as paper, photographs, fabric, and found objects, onto a flat surface to create a new composition. Materials can be cut, torn, layered and overlapped, allowing artists to play with texture, color and shape to create expressive artworks

Answer 10

Collage

Question 11

pairs of colors that are located at opposite ends of the color wheel, making them the most different from each other. Red and green, orange and blue, yellow and purple

Answer 11

Complementary colors

Question 12

the way individual art elements work with each other to form a complete painting, adding dimension, setting the mood, organizing space, creating structure. The choice made by the artist when deciding how to position, arrange or design the different parts of painting in relation to each other.

Answer 12

Composition

Question 13

a period of art history from the 1950s to the present day with important historical events such as the invention of the TV, the advent of the internet, the landing on the moon, the Civil Rights Movements and the wars in Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East. Movement of artists from Europe to the US (particularly NYC). Abstract art began during this period as artists tried to understand and express the strange new world they were living in.

Answer 13

Contemporary

Question 14

a comparison that draws attention to the differences between things. Warm colors vs. Cool colors, bright color vs dull color, light areas vs dark areas, straight and curved lines, vertical and diagonal lines, hard and soft textures, rough and smooth textures.

Answer 14

Contrast

Question 15

Colors such as blue, green, lavender, purple and others that we associate with cool or cold temperatures like the cool green of a shaded forest or the icy blue of a mountain lake.

Answer 15

Cool Colors

Question 16

a style of painting developed in France in the early Modern period of art history. Artists took familiar objects, broke them up into geometric figures like cubes, spheres and cones, then put them back together. This process of fragmenting and reassembling allowed the artists to include multiple points of view in a single composition by showing different sides or angles of the subject, forcing viewers to see familiar objects in unfamiliar ways.

Answer 16

Cubism

Question 17

the segment of the Baroque period of art history during which the Netherlands, a country in northern Europe, experienced a period of economic prosperity and artistic achievement. Portraits, landscapes, still lifes, and genre paintings were common. The artists paid close attention to light, color and textures, making paintings look very lifelike. Art was more accessible to people other than the rich and powerful. Middle-class citizens purchased artwork for their homes, leading to a flourishing art market.

Answer 17

Dutch Golden Age

Question 18

the specific area or element within an artwork that commands the viewer’s attention and become the primary point of interest. It is the part of the composition that stands out the most.

Answer 18

Focal Point

Question 19

the part of a painting that seems closest to the viewer, similar to the front of the stage. It tends to be the area that you first notice and that captures your attention.

Answer 19

Foreground

Question 20

the three-dimensional aspect of an object or artwork. describes objects that have volume, depth, and a sense of solidity. Examples include spheres, cubes, cones, prisms, and other more complex shapes that might curve or bend in unusual ways. Helps artists bring their artwork to life and make it more realistic.

Answer 20

Form

Question 21

a painting of ordinary people engaged in common, everyday activities, especially popular during the Dutch Golden Age

Answer 21

Genre Painting

Question 22

an artistic and intellectual movement that began after World War I and lasted until the 1930s, celebrating African American culture, art, sculpture, literature, music, dance, theatre, fashion and social and political activism. It took place in the North and Midwest US, but concentrated in Harlem, NY.

Answer 22

Harlem Renaissance

Question 23

a style of painting developed in France late in the Modern period of art history, by artists who wanted to create impressions of light and color that, when seen as a whole, would form pictures in viewers’ minds. Artists often placed different colors side-by-side very close together on the canvas, letting viewers’ eyes blend the colors together. Short, broad brushstrokes creating a rough texture on the surface, with very few draw lines, shadows or dark colors.

Answer 23

Impressionism

Question 24

(1) a painting of an outdoor view that features large areas of natural scenery; (2) the outdoor view itself.

Answer 24

Landscape

Question 25

(1) the source of light in a painting, like the sun or a lamp; (2) the lightness or darkness of different areas of a painting

Answer 25

Light

Question 26

(1) lines drawn by an artist to mark the edges of something, or outline it, like the lines that form the outer edges of a building; (2) lines formed where objects touch or overlap, so that different colors or shapes come together.

Answer 26

Lines

Question 27

the material or tools used by an artist to create an artwork. examples include oil, acrylic, watercolor, and tempera

Answer 27

Medium

Question 28

a period of art history from 1850 to 1950 with important historical events such as the rise of democracy, diminishing powers of monarchies, and the industrial revolution which brought major advancements in technology, followed by two devastating world wars, and the Great Depression. The invention of the camera was notable. Movements such as impressionism, cubism, and surrealism took place as artists began exploring new styles and techniques, embracing a departure from realism

Answer 28

Modern

Question 29

the feelings or emotions an artist wants viewers to experience when we look at a painting

Answer 29

Mood

Question 30

a large artwork or painting typically created on a wall or ceiling

Answer 30

Mural

Question 31

colors such as black, white and beige which have neither a warm nor cool effect in a painting. Calm, subtle colors create a sense of balance and harmony. Used to tone down visual intensity or draw attention to brighter colors by creating contrast. Created by mixing two complementary colors or mixing with white, gray, black.

Answer 31

Neutral

Question 32

the entire body of work created by an artist throughout their lifetime

Answer 32

Oeuvre

Question 33

a type of paint made by mixing pigments with linseed oil. Differs from other paints because it takes a long time to dry. Long drying time gives artists longer period to work and make changes if needed

Answer 33

Oil paint

Question 34

(1) a flat surface - usually plastic or wood - on which artists mix their paints; (2) the range of colors used by an artist in a particular piece, including specific hues, tones, and shades that appear in a painting

Answer 34

Palette

Question 35

a person who financially supports and commissions an artist’s work.

Answer 35

Patron

Question 36

the illusion of depth or distance

Answer 36

Perspective