Glossary of terms

Question 1

achromatic

Answer 1

lacking color; black, gray or white, neutral (“oxymoron”)

Question 2

additive color

Answer 2

color derived from light mixtures

Question 3

analogous colors

Answer 3

adjacent colors on the color wheel; such as blue, blue-green, and green

Question 4

balance

Answer 4

distribution of elements producing a state of equilibrium in a composition

Question 5

chiaroscuro

Answer 5

strong light-and-dark contrast in drawing and painting

Question 6

chroma

Answer 6

see: intensity, the degree of purity or brightness of a color

Question 7

chromatic

Answer 7

having color (as opposed to achromatic back, gray, and white)

Question 8

chromatic neutral

Answer 8

see: color identity; an obvious color bias in a mixture

Question 9

color constancy

Answer 9

adaptation of the eye to changes in illumination

Question 10

color identity

Answer 10

an obvious color bias in a mixture

Question 11

color index number

Answer 11

an identification number referring to a specific pigment composition

Question 12

color personality

Answer 12

individual preferences for particular colors or paints displayed in an artist’s work

Question 13

color scheme

Answer 13

orderly selection of colors, according to logical relationships on the color wheel, used in artwork

Question 14

color solid

Answer 14

a three-dimensional form showing the properties of color

Question 15

color wheel

Answer 15

a circular arrangement of the colors of the spectrum

Question 16

colorant

Answer 16

color matter; pigment or dye

Question 17

colorist

Answer 17

one who stresses color relationships in artwork

Question 18

compatible colors

Answer 18

pigments matched for similarities in transparency or opacity, intensity and tinting strength

Question 19

complementary colors

Answer 19

opposites on the color wheel

Question 20

composition

Answer 20

arrangement of the elements and principles of design to create a unified, artistic whole

Question 21

contrast

Answer 21

opposition; a dynamic element of design; juxtaposition of dissimilar elements in an artwork

Question 22

dominance

Answer 22

having one design elements of greater importance than another

Question 23

dominant light or color

Answer 23

representation of different lighting effects caused by changes in season, weather, time of day or region; the pre-dominant light or color in a composition

Question 24

dye

Answer 24

a transparent colorant absorbed by the surface it colors

Question 25

expanded palette

Answer 25

an increased number of colors from the six basic primaries and secondaries, which includes twelve hues

Question 26

fugitive color or pigment

Answer 26

a chemically unstable pigment that fades or changes noticeably under normal conditions of light or storage

Question 27

glaze

Answer 27

a transparent or translucent veil of color modifying an underlying color

Question 28

gradation

Answer 28

gradual, successive change

Question 29

granulation

Answer 29

sedimentary effect in washes

Question 30

harmony

Answer 30

pleasing result of relationships between design elements or principles

Question 31

highlight

Answer 31

the point of greatest illumination

Question 32

gamut

Answer 32

full range of colors in visual light spectrum

Question 33

lightfast

Answer 33

will not fade from UV rays

Question 34

fugitive

Answer 34

color fade; "runs away"

Question 35

hue

Answer 35

the spectral NAME of a color, such as red, orange, yellow

Question 36

illuminations

Answer 36

an effect caused by a light source

Question 37

intensity

Answer 37

the degree of purity or brightness of a color

Question 38

key

Answer 38

the dominant value relationships in a picture: high key includes medium-to-light values; low key includes medium-to-dark values; full contrast includes light, medium, and dark values

Question 39

limited palette

Answer 39

selection of a small number of colors to use in an artwork

Question 40

line

Answer 40

structural, descriptive or symbolic design element in a composition, having little volume; for example, an outline or contour defining shape

Question 41

local color

Answer 41

the actual color of an object

Question 42

luminosity

Answer 42

a quality of radiance or glow in an artwork

Question 43

medium

Answer 43

materials used in a specific art technique; also, a paint additive

Question 44

mingle

Answer 44

to blend paints without excessive mixing, so colors still retain some of their identity

Question 45

mixed contrast

Answer 45

overlay of an afterimage on another color; see also successive contrast

Question 46

monochromatic

Answer 46

having a single color

Question 47

movement

Answer 47

horizontal, vertical, or oblique directional thrust into the space and across the surface of an artwork; quality representing motion

Question 48

neutral

Answer 48

see achromatic

Question 49

opacity

Answer 49

having covering power; not transparent

Question 50

optical mixture

Answer 50

occurs when small areas of color are juxtaposed and perceived by the eye as a mixture

Question 51

paint

Answer 51

coloring matter (pigment) suspended in a liquid

Question 52

palette

Answer 52

the white surface on which colors are mixed; also the set of colors selected by an artist for use in an artwork

Question 53

pattern

Answer 53

placement of repeated colors, shapes of values in a design

Question 54

pigment

Answer 54

powdered coloring matter used in the manufacture of paints

Question 55

primary color

Answer 55

a color that cannot be mixed from other colors: red, yellow, blue, magenta, cyan

Question 56

properties of color

Answer 56

hue, value, intensity, temperature

Question 57

reflected color or light

Answer 57

color or light on an object that is reflected off adjacent objects

Question 58

repetition

Answer 58

recurrence of similar units of color, shape, or value

Question 59

rhythm

Answer 59

an ordered sequence of recurring elements to control speed of movement and energy in a composition

Question 60

saturation

Answer 60

see: intensity

Question 61

secondary color

Answer 61

a color resulting from the mixture of two primary colors

Question 62

semiopaque

Answer 62

slightly or nearly opaque

Question 63

semitransparent

Answer 63

partially transparent

Question 64

shade

Answer 64

medium-to-dark value of color; addition of white

Question 65

shape

Answer 65

an enclosed area of object in a design