Key Terms Flashcards
Abstract Art
To withdraw from realism and naturalism.
Accent
The part of an artistic composition which attracts your attention. As in a painting which uses strong, bright colours.
Acrylic
A clear plastic used as a vehicle in paints
Aesthetics
The beauty of an art form, how we feel about a piece of art work
Asymmetry
Not having the same measurement. Objects are unproportional or of different sizes with a picture. Tend to give the impression of activity whereas symmetrical designs tend to give the impression of inactivity.
Background
The part of the composition that appears to be behind the subject matter.
Canvas
Fabric, usually cotton or linen, used as a medium to paint on.
Ceramics
Objects made from baked clay, such as pottery vase, sculptures etc
Chiaroscuro
The art of modelling figures or objects in light and shade in order to get a three-dimensional effect on a two-dimensional surface
Chroma
The purity of the hue
Collage
The pasting on to a surface cutouts of unrelated materials such as cloth paper, photos etc to form a composition.
Composition
The combination of elements in a work of art eg. shape, size, texture, tone
Contour
The internal or external edge of an object in an art form
Cool Colours
A hue, generally in blue, green or violet which suggests a calming effect.
Design
A scheme, plan or concept, used to create an art work
Drawing
A visual representation of an artist’s idea or concept, using media such as pencil, charcoal, pastel etc
Elements (definition)
The basic visual qualities that, when combined, produce visual images.
Etching
A form of printmaking. Images are etched into the surface using acid to form line and tone
Expressionism
An art movement where artists emphasised feelings rather than reasoned thought.
Van Gogh, Georges Rounault
Fauvism
Use of pure, violent, brilliant, bold and startling colours.
Figurative Art
Art which clearly represents objects that are recognisable - nature, humans etc.
Focal Points
The areas in a work of art to which the eyes are drawn
Foreground
The part of a composition which appears to be closest to the viewer
Glaze
In painting, a transparent film of glassy coating painted over the final surface
Gouache
Watercolour made opaque with the addition of chalk
Ground
A coating, such as priming or sizing (gesso), applied to a support (canvas, wood) to prepare the surface for painting.
Horizon Line
A real or implied line across the picture plane parallel with the top and bottom edges. This tends to draw the viewer’s eye towards the linear perspective, all receding lines seem to converge to this line.
Hue
The property of colour that distinguishes one colour from another as red, green etc.
Icon
Used to describe panel paintings of religious figures. Works of importance.
Iconography
The meaning of the images or subject matter in paintings.
Image
A respresentation of an object, an individual or event.
Impasto
Paint laid in richly textured quantities
Intensity
The relative brilliance of a hue
Intrinsic
Belonging to a thing by its very nature