Terms Flashcards
ALBUMIN
Any of numerous simple heat-coagulable, water-soluble proteins that occur in blood plasma or serum, muscle, egg whites, milk, and other animal substances and in many plants; used in adhesives, finishes, coatings, and varnishes.
ALPHA CELLULOSE
It is the purest form of cellulose extracted from organic fibers such as wood pulp or cotton.
KLINKER
A soft leather pad on which to lay the leaf for cutting when gilding.
LIGHTFAST
The ability of a substance or material to withstand exposure to daylight (UV light) without fading or changing color.
LAP JOINT
A very strong splicing technique used in woodworking.
ROTTENSTONE
A very fine abrasive made from limestone. Used in distressing water gilded surfaces and in patination techniques; light gray color makes it an ideal toner.
SCOTIA
A concave moulding with a semicircular profile; also called a cove.
SPANDREL
Rectangular frame with an oval opening.
SIGHT MEASUREMENT
Dimensions of the frame taken from the inside edge of the frame lip.
VERSO
1> The back side of an object.
2> The left-hand page of an open book. Opposed to recto.
ACID MIGRATION
The traveling or transfer of acid from one material to an adjacent material.
BLOCK PRINT
A print pulled from the raised surface of a block commonly carved from wood or linoleum.
CHOP MARK
A small embossed seal or impression on a print, generally indicating the printer or artist.
DECKLE EDGE
The feathery edge of a sheet of handmade paper caused by thinning of the pulp near the deckle or frame that confines the pulp to the mold. Also present on two sides with some machine-made papers.
DYE SUBLIMATION
A color printing technology that forms an image by delivering gaseous dyes to the receiver material with a thermal driver (same as diffusion transfer).
EXTRUDE
To shape (as metal or plastic) by forcing through a die. Common process used for manufacture of aluminum picture frame moulding and plastic sheet products.
FROTTAGE
A French term for the creation of a pattern by placing paper over a textured surface, such as wood or cloth, and rubbing with a pencil or crayon.
GICLEE
Derived from the French word gicler meaning “to squirt” or “to spray.” The use of the inkjet process to make fine art prints.
HYDRATION
In paper, the level of moisture present. The hygroscopic nature of paper may result in the absorption of moisture from the atmosphere that can result in the expansion of the paper. A low level of hydration may reflect degradation of the paper fiber with a resulting brittle quality.
JAPANESE PAPER
Handmade paper with a web of strong naturally formed fibers, some of which are ideal for hinging purposes. The best are made with 100 percent kozo or gampi fibers, which have not been bleached or chemically processed.
ALLA PRIMA
“All at once.” Italian term for an oil painting technique in which a canvas is completed in one session.
BEVA
The acronym for Berger Ethylene Vinyl Acetate. A family of adhesives developed by Gustov Berger. Available in dry resin mix, solution, gel, film, and dispersion.
CAMAIEU
A technique of painting using several shades of one color. Also applies to a painting when two or three tints are used, and the objects portrayed are not painted in their natural colors.
COMPO
Relief ornaments made from a mixture of whiting, oil, rosin and animal-hide glue. Pliable when heated, self-adhesive when wet, and hard when set.
CUBISM
A revolutionary art movement (1907-1925). Artists started separating objects and figures into geometric elements. As the movement evolved, these geometric shapes were increasingly broken down until the artist was liberated from traditional reality, appearance and illusion.
ECLABOUSSAGE
A French term for paint splashed or splattered on a surface.
GROUND
1) A surface to which paint is applied.
2) A coating material used to prepare a surface for painting.
3) A coating material used to prepare an etching plate.
LINER
1) A frame moulding used within the outer moulding. May be covered with fabric, often velvet or linen. Many liners are made from fully finished frame stock, including gold or silver. Sometimes called an insert. If more than 2 1/2 inches wide, it’s called a panel.
2) Inner mats and fillets are also called liners.
MONEL
An alloy, consisting of nickel, copper and other metals, that does not rust.
TRACTION FISSURE
A type of crack in the paint or varnish of old paintings, where the film cracks and the edges of the cracks recede to form wide, open fissures, revealing the underlying surface. Colloquially called creeping or crawling.
AIDA CLOTH
A type of fabric for counted cross-stitch. It is available in 11-, 14- and 18-count (stitches per inch)
BINDER
A cementing ingredient. Its functions in paint are to hold the pigment particles together and to attach it securely to the substrate.
CALCIUM CARBONATE
(CaCO3) A white, nearly water-insoluble powder occurring in nature as calcite, chalk, and limestone. An alkaline chemical often used as a buffer in mat boards, as filler in gesso mixed with animal glue, and as the filler in compo fo picture frame ornamentation.
DISTEMPER
A term denoting paints made from pigments mixed with a simple glue or binder, such as poster paints.
FRESCO
A painting made on fresh, wet plaster with pigments suspended in water. A technique usually used for decorating walls and ceilings.
FUGITIVE
Inherently unstable materials; media that easily fade, especially those which lose color rapidly when exposed to light; however, some media will fade without exposure to light.
TATTING
A fine lace that is made by looping and knotting thread that is wound on a hand shuttle; used in edging and trimming.
TRIPTYCH
1) A set of three prints making one complete image.
2) A set of three paintings or bas reliefs, related in subject matter, and connected side by side. The two outside half panels (called wings) may be closed over the central panel.
VALUE
1) The degree of lightness or darkness of a hue.
2) The relation of one part to another with regard to lightness and darkness.
See also monetary value, sentimental value.
ZEOLITE
Any of various natural or synthesized silicates of similar structure used especially as absorbents. See also molecular trap.
ARTIST’S PROOF
Traditionally, additional proofs not included in the regular edition, pulled for the artist’s approval and personal use. In contemporary editions, it is common to designate a portion of an edition as artist’s proofs. Usually bears the designation A/P or E/A. See also epreuve d’artiste.
BATTEN
A strip of wood nailed over the adjoining edges of parallel boards to strengthen them or cover the cracks. Sometimes used for reinforcement of frames, or as a pseudo-frame by nailing strips to edges of stretched canvas painting. See also baguette.
BLOTTER
A soft spongy, unsized paper used to absorb liquids.
CANVAS TRANSFER
A process that simulates a painting on canvas. The printed image or photo is coated with a laminate or coating, stripped from its original backing or support structure into a shear decal and applied to a canvas surface.
COLONIAL
An early American architectural and decorative style during the Colonial period that was influenced by design ideas brought by settlers from Europe, particularly England.
DECOUPAGE
Decoration of a surface by covering it completely with cutout paper forms. The process used in making collages.
LATTICE
1) In double or multiple window mat openings, the lattice is the section between the openings.
2) A framework or structure of crisscrossed strips of wood or other material.
MONOCHROMATIC
A color scheme using different values of one color. See also grisaille.
PENTIMENTO
The reappearance on the surface of an oil painting of a painting or a drawing that the artist had covered up by overpainting; a result of aging.
TEMPERA
1) A painting medium in which pigment is mixed with water-soluble glutinous material, such as size or egg yolk. See also egg tempera.
2) A painting made using this medium.
