Visual Art Vocabulary Flashcards
Path of a point that moves through space; can be described in terms of width, direction, movement, length, curvature, and even color
Line
Distinct spatial form depicted in two dimensions (height & width) and created by lines or a change in color, shading, or materials
Shape
Unit in an artwork that is defined or set apart by a definite contour
Form
Visual or actual area within and around shapes and forms.
Space
Contents of a shape or form and is bound by edges or surfaces
Positive space
“Empty” area surrounding a shape or form and also helps to define the boundaries of a shape or form.
Negative space
Look and feel of a surface
Texture
Hue, value, and intensity of an object
Color
Relative lightness or darkness of tones or colors
Value
Building block components of a work of art; visual pieces that are put together to make a coherent whole
Elements of design
Principle of art that is concerned with the sense of stability of the visual elements
Balance
Assortment of lines, colors, forms, shapes, or textures in a work of art
Variety
Regular repetition of lines, shapes, colors, or patterns in a work of art
Rhythm
Accent, stress, or importance of a part of an artwork
Emphasis
Relationship of the distance of objects in a composition; the relationship of the size of one part to another or to the whole
Proportion
When proportional relationships are created relative to a specific unit of measurement
Scale
Significant degrees of difference between lines, colors, shapes, values, forms, and/or textures.
Contrast
Interrelation, balance, and organization of all elements of an artwork to achieve a quality of oneness, or a pleasing sense
Unity
Mixture of copper, tin, and other metals often used in cast sculptures because it is very strong and hard
Bronze
Artful form of writing letters or words with brushes or pens, originated by the Chinese
Calligraphy
Technique for making sculpture by cutting away unwanted parts; a carved object
Carving
To copy a solid object by pouring a liquid, such as melted metal, clay, wax, or plaster, into a mold and letting it harden
Cast
Art of making and decorating objects of clay that are fired in a kiln; pottery
Ceramics
Work of art created by gluing bits of paper, fabric, scraps, photographs, or other materials to a flat surface
Collage
Colors that are opposites on the color wheel and contrast with each other
Complementary colors
Family or related colors ranging from the greens though the blues or violets
Cool colors
Part of a design that is most important, most powerful, or has the most influence
Dominant
Decorative designs sewn on cloth with a needle and thread or yarn
Embroidery
Process of carving or cutting pictures, letters, or designs into a hard material
Engraving
Most important part or area in a work of art; center of interest
Focal point
Portion of a work of art that appears to be in front
Foreground
Painting done with water based paint on fresh plaster so that as it dries the colors are absorbed into the wall
Fresco
Horizontal band of decorative or narrative art, often part of the decoration of a building
Frieze
Gradual, often subtle change from light to dark, rough to smooth, or from one hue to another
Gradation
Related qualities of the visual elements of a composition; achieved by repetition of characteristics that are the same or similar
Harmony
Actual or imaginary line in a work of art representing the point at which water or land seems to end and the sky begins
Horizontal line
Another word for color
Hue
Manuscript page that is decorated with ornamental designs, miniatures, or lettering, often with gold leaf
Illuminated manuscript
Relative brightness or dullness of a color
Intensity
Design or view made up of natural outdoor scenery
Landscape
Picture or design made by fitting small pieces of colored paper, glass, tile, stone, or other materials onto a background
Mosaic
Large painting that covers a wall
Mural
Colors that blend or combine with all other colors to alter their value or intensity
Neutral colors
Style of painting or drawing in which the image created bears little resemblance to the natural or realistic form of the subject
Nonrepresentational art
Line that shows or reveals the outer edges of a shape or form
Outline
Tray or board on which colors are mixed; also, the colors used by a particular artist or for a particular artwork
Palette
Imaginary route the eyes follow when one is viewing a work of art; usually begins at the bottom edge, moves clockwise, and ends at the center of interest
Path of vision
Repetition of shapes, lines, or colors in a design
Pattern
Representation, of a three dimensional object on a flat, two dimensional surface
Perspective
Fine, colored powder that makes paint when combined with various liquid mixtures
Pigment
Painting, sculpture, drawing, photograph, or other work of art showing a person, several people, or an animal
Portrait
The hues red, yellow, and blue, which in different combinations produce all other colors except white
Primary colors
Type of sculpture in which figures are raised above the surface or from a background that is flat or has hollowed out parts
Relief
Style of painting and drawing that depicts the subject as it appears
Representational
Ratio of the size of parts in a drawing or artwork to their size in the original
Scale
Carving, model, or other three dimensional piece of art
Sculpture
Color to which black or another dark hue has been added to make that color darker
Shade
Simple, quick, rough drawing done without a lot of detail but catching the chief features and a general impression of an object or scene
Sketch
Carved, modeled, or sculpted free standing three dimensional figures
Statue
Drawing or painting of an arrangement of nonmoving, nonliving objects
Still life
Picture or design woven or stitched in cloth and hung on a wall
Tapestry
Family of related colors ranging from the reds through the oranges and yellows
Warm colors
Background of a watercolor picture prepared by using thin, watery paint applied quickly with large, sweeping brush strokes
Wash
Wooden surface on which a picture or design has been cut to form a relief used for printing
Woodcut
