Vocab Flashcards
Aerial View:
Also called a bird’s-eye view. Observing from a point of view at a high elevation. In perspective, when the horizon line, and thus the vanishing point (-s), have been placed near or above the top of the picture frame. This applies most often to landscapes, cityscapes, etc.
Aerial/Atmospheric Perspective
The means by which the illusion of atmospheric distance and depth is created by rendering objects in background space with less edge and value contrast. May also be accompanied by a shift from warmer to cooler hues. softer focus or lighter value
Abstraction
The reduction or simplification of an image or object to an essential aspect (geometric or organic) of its form or content
Axis
An imaginary straight line that indicates movement and the direction of movement.
Background
Objects or undetermined spaces surrounding the main subject of a work.
The most distant zone of space in three-dimensional illusion
Backlight
A light source positioned behind a person or object that can create a silhouette or separate the person or object from the background
Base Tone
The darkest tone on a form, located on that part of the surface that is turned away from rays of ligh
Blind Contour
Line drawings produced without looking at the paper. Such drawings are done to heighten the feeling for space and form and to improve eye-hand coordination
Cast Shadow
The shadow thrown by a form onto an adjacent or nearby surface in a direction away from the light source
Chiaroscuro
A word borrowed from Italian (“light and shade” or “dark”) referring to the modeling of volume by depicting light and shade by contrasting them boldly. This is one means of strengthening an illusion of depth on a two-dimensional surface, and was an important topic among artists of the Renaissance.
Composition
The organization and interaction of shapes, forms, lines, patterns, light and color
Cone of Vision
The visual area represented by the drawing usually corresponding to a normal person’s vision, minus their peripheral vision. (about 60 degrees) Angle of sigh
Content
The subject and meaning of a work of art
Continuous Line Drawing
A drawing in which the implement remains in uninterrupted contact with the picture plane creating enclosed shapes
Contour
The outline and other visible edges of a mass, figure or object.
Contour Line (Drawing)
A single line that represents the edge of a form or group of forms and suggests three-dimensional quality indicating the thickness as well as height and width of the form it describes; uses subtle overlapping planes
Convergence
In linear perspective, parallel lines in nature appear to converge (come together) as they recede to a point on the Eye Level or Horizon Line. into the picture plan
Cross-Contour Lines
Multiple, curving parallel lines running over the surface of an object horizontally and/or vertically that describe its surface qualities. Much like wire framing in 3D design
Cross Hatching
A drawing technique to shade an object using two or more networks of parallel lines in a gradual angular progression (to achieve a build up of complex value)
Diminution
In linear perspective, the phenomenon of more distant objects appearing smaller
Drawing
Depiction of shapes and forms on a surface chiefly by means of lines. Color and shading may be included. A major fine art technique in itself, it is the basis of all pictorial representation, and an early step in most art activities. Though an integral part of most painting, it is generally differentiated from painting by the dominance of line over mass
Edge
The rim or border, the place where two things meet: the background (negative space) meets surface of objects (positive space), a “tone” or “value” meets a different tone/value
Eye Level
In linear perspective, the height at which the eyes are located in relation to the ground plane. Standing creates a high eye-level while sitting creates a lower one. In most views, the eye level will match a horizon line. The same as horizon line. All vanishing points in one and two point perspective are positioned on the eye level
Figure
The primary or positive shape in a drawing. A shape that is noticeably separated from the background; it is the dominant, advancing shape in a figure/ground relationship
Figure-Ground Relationship
An arrangement in which positive and negative shapes alternatively command attention. Also known as a positive/negative relationship
Foreground
The “nearest” space represented to the viewer. The “front” of the visual stage.
An exaggeration of perspective in which elements nearer to the viewer are shown much larger, and elements at a distance appear much reduced in size
Foreshortening
A technique for producing the illusion of an object’s extension into space by contracting its form. A way of representing a subject or an object so that it conveys the illusion of depth – so that it seems to go back into space
Freehand Drawing
Drawn by hand, without the use of any mechanical device – without the aid of a straightedge, compass, protractor, French curves, computer equipment, etc. This is the opposite of mechanical drawing.
Gestalt
A total mental picture, or conception, of a form
Gradation
Any gradual transition from one tone to another. In drawing, shading through this can be used to suggest three-dimensional illusion
Gesture
A spontaneous representation of the dominant physical and expressive stance of an object. The act of making a sketch with relatively loose arm movements – with the large muscles of the arm, rather than with the small muscles of the hand and wrist; Or a drawing made this way
Grid
A framework or pattern of criss-crossed or parallel lines. A lattice. When criss-crossed, lines are usually horizontal and vertical; and when lines are diagonal, they are usually at
right angles to each other
Ground
The actual flat surface of a drawing, synonymous with a drawing’s opaque picture plane. In a three dimensional illusion, it also refers to the area behind an object (or figure)
