Language

When writing about art, you need to use many different language features to properly describe, explain and evaluate an idea or artwork. On this page you will find the most common language features used in Visual Arts.

Language of Description

Language of description is used to tell us what something looks like or is like. The most obvious way of describing something is an adjective, but it is not the only way. We can also use verbs, adverbs and noun groups to build an image of an artwork for the reader of your text.

Adjectives

Don't use standard adjective (light, dark, hard, smooth, big, small...) think of other ways to say it:

Colour

Harmonious
Dull
Vivid
Luminous

Line

Jagged
Organic
Angular
Flowing

Shape

Organic
Geometric
Symmetrical
Irregular

Texture

Spiky
Bristly
Coarse
Oozing

Size

Enormous
Minuscule
Minute
Life size

Tone

Bright
Dim
Murky
Illuminated

Mass

spherical
weighty
dense
buoyant

Direction

Diagonal
Radial
Chaotic
Parallel

Noun Groups

By placing groups of words around nouns, you give your audience a more detailed understanding.

For example:

The large oil on canvas painting
The artist's use of brush techniques

Verb Groups (Verbs Plus Adverbs)

Verbs and adverbs can be used to describe the practices of an artist so they are quite useful for describing how a work is made. Verbs are being having or doing words and adverbs are the words you use to describe a verb (usually ending in "ly").

For example:

Quickly painted
Carefully outlined
Gradually developed

Language of Representation

Language of Representation includes words which mean 'to show' or 'to tell'. These words are important to add variety to your responses and help to specify HOW something is being shown. Here are some examples ranging from simple to more complex words:

Basic words to use

show
explain
mean
tells

Better words to use

represent
imply
symbolise
allows
create
present
conveys
explores

More complex words to use

portrays
depict
highlight
infer
juxtapose
exemplify

These words are usually connectives, which means that they connect 2 ideas within one sentence.

Here are some examples of how to use some of these words in a sentence

The colour used in the artwork symbolises strong emotions of sadness
Twisted lines in the painting represent danger and excitement
Soft, watery textures create a sense of peaceful reflection

Language of Cause/Effect

Language of cause and effect is used when you are writing an explanation. These words help to show how one thing led to another. The cause is not always followed by the effect, however, so we also need words and phrases that also introduce the reason that something happened.

CAUSE > EFFECT

therefore
contributes to
produces
results in
causes
creates
accounts for
can lead to
has led to

EFFECT > CAUSE

due to
since
grew out of
as a result of
the reason for
produced by
influenced by
is an effect of
an outcome of

Here are some examples of how to use the language of cause/effect

Cause > effect

The artist's use of colour results in a vibrant landscape that is full of life
The themes of the artwork cause the audience to question what they believe

Effect > cause

The texture in the work is produced by using a pallet knife to paint with
The artist's style has been influenced by Aboriginal artworks

Evaluative Language

Evaluative language is used to express feelings, opinions and points of view. Often in Visual Arts we will need to make judgements about an artwork and this can be done more successfully by effectively using evaluative language. Usually in art, we do this by using adverbs and adjectives to add judgements to your statements.

Adverbs

extremely
largely
significantly
importantly
vitally
greatly
undeniably
incredibly
supposedly

Adjectives

best
important
noticeable
significant
useful
most
necessary
beautiful
incredible

Without these words you sentence will still make sense, but you will not be able to express your opinion effectively.

Here are some sentences with and without the evaluative language:

The artist created this painting in 1975
The artist created this undeniably beautiful painting in 1975
She was a female artist woking in the 20th Century
She was the most significant female artist working in the 20th Century

Modality

When evaluating, modality is extremely important for show how strongly you feel about your judgements. Modality refers to the "strength" of the word.

Low modality words include may, could and should. High modality words include must, will and always. Use high modality words when making a judgement.

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