Vocabulary

Art Vocabulary

1. PROPORTION: To put in proper relation with something else.
2. LINE: A mark with length and direction, created by a point that moves across a surface.
3. SHAPE: 2-Dimensional objects (circle, square, triangle)
4. FORM: 3-Dimensional objects ( cone, cube, cylinder, sphere)
5. TRACE-BACK: tracing over a drawing using a clean, crisp, sharp line.
6. DAGGER STROKE: a line that is continued by using multiple strokes brought to a single fine point.
7. THUMBNAIL SKETCH: a small, quick drawing used to get your ideas on paper
8. CONSTRUCTION LINES: rough line drawings used to give an object mass and volume
9. LINE-OF-ACTION: designates the movement or action of a character in a drawing
10. POSITIVE SPACE: area an object occupies.
11. NEGATIVE SPACE: area around an object.
12. VALUE: lightness or darkness of a color
13. CROSSHATCH: multiple perpendicular lines that add value to an object
14. SMUDGING: using an object to blend values. (not your finger)
15. COMPOSITION: way of arranging a drawing or painting so it is interesting to look at and equally balanced.
16. GOLDEN RULE OF THIRDS: a way of breaking down a composition mathematically, focusing on thirds.
17. BACKGROUND: area within a composition that appears further away from the viewer. Objects appear smaller with less detail.
18. MIDDLE GROUND: part of a composition that appear between the foreground and back ground.
19. FOREGROUND: in a scene or artwork , the part that seems closest to you. Objects appear larger and more detailed.
20. SYMMETRY: both sides of a center line are exactly or nearly the same, like a mirror.
21. ASYMMETRY: two sides of a composition are different yet balanced
22. HUE : common name of a color ( i.e. blue, green, etc)
23. PIGMENT : gives paint it's color.
24. SPECTRUM : all the colors in the color wheel
25. PRIMARY : red, blue & yellow
26. SECONDARY : green, orange & violet ( mix primary colors)
27. TERTIARY (INTERMEDIATE) : red-orange, yellow-orange, blue green, etc.
28. ADVANCING COLORS : colors that appear to come towards you (warm colors)
29. WARM COLORS : red, orange & yellow
30. COOL COLORS : blue ,violet & green
31. RECEDING COLORS : colors that appear to be in the background
32. TRIADIC : colors that create a triangle on the color wheel
33. ANALOGOUS :colors that are next to each other on the color wheel
34. COMPLEMENTARY : colors that are directly across from each other on the color wheel
35. INTENSITY : brightness or dullness of a color
36. OPAQUE : colors that you can't see through
37. TRANSPARENT : colors that you can see through
38. VALUE : darkness or a lightness of a color
39. TINT : color and white
40. TONE : color and grey
41. SHADE : color and black
42. MONOCHROMATIC : a single color and it's tints and shades
43. PALETTE : colors you paint with or the thing that you put the colors on
44. MOOD : emotion portrayed within an artwork
45. IMPRESSIONISM (1875-1900): A style of painting that began in France, It emphasizes views of subjects at a particular moment and the effects of sunlight on color.
46. POST-IMPRESSIONISM (1880-1900): An art history term for a period of painting immediately following Impressionism in France. Various styles were explored, especially by Cezanne (Basic structures), van Gogh (emotionally strong brushing work, and Gauguin (Intense color and unusual themes.
47. VERTICAL : top - to - bottom. This can refer to the placement of objects within a composition or the composition itself.
48. HORIZONTAL : left - to -right. This can refer to the placement of objects within a composition or the composition itself.
49. PROCESS COLORS: Cyan, Yellow, Magenta and Black. Used for photographic reproduction.
50. AESTHETICS: To experience a feeling or response to art.