Key Vocabulary

Elements of Art

The building blocks artists use to create a work of art.

1. Line – A path between two points. Lines can be thick, thin, curved, straight, or jagged.
   Example: Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh
   
   

2. Shape – A flat, enclosed space made by lines or edges. Can be geometric (circle, square) or organic (free-form).
   Example: The Snail by Henri Matisse
   
   

3. Form – A 3D object or the illusion of three dimensions (height, width, depth).
   Example: David by Michelangelo
   
   

4. Color – What we see when light reflects off an object. Includes hue (name), value (light/dark), and intensity (bright/dull).
   Example: The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dalí
   
   

5. Value – The lightness or darkness of a color or tone.
   Example: Self-Portrait by Kathe Kollwitz
   
   

6. Texture – How something feels or looks like it would feel. Can be actual (real) or implied (drawn/painted).
   Example: The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck
   
   

7. Space – The area around, between, or within objects. Can show depth.
   Example: School of Athens by Raphael

Principles of Art

How artists organize or arrange the elements.

1. Balance – How visual weight is arranged. Can be symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial.
   Example: The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci
   
   

2. Contrast – Big differences in elements (like light vs dark or smooth vs rough) to create interest.
   Example: The Two Fridas by Frida Kahlo
   
   

3. Emphasis – The focal point or area that stands out the most.
   Example: The Scream by Edvard Munch
   
   

4. Movement – How the viewer’s eye travels through the artwork.
   Example: Nude Descending a Staircase by Marcel Duchamp
   
   

5. Pattern – Repetition of shapes, lines, or colors.
   Example: Campbell’s Soup Cans by Andy Warhol
   
   

6. Rhythm – A visual beat or flow that’s created through repeated elements.
   Example: Water Lilies series by Claude Monet
   
   

7. Unity – When everything in the artwork feels like it belongs together.
   Example: Harmony in Red by Henri Matisse
   
   

8. Variety – Using different elements to add visual interest.
   Example: Guernica by Pablo Picasso

AIP – Art-Making Inquiries Portfolio (SL/HL)
Assessment Objectives: Investigate, Generate, Refine

• Inquiry question: A focused question that guides your creative investigation

• Generative statement: A phrase that expresses the big idea behind your work

• Exploration: Trying out materials, ideas, and techniques

• Experimentation: Playing with different approaches to see what works

• Practical investigation: Learning by doing—making art to test ideas

• Visual language: The elements and principles you use to communicate in art

• Critical reflection: Thinking about what’s working, what’s not, and why
  
  

CS – Connections Study (SL only)
Assessment Objectives: Investigate, Situate

• Cultural significance: Why a work matters in its time, place, or tradition

• Context: The setting or situation that gives meaning to an artwork

• Juxtaposition: Showing two artworks side-by-side to highlight connections

• Research: Looking into artists, history, and ideas to understand and compare

• Connections: The links between your work and other artists’ work

AP – Artist Project (HL only)
Assessment Objectives: Investigate, Situate, Refine, Synthesize, Curate

• Proposal: Your plan for the project, including intentions and audience

• Realization: How your idea becomes a finished, functional artwork

• Curatorial choices: The decisions you make about how to present your work

• Audience: Who the work is for, and how they’ll experience it

• Dialogue: Feedback and conversations that shape your ideas

• Post-production evaluation: Reflecting on how well your project worked
  
  

RAW (SL) and SRAW (HL) – Resolved Artworks
Assessment Objectives: Resolve, Synthesize, Curate (+ Situate for HL only)

• Resolved work: A finished piece that shows clear intention and quality

• Coherence: How well your works fit together as a body

• Conceptual realization: The idea behind your artwork is clear and strong

• Technical resolution: Your craftsmanship and technique are well-developed

• Rationale: Your written explanation of artistic choices and curation

• Artwork text: Short texts that explain each piece’s meaning or context (HL only)