Art Vocabulary

The Elements of Art

Line
path of movement
active - passive
bold - delicate
flowing - light
straight - curved
thick - thin
dark - light
broken - continuous
geometric - organic
implied - actual
precise - irregular
contour - outline
calligraphy
caricature

Shape/Form
2D-3D
solid - void
concave - convex
positive - negative
figure - ground
ambiguous - complete
organic - geometric - free-form
circle - sphere
square - cube
triangle - pyramid-cone

Space
2D-3D
positive – negative
open – closed
filled – empty
actual – implied
interior – exterior
scale
orientation
spacing
illusion of space
systems of perspective


Light/Color/Value
Visible color spectrum
Color wheel
value
shading
contrast
chiaroscuro
tint
shade
hue
pigment
primary
secondary
intermediate
neutral
color interactions
simultaneous contrast
color schemes
warm
cool
neutral
monochromatic
analogous
complementary
split complementary
triad
intensity
bright – dull
high key – low key
local
optical (or atmospheric)
symbolic

Texture
actual (tactual) – visual
simulated – invented
matte – semi-gloss – glossy
techniques
impasto
rubbings
frottage
grottage
decalcomania
tromp l’oeil

Principles of Design

Balance
symmetrical
asymmetrical
radial

Rhythm, Movement
types
regular
alternating
progressive
flowing
jazzy
dominant path of movement
vertical
horizontal
diagonal
curving

Proportion
life-size
monumental
miniature
Golden Section or Mean
scale
caricature
normal – exaggerated – idealized
Emphasis
by dominance
by focal point
by center of interest
by isolation
by size
by contrast
by converging lines

Pattern
repetition
motif (2D)
module (3D)
allover

Unity and Variety
by repetition
by simplicity
by harmony
by theme and variation
by proximity
by continuity
by contrast

General Vocabulary

PROPORTION: To put in proper relation with something else.
LINE: A mark with length and direction, created by a point that moves across a surface.
SHAPE: 2-Dimensional objects (circle, square, triangle)
FORM: 3-Dimensional objects ( cone, cube, cylinder, sphere)
THUMBNAIL SKETCH: a small, quick drawing used to get your ideas on paper
CONSTRUCTION LINES: rough line drawings used to give an object mass and volume
LINE-OF-ACTION: designates the movement or action of a character in a drawing
POSITIVE SPACE: area an object occupies.
NEGATIVE SPACE: area around an object.
VALUE: lightness or darkness of an color
CROSSHATCH: multiple perpendicular lines that add value to an object
SMUDGING: using an object to blend values. (not your finger)
COMPOSITION: way of arranging a drawing or painting so it is interesting to look at and equally balanced.
GOLDEN RULE OF THIRDS: a way of breaking down a composition mathematically, focusing on thirds.
BACKGROUND: area within a composition that appears further away from the viewer. Objects appear smaller with less detail.
MIDDLE GROUND: part of a composition that appear between the foreground and back ground.
FOREGROUND: in a scene or artwork , the part that seems closest to you. Objects appear larger and more detailed.
SYMMETRY: both sides of a center line are exactly or nearly the same, like a mirror.
ASYMMETRY: two sides of a composition are different yet balanced
HUE: common name of a color ( i.e. blue, green, etc)
PIGMENT: gives paint it's color.
SPECTRUM : all the colors in the color wheel
PRIMARY : red, blue & yellow
SECONDARY : green, orange & violet ( mix primary colors)
TERTIARY (INTERMEDIATE) : red-orange, yellow-orange, blue green, etc.
ADVANCING COLORS : colors that appear to come towards you (warm colors)
WARM COLORS : red, orange & yellow
COOL COLORS : blue ,violet & green
RECEDING COLORS : colors that appear to be in the background
TRIADIC : colors that create a triangle on the color wheel
ANALOGOUS :colors that are next to each other on the color wheel
COMPLEMENTARY : colors that are directly across from each other on the color wheel
INTENSITY : brightness or dullness of a color
OPAQUE : colors that you can't see through
TRANSPARENT : colors that you can see through
VALUE : darkness or a lightness of a color
TINT : color and white
TONE : color and grey
SHADE : color and black
MONOCHROMATIC : a single color and it's tints and shades
PALETTE : colors you paint with or the thing that you put the colors on
MOOD : emotion portrayed within an artwork
VERTICAL : top - to - bottom. This can refer to the placement of objects within a composition or the composition itself.
HORIZONTAL : left - to -right. This can refer to the placement of objects within a composition or the composition itself.
AESTHETICS: To experience a feeling or response to art.