Fan Art | Fugitive Colors
A dictionary of art terms and definitions that begin with the letter F.
- Fan Art (or Fanart)
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Fanart of a popular 1960’s TV sci-fi series character known as “Spock” from Star Trek. Artist unknown. Artwork created by the fans of popular fictional books, TV shows, movies, comics, etc. Such works are typical of favorite characters or scenes which are hand-drawn, painted, or digitally produced using a computer program. They are not commissioned works of art nor endorsed by the creators of the fictional work the fan art depicts.
- Ferrule
- Refers to the metal or plastic device that aligns and anchors paintbrush bristles or hairs in an adhesive. The ferrule is attached to the handle by crimping or by binding wires. (See filbert brush illustration below.)
- Figurative Art
- See Representational Art.
- Filbert
Brushes used to create soft edges, blend colors, and have the shape of a flower petal or leaf. (See illustration.)- Filigree
- A technique used to produce delicate, intricate patterns in metal such as metal beads, clasps, and bead caps.
- Fine Art
- Art created purely for aesthetic expression, communication, or contemplation. Painting and sculpture are the best-known of the fine arts. For more information, see the blog What is Fine Art?
- Fine Artist
- A practitioner (such as a painter or sculptor) of the fine arts who makes a living from their creative works. An artist is considered a fine artist when their work is considered highly valuable, and they have mastered their technique.
- Fixative
- A liquid, similar to varnish that is sprayed over a finished piece of artwork to preserve it better and prevent smudging. Artwork media requiring fixative include drawings done in pencil, charcoal, and pastel.
- Flat Brush
A brush with a flat-shaped end like a screwdriver. (See illustration.)- Foam Core
- A strong, stiff, resilient, and lightweight board of polystyrene laminated with paper on both sides used as backing for art prints before framing. Also referred to as “foam board.”
- Focal Point
- A specific area, element, or principle that dominates a work of art; the area in a work in which the eye is most compellingly drawn. The viewer’s eye is usually drawn there first.
- Folk Art
- Art created by individuals who have had no formal academic training in art but whose works part of an established tradition of style and craftsmanship. It is characterized by a naïve style, in which traditional rules of proportion and perspective are not employed.
- Font
- In typography, a complete set of characters in a particular size and style of type. This includes the letter set, the number set, and all of the special character and diacritical marks you get by pressing the shift, option, or command/control keys.
- Fontography
- The field of font design. A person who designs fonts is a “Fontographer.”
- Form
- The volume and shape of a three-dimensional work, perhaps including unfilled areas integral to the work as a whole.
- Foreground
- The area of a scene or composition of a painting or photograph that is nearest to and in front of the viewer.
- Foreshortening
- A form of perspective used to create the illusion of an object receding strongly into the distance or background by shortening the lines with which that object is drawn. To shorten an object to make it look as if it extends backward into space.
- Fractal
A mathematically generated pattern that is reproducible at any magnification or reduction. A geometric pattern repeated at ever smaller scales to produce irregular shapes and surfaces that cannot be represented by classical geometry. (See illustration.)- Frame
- Something made to enclose a picture or a mirror; enclosed in a frame, as a picture.
- Fresco
- The technique of blending wet plaster with water-based paint. As the plaster dries, it becomes a lasting surface base. The term applies to the technique as well as the painting itself.
- Fugitive Colors
- Short-lived pigments capable of fading or changing, especially with exposure to light, to atmospheric pollution, or when mixed with certain substances.
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Contributing to The Art Dictionary
This art dictionary is a work in progress. New terms and definitions are added on a regular basis. If you know of an art term and definition that isn’t already listed in it, but you believe it should be, send it to us and we’ll consider adding it. We’ll let you know if we do. Thanks!
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UPDATED: 21 July 2023