Category: Glossary of Art Terms

0 GROUP     |    95 ASCII CHARACTERS

Quick links to more art terms and definitions are located at the end of the list.

0 Group

An influential post-war art movement that emerged in Germany in the late 1950s and continued into the 1960s. The 0 Group sought to redefine art in the aftermath of World War II, moving away from the emotional and subjective styles of the time. Their focus was on minimalist and kinetic art.

0-Point Perspective

A technique used to create the illusion of depth in a two-dimensional artwork without using vanishing points. This method is particularly effective for depicting natural scenes like landscapes, where there are no parallel lines converging in the distance. Also referred to as atmospheric perspective.

1-Bit Art

A digital art style that uses only two colors, typically black and white, to create images. Each pixel in a 1-bit image can be either on or off, creating a highly stylized and minimalist aesthetic.

1:1 Scale

A drawing or model that is the same size as the object it represents. In other words, the dimensions of the artwork are identical to the dimensions of the actual object, making it a life-size representation.

1:2 Aspect Ratio

A rectangular aspect ratio often used in design and photography. A 1:2 aspect ratio means that the width of an image or artwork is half its height. This creates a tall, narrow composition, which can be quite striking and dramatic.

1-Point Perspective

A type of linear perspective used in drawing to create the illusion of depth on a flat surface. It involves a single vanishing point on the horizon line, where all parallel lines converge. This technique is particularly useful for drawing scenes like roads, railways, or interiors, where the viewer is looking straight ahead.

10-Bit Art

Digital artwork that utilizes a 10-bit color depth. This means each color channel (red, green, and blue) can display 1,024 shades, resulting in over 1 billion possible colors. This is a significant increase from the 16 million colors available in 8-bit color depth. 10-bit color depth allows for smoother gradients and more subtle color transitions.

10th Street Galleries

A collective of artist-run, cooperative galleries in New York City during the 1950s and 1960s that were central to the Abstract Expressionist movement. These galleries emerged as an avant-garde alternative to the more conservative and commercial galleries on Madison Avenue and 57th Street.

12-Bit Art

Digital artwork that uses a 12-bit color depth. This means each color channel (red, green, and blue) can display 4,096 shades, resulting in over 68 billion possible colors. This is a substantial increase from the 1 billion colors available in 10-bit color depth.

16-Bit Art

Digital artwork that uses a 16-bit color depth. This means each color channel (red, green, and blue) can display 65,536 shades, resulting in over 281 trillion possible colors. This is a significant increase from the 68 billion colors available in 12-bit color depth.

2-Bit Art

Digital artwork that uses a 2-bit color depth. This means each pixel can display one of four possible colors. In a 2-bit system, each pixel is represented by 2 bits of data. Since each bit can be either 0 or 1, the 2 bits can form four possible combinations: 00, 01, 10, and 11. Each of these combinations corresponds to a different color. Here’s a breakdown:

• • 00: Color 1
  • 01: Color 2
  • 10: Color 3
  • 11: Color 4

This means that with 2 bits per pixel, you can only have four distinct colors in your image. This limited palette requires creative use of these colors to convey the desired visual effect.

2-Point Perspective

A type of linear perspective used in drawing to create the illusion of depth and volume on a flat surface. 2-point perspective involves two vanishing points on the horizon line, where parallel lines appear to converge. This method is particularly useful for drawing objects or scenes viewed from an angle, such as buildings or interiors.

2D Barcode Art

Artwork that involves creating artistic designs using 2D barcodes, such as QR codes or Data Matrix codes. These barcodes are typically used for storing information that can be scanned and read by devices like smartphones. However, artists have creatively repurposed them to produce visually interesting and interactive pieces.

2D barcode art not only looks visually appealing but also retains the functionality of the barcode, allowing it to be scanned and decoded. Viewers can interact with the art by scanning the barcode, which might lead to a website, a piece of text, or another digital experience. This form of art often incorporates modern technology and can be seen as a blend of digital and traditional art forms.

2D Design

The creation of two-dimensional visual representations or drawings. In 2D design, objects and elements are typically represented on a flat plane, such as a piece of paper or a computer screen, with width and height dimensions.

24-Bit Art

Digital artwork that uses a 24-bit color depth. This means each pixel in the image can display one of 16.7 million possible colors. In a 24-bit system, each color channel (red, green, and blue) is allocated 8 bits, allowing for 256 shades per channel. The wide range of colors allows for highly detailed and vibrant images. In addition, the large number of possible colors ensures smooth transitions and gradients, which can be particularly beneficial for creating realistic and nuanced artwork.

3/4 View (in art)

A perspective in which the subject is angled slightly away from the viewer, presenting more of one side. This viewpoint exposes both the front and a portion of the side, lending a sense of depth and dimensionality. Artists frequently employ this perspective in portraiture to give the subject a more dynamic and captivating appearance.

3-Bit Art

Digital images that use a 3-bit color depth, meaning each pixel can display one of 8 possible colors or shades of gray (since (2^3 = 8)). Early computer graphics and video games often used this limited color palette due to hardware constraints that necessitated fewer colors.

3-Point Perspective

A type of perspective drawing that uses three vanishing points to create a sense of depth and dimension. This method is particularly useful for depicting objects from extreme viewpoints, such as looking up at a tall building or down from a high vantage point.

3D Art

Artwork that occupies physical space with height, width, and depth, allowing viewers to see it from multiple angles. Artists create this type of art using various materials and techniques, including forms like sculpture and installation art.

3D Rendering

The process of converting 3D models into 2D images on a computer. This involves creating a photorealistic or stylized image from a 3D model by adding textures, lighting, and other effects.

32-Bit Art

Digital art where each pixel is represented by 32 bits, allowing for over 4 billion possible colors. This provides extremely high detail and color accuracy. Artists often use 32-bit art in HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography, digital painting, and 3D rendering.

4-Bit Art

Digital artwork that uses a 4-bit color depth. This means each pixel in the image can display one of 16 possible colors. In a 4-bit system, each pixel is represented by 4 bits, allowing for combinations that result in 16 distinct colors. 4-bit art often has a nostalgic, retro feel, reminiscent of early computer graphics and video games.

4-Color Process

A widely used printing technique that uses four ink colors—Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (CMYK)—to produce a full range of colors. Also known as CMYK printing.

4-Color Separation

A process used in printing to reproduce full-color images. It involves separating an image into four different color channels: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (CMYK). Each channel is printed separately, and when combined, they create the full spectrum of colors in the final image.

4-Point Perspective

A drawing technique that creates a highly realistic and immersive view by incorporating four vanishing points. This method is particularly useful for depicting wide-angle scenes, such as cityscapes or panoramic views, and can create a fisheye lens effect. Also known as curvilinear or infinite-point perspective.

4D Art

Artwork that incorporates the element of time along with the traditional three dimensions of space (height, width, and depth). This type of art can include movement, change, and interaction over time, creating a dynamic and immersive experience for the viewer. Often seen in digital and interactive media.

4th Dimension

A concept in art that explores the idea of time and space beyond the traditional three dimensions (height, width, and depth). The fourth dimension in art opened up new possibilities for visual expression, allowing artists to challenge traditional perspectives and explore deeper philosophical and scientific ideas. Often associated with Cubism and Futurism.

43 Group

A pioneering modern art movement formed in Colombo, Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in 1943. The group was established by a collective of young, pro-independence artists who sought to break away from the conservative and academic art practices of the time. The 43 Group’s efforts marked a historic shift in Sri Lankan art, blending local cultural elements with modernist techniques to create a unique and progressive artistic identity.

5-Point Perspective

A type of perspective drawing that uses five vanishing points to create a 360-degree view. This technique allows for a highly immersive and spherical representation of a scene, capturing a wide-angle view that curves around the viewer. Also known as curvilinear or fisheye perspective. This technique can add a dynamic and dramatic effect to your artwork, especially when capturing expansive scenes or complex compositions.

6-Color Printing

An advanced printing technique that expands the traditional CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) color model by adding two additional colors, typically Orange and Green (CMYKOG). This method enhances the color gamut, allowing for more vibrant and accurate color reproduction. 6-color printing can significantly enhance the visual impact of printed materials, making it a valuable tool for artists and designers who require superior color reproduction. Also known as hexachrome printing.

6-Point Star

A geometric shape formed by two intersecting equilateral triangles. This shape is rich in symbolism and has been used in various cultural, religious, and artistic contexts. Its adaptability and profound symbolism render it an influential component in diverse forms of artistic expression, captivating artists from various disciplines. Also known as a hexagram.

7-Color Palette

A selection of seven distinct colors used together in a composition. This type of palette can help create harmony, contrast, and visual interest in an artwork. Artists often choose a 7-color palette to explore a wide range of hues and tones while maintaining a cohesive look. Key aspects of a 7-color palette are:

• • Primary Colors: Red, blue, and yellow, which can be mixed to create other colors.
  • Secondary Colors: Green, orange, and purple, which are created by mixing primary colors.
  • Additional Color: An extra color that can be a tertiary color (like yellow-green or blue-violet) or a neutral color (like black, white, or gray) to add depth and variety.

Group of 7

A collective of Canadian landscape painters (also known as the Algonquin School) who were active from 1920 to 1933. They are renowned for their distinctive style and their dedication to capturing the rugged beauty of the Canadian wilderness. Their paintings often depicted the dense forests, lakes, and mountains of Canada, emphasizing the natural beauty and spiritual essence of the landscape.

8-Bit Art

Digital artwork where each pixel is represented by 8 bits, allowing for 256 possible colors. This style is reminiscent of early computer and video game graphics, where hardware limitations restricted the number of colors and resolution available.

9-Point Perspective

An advanced drawing technique that uses nine vanishing points to create a highly immersive and distorted view, often resulting in a spherical or panoramic effect. This method is an extension of curvilinear perspectives like 4-point and 5-point perspectives, but with even more complexity and depth.

9th Street Art Exhibition

A groundbreaking art show held in 1951 in New York City. This exhibition marked the formal debut of Abstract Expressionism, the first American art movement to gain international influence. The event established New York as a center for modern art and launched the careers of many artists associated with the movement. It was not just an art show but a cultural milestone that helped redefine the global art landscape.

95 ASCII Characters

(Stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange.)
The 95 characters in the ASCII character set that can be displayed on screen or printed on paper. These characters are the building blocks of written text and other visual content. They include letters, numbers, symbols, and punctuation marks.

• • Digits (0 to 9):
    0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
  • Uppercase Letters (A to Z):
    A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
  • Lowercase Letters (a to z):
    a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z
  • Punctuation Marks and Symbols:
    ! ” # $ % & ’ ( ) * + , – . / : ; < = > ? @ [ \ ] ^ _ ` { | } ~

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ABC ART     |     AUTOMOTIVE ARTIST

Quick links to more art terms and definitions are located at the end of the list.

ABC Art

(Visual arts: painting. Art movement: United States, 1960s. Also known as: minimal art, minimalism.)
An art style characterized by the use of simple, modular forms reduced to their elementary geometric structure.

Abstract Art

(Visual arts: painting and sculpture. Also known as nonfigurative art.)
A genre of art that refers to compositions derived (or abstracted) from a figurative or other natural source. Abstract art often starts with something recognizable—a person, an object, a landscape, or even a concept. The artist then engages in a creative dance. They distill, simplify, and transform that initial subject matter. Abstract art distorts or transforms recognizable things, like a playful remix of reality.

Abstract Expressionism

(Visual arts: painting. Art movement: Centered in New York City, 1946 to 1960.)
Art that rejects true visual representation. It has few recognizable images with great emphasis on color, line, shape, texture, and value, putting the expression of the feelings or emotions of the artist above all else.

Abstract Still Life

(Visual arts: painting.)
A type of painting that combines the traditional elements of a still life with abstract techniques. Instead of focusing on realistic representation, abstract still life emphasizes shapes, colors, and forms to convey the essence or mood of the subject. Some key characteristics are:

• • Simplification: Objects are often reduced to their basic shapes and forms, stripping away intricate details to highlight their fundamental structure.
  • Color and Texture: Artists use bold colors, varied textures, and unconventional materials to create a dynamic composition.
  • Imagination and Interpretation: The viewer is encouraged to interpret the artwork in their own way, as the abstract nature leaves room for personal interpretation.

Academic Art

(Visual arts. Art movement: Europe, 19th century.)
A style of painting and sculpture heavily influenced by nineteenth-century European academies of art, especially the French academy. The academies were very conservative, resisting avant-garde innovations and expressions of modern art.

Accent

To stress, single out as important. As applied to art, it is the emphasis given to some aspects of a painting that allows them to attract more attention. Details that define an object or piece of art.

Accented Analogous

An accented analogous scheme, also known as analogous complementary, is a color scheme that combines analogous and complementary colors. It involves colors adjacent to each other on the color wheel and the color opposite them. The direct complement becomes the accent color, creating a dynamic contrast against the dominant color grouping. This is a great way to add warmth to a cool analogous color pallet or a cool accent color to an otherwise warm color scheme.

Achromatic Color

Colors that lack hue and saturation, meaning they don’t have a dominant color. These colors include black, white, and shades of gray. (See the illustration below.) They are considered neutral and are often used to create a balanced and timeless look in various forms of art and design.

Acrylic Paint

A fast-drying synthetic medium derived from acrylic resin. Acrylic is a water-based “plastic” paint valued for its versatility and clean-up using soap and water. Although soluble in water, acrylics become resistant to water once dry. The appearance of an acrylic painting can mimic that of a watercolor or an oil painting, depending on the thickness of the application on the canvas.

Action Painting

A technique or style of abstract painting characterized by the spontaneous splashing, throwing, or pouring of paint onto the canvas, as opposed to precise application. It is associated with artists who employed vigorous, sweeping gestures involving significant body movement, diverging from conventional easel painting techniques. Jackson Pollock was a notable figure in this movement. The terms “action painting” and “abstract expressionism” are often used synonymously by some critics.

Advancing Colors

(Opposite of receding colors.)
Hues that appear to come forward or advance towards the viewer in a composition. They create a sense of closeness and can make elements in a painting or design stand out more prominently.  Advancing colors play a fascinating role in creating visual depth and proximity within a composition.

Advancing colors are warm colors and typically include shades of red, orange, and yellow. These colors are known for their energizing and invigorating qualities. When used in a painting or design, they appear to move toward the viewer, effectively decreasing the perceived distance between the viewer and the surface where these hues are applied.

Aerial Perspective

Refers to creating a sense of depth in a painting by imitating how the atmosphere makes distant objects appear less distinct and more bluish than they would be if nearby. Artists attempt to mimic this effect to create depth or distance (three dimensions) on an otherwise two-dimensional (flat) surface. Also see “atmospheric perspective.”

Aerial View

Refers to the act of observing from a high altitude, such as from an airplane or satellite, this perspective typically involves looking directly down, providing a comprehensive overview of the landscape. While commonly used interchangeably with “bird’s-eye view,” there are subtle distinctions between the two terms.

Aerography

Airbrush

A small, air-operated tool used by artists to apply color to surfaces. The hand-held device is connected to a canister of compressed air and sprays liquid paint, ink, dye, or foundation in a controlled manner. The airbrush works by breaking the liquid into tiny droplets through a process called atomization and distributes it across the painting surface. Airbrushes are known for their ability in making it possible for artists to create intricate details and beautiful color gradients in their art.

Airbrush Artist

A creative individual who uses airbrushes to create airbrushed art. Airbrush artists are versatile painters who create unique and intricate designs on a wide range of surfaces, including canvases, automobiles, clothing, helmets, handbags, skin and fingernails, and even cakes and pastries. With practice and dedication, airbrush artists can create incredible works of art that resemble actual photographs.

Airbrushing

A painting technique that uses an airbrush to create an even surface, allowing artists to achieve high levels of realism. It involves seamless color blending and softly defined edges between colors. Skilled airbrush artists can produce photographic realism or simulate various painting mediums, and it is commonly used in various fields like cars, motorcycles, models, textile design, printing, toys, glass, and ceramics.

Aliasing

(Also known as jaggies.)
A visual phenomenon that occurs when a sampled representation of an image exhibits undesirable artifacts or distortions. These artifacts typically appear as jagged or “stair-stepped” edges, especially on slanted or curved lines.

Digital images are composed of tiny individual pixels. When straight lines or curves are displayed at angles or diagonals, the limited number of pixels can’t accurately represent the smoothness or fine details. The result? Those pesky jaggies that make graphics look less polished and realistic. See “anti-aliasing” for further explanation.

Alla Prima

Aso known as ‘wet-on-wet’ oil painting, or direct painting. Alla prima is a technique of oil painting in which the desired effects of the final painting are achieved in the first application of paint as opposed to the technique of covering the canvas in layers with the final painting being achieved at the end. Alla prima is an Italian term that means “first attempt.”

Allover Painting

A composition with no focal point where all parts of the canvas are painted with equal care and significance, ensuring that each area of the composition is equally important.

Altarpiece

A work of art, such as a painting, sculpture, or relief, depicting a religious subject (holy personages, saints, and biblical subjects) that decorates the space above and behind the altar in a Christian church.

American Abstract Artists (AAA)

An artists’ association that was established in New York City in 1936 to promote and raise public awareness and appreciation of abstract art throughout the country. The organization does this through lectures, publications, and exhibitions, making it an important forum for idea exchange and presenting abstract art to a larger audience. Go to the AAA website to learn more about the organization or to sign up as a member.

American Scene Painting

(Visual arts: painting. Art movement: United States, 1925-1945. Also known as: Regionalism.)
A significant art movement in the United States, emerged during the Great Depression as a reaction against European Modernism. It utilized American imagery to chronicle and exalt rural and small-town America. The movement consisted of two distinct styles: American Regionalism, which celebrated rural life, and Social Realism (Urban Realism), which depicted urban scenes with political undertones. Artists of American Scene Painting aimed to capture the spirit of different regions and social groups, raising awareness about the struggles of working-class people.

Analogous Colors

Any set of three or five colors that are closely related in hue(s). They are usually adjacent (next) to each other on the color wheel. One is the dominant color with two supporting colors. The effect of this color scheme can be pretty dramatic as these hues usually work very well together in creating a sense of unity or harmony within the composition. Using this color scheme, choose one as the dominant color (usually a primary or secondary color), a second color to support, and a third as an accent.

Animal Still Life

A type of still life painting that incorporates animals with other still life elements such as fruits, flowers, and household objects to create a rich, detailed composition. These paintings typically feature animals that are either alive or dead, and they can include a variety of subjects such as game, pets, or even exotic creatures.

Animalier

An artist who specializes in the realistic portrayal of animals. This term is most commonly associated with 19th-century sculptors and painters who focused on creating detailed and lifelike representations of animals. The work of animaliers often includes small-scale sculptures, particularly in bronze, and paintings that capture the essence and anatomy of various animals.

Anti-aliasing

A technique used in computer graphics to reduce the distortion caused by aliasing. Aliasing occurs when viewing images or playing games on lower-resolution screens, resulting in jagged edges in diagonal lines or curves. Anti-aliasing smooths out these edges, making the image appear more realistic and visually pleasing. For further explanation, see “aliasing.”

Applied Art

The application of design and decoration to everyday, practical objects to enhance their aesthetic appeal. Applied art includes a wide range of artistic fields, including industrial, graphic, and interior design as well as architectural and fashion design.

Approximate Symmetry

The use of forms that are similar on either side of a central axis. They may give a feeling of exactness or equal relationship, but they are sufficiently varied to prevent visual monotony.

Art

The completed work of an artist that expresses creativity, imagination, or both and usually takes the shape of a painting, drawing, or sculpture that conveys a mood, a sentiment, or a narrative. Art encompasses various mediums, genres, and techniques. Also, refers to works of art collectively.

Art Appreciation

An understanding of the qualities that identify all great art. It involves having a knowledge of art movements, art history, and art styles or techniques. For more information on this topic, see blog article “What is art appreciation?”

Art Brut

(French for “raw art.”)
A term coined by the artist Jean Dubuffet in the 1940s. It describes art created outside the traditional boundaries of the art world, often by self-taught or untrained artists. This includes works by individuals such as the mentally ill, prisoners, children, and others who create art without formal training.

Art Buyer

A professional responsible for purchasing artwork on behalf of an organization, company, or individual. Art buyers must have a high degree of art knowledge and understanding to appraise the quality and value of the artwork.

Art Cards, Editions, and Originals (ACEO) Cards

ACEOs are tiny handmade original paintings measuring 2.5 in x 3.5 in, the size of a sports trading card. They are created to sell on eBay and other venues and are highly collectible. Also see, “artist trading cards” for additional information.

Art Collector

A person who buys original and rare works of fine art with an interest in the history or story behind those pieces. They often buy in one or more genres, such as artists, art movements, or subject matter. In addition to appreciating and enjoying great work, art collectors also contribute to the financial support of the artists who produce it.

Art Collection

An accumulation of artwork by a private individual or a public institution. Art collecting has its roots in history. Most of the world’s art museums originated from large private collections that affluent individuals, royalty, aristocrats, or monarchs acquired.

Art Conservation

The maintenance and preservation of artworks and their protection from future damage and deterioration. Art conservation focuses on preventive measures and maintaining the original condition of artworks.

Art Critique

The analysis and evaluation of a work of art. It involves examining the elements and principles of art used in a piece, as well as considering the artist’s intentions and the overall impact of the artwork on the viewer. In essence, art criticism seeks to understand a particular work of art from a theoretical perspective and establish its significance in the history of art.

Art Deco

(Visual arts: decorative art, design and architecture. Art movement: Western Europe and the United Sates, 1920s-1930s. Related to the Precisionist art movement. Also known as: Moderne, style moderne.)
A style of design and decoration that originated in Paris, France just before World War I. It is characterized by precise and sharply outlined geometric shapes and used vivid colors to reflect the rise of commerce, industry, and mass production. Art deco influenced the design of buildings, furniture, jewelry, fashion, cars, movie theatres, trains, ocean liners, and everyday objects such as radios and vacuum cleaners.

Art Exhibition

(Also called an art exhibit.)
A public showing of a piece or a collection of artworks. Art exhibitions allow artists to showcase their work to a wider audience. They serve as a platform for sharing artistic vision and ideas. Art exhibitions can take place in museums, galleries, art clubs, or even unconventional spaces like coffeehouses.

There are various types of art exhibitions:

• • Commercial exhibitions: Often called art fairs, these showcase works by artists or art dealers. Participants usually pay a fee to participate.
  • Non-commercial exhibitions: These can be organized by galleries, museums, or other institutions. They may display items from a museum’s own collection or feature works by multiple artists.
  • Retrospectives: These look back at an individual artist’s body of work.
  • Group shows: Exhibitions featuring multiple artists.
  • Biennales: Large international exhibitions held every two years.

Art History

The study of the evolution of visual arts, including painting, sculpture, drawing, and architecture, from the earliest cave drawings to present day. Its primary objectives are to identify the creators of a particular work, their time and stylistic approach, and to understand their creative process.

Art Media

Refers to multiple materials or tools used in the creation of art. When an artist uses several different materials, they are working with various art media. Similar in meaning as the term “Art Medium”, however, “medium” is singular, and “media” is plural.

Art Medium

Refers to a single material or tool used by an artist to create their work. For example, oil paint, watercolor, graphite, and clay are all individual art mediums. Similar in meaning as the term “Art Media”, however, “medium” is singular, and “media” is plural.

Art Movement

A distinct style of art defined by a group of artists who practice or adhere to the same creative concept, philosophy, goal, style, or method across a specific time period or place. Each art movement is subtly or distinctly different from another. Some movements share similarities with others, while others defy them.

Art Museum

A public or private place that collects and exhibits art from the museum’s own collection. They usually specialize in artworks like paintings, drawings, sculptures, and photographs. Art museums also offer educational programs to enhance appreciation and understanding of diverse works of art from different historical and cultural periods.

Art Nouveau

(Pronounced noo-VOH. Visual arts: decorative art, architecture, and graphic design. Art movement: Europe and the United States, 1890s to 1910s. A French word meaning ”New Art.” Also known as: Modernismo, Modernista, Sezessionstil, Stile Floreale, Stile Liberty.)
An international art movement that emerged in the late 19th to early 20th century characterized by intricate linear designs and flowing curves, often incorporating delicate natural objects like flower stalks and buds, vine tendrils, and insect wings. The goal of Art Nouveau was to blur the lines between the fine and applied arts, and was widely used in interior design, graphic arts, furniture, glass art, textiles, ceramics, jewelry, and metal work. The popularity of Art Nouveau began to wane around World War I, and it was eventually replaced by the Art Deco style.

Art Period

A specific span of time during which a particular style, technique, or philosophy of art was prominent. These periods are often defined by art historians after the fact and can encompass multiple art movements that share common themes or goals. For example, the Renaissance is an art period that includes various movements and styles that emerged during that time.

Art Restoration

The repair of damaged or deteriorating artworks. Art restoration strives to restore items to a condition similar to their original appearance while preserving their artistic and historical value.

Arte Povera

(Pronounced: ahr-teh poh-veh-rah. Visual arts: sculpture. Art movement: Italy, 1967–1972. Italian for “poor art.”)
Arte Povera was a pioneering art movement of young Italian artists who sought to create a new sculptural style by incorporating unconventional and deliberately ‘poor’ materials such as paper, jute, wood, coal, rags, twigs, and other everyday materials into their artworks. They used such throwaway materials to attack and disturb the values of the marketed contemporary gallery system.

Artist

An individual who practices in the creation of visual arts, such as sculptures, paintings, or drawings, either as a profession or a hobby. Artists use their skills and creativity to produce works that express ideas, emotions, or a unique vision. They often push boundaries and explore new techniques and styles, contributing to the cultural and aesthetic landscape of their time.

Artist Brush

The primary tool used by artists to apply paint or ink onto various surfaces, such as canvas, paper, or wood. It’s essentially a brush with bristles attached to a handle. An artist brush comes in various types, sizes, and shapes. Also see “Brush.”

Artist Portfolio

A collection of an artist’s best works that demonstrates their style, artistic skills, creativity, personality, abilities, and commitment. Artists need a portfolio because it shows potential clients or employers what they are capable of and what they have to offer. See also Portfolio.

Artist’s Bridge

A tool used by painters to steady their hand while working on detailed sections of a painting. It’s typically a long, thin rod that rests on the edges of the canvas or easel, allowing the artist to support their hand without touching the wet paint. Also called a “Mahl Stick.”

Artistic

Refers to anything related to or characteristic of art or artists. It can describe someone who has a natural creative skill or talent, as well as something that is aesthetically pleasing or shows imaginative skill in its creation. For example, an artistic person might excel in painting, drawing, or other forms of creative expression. Similarly, an artistic work is one that demonstrates a high level of creativity and aesthetic quality.

Artistic License

Refers to the creative process where artists manipulate details to make their work more interesting or beautiful. It allows them some latitude in how they perceive a subject and is not strictly required to be accurate. Artistic license is sometimes used as a euphemism to describe the distortion or alterations made by an artist to improve a piece of art.

Artistic Style

The specific style or technique of a particular artist, or art movement. It’s that thing that makes you recognize a specific painting as being by a particular artist before you’re close enough to see a signature or to read the image label.

For more information, see the Artist Blog article titled Developing an Artistic Style of Your Own.

Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)

ATCs are tiny-sized original paintings created by artists strictly for handing out, swapping, or trading with other artists and are not intended for selling. They may be in any medium (oils, acrylics, pencil, ink, etc.) using any technique, whether painting, drawing, or collage. There is only one rule and that is the cards must adhere to a specific size, 2.5 in. x 3.5 in. 

Arts and Crafts Movement (ACM)

(Visual arts: decorative arts. Art movement: Britain and international, late 19th and early 20th century. Also known as: English aesthetic movement.)
Originating in the British Isles, the ACM was an international decorative arts movement that aimed to reform design, promote handcraftsmanship, and assert individual crafts people’s creative independence. It spread across Europe and America, influencing various art forms such as furniture, textiles, ceramics, and architecture, and addressing perceived declines in design and craftsmanship due to industrialization.

ASCII Art

(Stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. Also called “Text Art.” See also 95 ASCII Characters.)
Text-based visual art created from 95 printable characters that use computers for presentation. ASCII art is created using any text editor program and requires a fixed-width font, such as Courier, for presentation. ASCII art can range from the whimsically minimalistic to intricate masterpieces. For more info.

Some Examples of ASCII Art: 
Fish   ><(((('>  
Rose   @-->--->---  
Ocean Waves  _.~"(_.~"(_.~"(_.~"(_.~"(

Ashcan School

(Visual arts: painting and etching. Art movement: New York City, 1908 to 1913. Also known as: Ash Can School.)
The Ashcan School was a realist art movement in the United States, known for depicting everyday life in poorer neighborhoods of New York City. This group of artists challenged artistic conventions and celebrated the everyday, leaving an indelible mark on American art history. They sought to document turn-of-the-century New York City life through realistic and unglamorized paintings and etchings of urban street scenes. The spirit of the Ashcan School was continued in American Scene Painting of the 1920s and 1930s.

Assemblage Art

(Also known as found-object art or junk art.)
A form of sculptured art, either three-dimensional or two-dimensional, composed of “found” objects and arranged in such a way as to create a work of art. These objects can be anything organic or man-made. The origin of this particular art form dates back to Pablo Picasso, a well-known cubist artist.

Astronomical Art

A genre of art that focuses on visual representations of outer space, celestial bodies, and the vast universe beyond Earth. This art form combines elements of science, imagination, and creativity to depict the beauty and mystery of the cosmos. It includes various styles such as realism, impressionism, abstract imagery, and sculpture. Also known as “Space Art.”

Asymmetrical

(Opposite of symmetrical.)
Refers to a lack of symmetry or perfect balance, meaning that the two sides of an object or composition are not identical or mirror images of each other. In art, asymmetry is often used to create visual interest, movement, and dynamic compositions.

Asymmetrical Balance

(Also known as Informal Balance.)
A composition technique where non-identical forms are arranged on opposite sides of a balancing point (central axis). By varying their size, value, or distance from the center, both sides will appear to have the same visual weight. A skilled artist can create visually appealing compositions by balancing elements and weight, utilizing asymmetrical balance for greater creativity and unlimited arrangements, allowing for a wider range of artistic possibilities. Also see Balance.

Asymmetry

(Opposite of symmetry.)
Refers to the lack or absence of symmetry. It can manifest itself in spatial arrangements, mathematical relations, or logical structures. Essentially, when something isn’t balanced or mirrored, we encounter asymmetry.

In art, asymmetry is a deliberate departure from the confines of perfect symmetry. Unlike symmetrical compositions, where visual elements mirror each other across a central axis, asymmetry intentionally disrupts this equilibrium. This creates a dynamic visual tension that captures our gaze, igniting a sense of curiosity and involvement.

Atmospheric Perspective

A technique used by painters to represent three-dimensional space on a flat, two-dimensional surface by creating the illusion of depth or recession within a painting or drawing. Atmospheric perspective suggests that objects closer to the viewer are sharper in detail, color intensity, and value contrast than those farther away. As objects move closer to the horizon, they gradually fade to a bluish-gray, and details blur, imitating how distant objects appear to the human eye. Also see “aerial perspective.”

Automotive Artist

A skilled artist who specializes in drawing cars, capturing the beauty and essence of automobiles in their artwork. Using their artistic talent, they create various forms of art, including paintings, drawings, and sculptures, showcasing classic (vintage) cars, muscle cars, and sports cars. Their passion for cars often leads them to create art for car manufacturers, advertising agencies, and other businesses in the automotive industry.

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BACKGROUND     |     BUST

Quick links to more art terms and definitions are located at the end of the list.

Background

The area in a painting that appears to be farthest from the viewer, situated behind the main subject of the artwork. It provides context by establishing a sense of environment, time, and place. Backgrounds can actively enhance and interact with the focal points through the use of color, texture, perspective, and detail.

Balance (in art)

Refers to the distribution of visual weight within a composition, creating a sense of harmony and stability. It’s a fundamental principle of design that ensures an aesthetically pleasing arrangement of elements. The different types of balance are:

• • Symmetrical Balance (Formal Balance): visual elements are arranged on both sides of a central axis in equal weight. It’s like creating a mirror image—one half of the artwork reflects the other.
  • Asymmetrical Balance (Informal Balance): the uneven distribution of objects or subjects on both side of a central axis. Here, balance isn’t about identical halves; it’s about equilibrium achieved through different elements.
  • Radial Balance: the arrangement of visual elements around a central point. It’s often a circular type of balance where these elements radiate outward from that central point.

Banquet Still Life

A type of still life painting that typically depicts a lavish spread of food, drink, and luxurious items arranged on a table. This genre emerged in the 17th century, particularly in the Dutch Republic, and often includes elements like exotic fruits, fine glassware, silverware, and sometimes even musical instruments or animals. These paintings are not just about showcasing wealth and abundance; they often carry deeper symbolic meanings.

Barbizon School

(Visual arts: painting. Art movement: France, 1830-1870.)
An art movement formed by a group of French landscape painters who sought to promote a more realistic and informal approach in their nature paintings. Named after the village of Barbizon near the Forest of Fontainebleau in France, this group of artists gathered there to create and find inspiration. Their artwork often depicted serene natural scenes, pastoral life, and agricultural laborers. The Barbizon School laid the groundwork for Modernism by focusing on personal expression. It anticipated the Impressionist movement, which also embraced a similar philosophical approach to art.

Baroque Art

(Pronounced buh-rohk. Visual arts: architecture, painting, and sculpture. Art movement: Western Europe, 17th and early 18th centuries. French term “barroque,” meaning “irregularly shaped.” Also known as Baroque period.)
An art movement characterized by exaggerated ornate detail. An extravagant style of art characterized by curving lines, gilding, and gold. The Baroque art style was sometimes considered excessively decorated and overly complicated. Baroque art emerged as a response to the simplicity of Protestant art and was popular with and supported by the Catholic Church.

Bauhaus School

(Pronounced bou-hous. Visual arts: design, architecture, and applied arts. Art movement: Germany, 1919-1933. A German word meaning “house of building.” Also known as Staatliches Bauhaus.)
A German art school established in Weimar, Germany in 1919. It aimed to unify crafts and fine arts by emphasizing function and mass production in design. It sought to merge crafts and fine arts, focusing on functionality and mass production in design. The school’s design ethos featured clean lines, geometric forms, and minimal decoration, complemented by vibrant primary color accents, aiming for elegance through simplicity. Nevertheless, the Nazis shut it down in 1933, prompting numerous artists to flee to the United States in search of intellectual freedom.

Ben-Day Dots

Tiny colored dots (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) used in the commercial printing industry to create shading and secondary colors in images. Benjamin Henry Day, an illustrator and printer, invented this method in 1879.

Bilateral Symmetry (in art)

A very formal type of symmetry in art. When an artist creates an image, they intentionally design it so that two halves mirror each other. Think of a perfectly symmetrical face in a portrait or the wings of a butterfly. Each side reflects the other, creating harmony and visual interest. Bilateral symmetry is common because it provides a sense of visual harmony and order.

Bilateral symmetry is present in:

• • Portraits: Think of a face in a portrait—each eye, nostril, and feature aligns with its counterpart.
  • Landscapes: Even natural scenes can exhibit bilateral symmetry. Imagine a calm lake reflecting a mountain range—the water’s surface mirroring the land.
  • Architectural Details: Elements like doorways, windows, and columns often follow bilateral symmetry to create a sense of order and elegance.

Biomorphic Art

An abstract art style first introduced in the mid-1930s that evokes the form and shape of natural and living organisms. It focuses on the power of natural life and uses shapeless, vaguely spherical hints of biology. Drawing inspiration from patterns and forms found in the natural world and living organisms, biomorphic art creates aesthetically pleasing and harmonious designs, blending Surrealism and Cubism. Also called “biomorphism” or “biomorphist” art.

Birds-Eye View

Refers to an elevated view from a steep angle, as if observed by a bird in flight, and may include views from high vantage points like mountains or towers. Often used interchangeably with the term “aerial view,” however, there are subtle differences.

Bitmap Image

A pixel-based image (.BMP) with one bit of color information per pixel, also known as a bitmapped image. The only colors displayed in a bitmapped image are black and white. Its quality decreases when the image is enlarged.

Black

An achromatic color, without hue, results from the absence or complete absorption of any visible light. The darkest of all colors and the opposite or complement of white. It is often argued that black is not a color because it lacks any hue or wavelength of light. However, since color is the result of human perception, many commonly perceive black as a color. One of four primary ink colors used in the printing industry (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black).

Blending

A technique used in painting to soften lines and create a gradual transition between two or more colors or tones. Blending ensures that most surfaces appear smooth and have fewer hard edges.

Blending Brush

A type of paintbrush used for smoothing out brushstrokes and spreading and blending colors smoothly. Blending brushes are very soft and are not used for applying paint. Use them to gently stroke the wet paint that you have already applied to the canvas to remove brushstrokes and blend paint. These art brushes are usually the most expensive in your paintbox, so you will want to take good care of them to make them last a long time.

Blue

One of the three primary colors of pigments used in painting, and the complement or opposite of the color orange. Blue, when mixed with other hues, can be used to create a wide array of colors.

Body Art

A form of artistic expression that uses the human body as the “canvas.” The most common forms of body art are tattoos, body paintings, and body piercings.

Botanical Art

A scientifically accurate portrayal of a plant, fungi, or lichen, but may not be a comprehensive scientific record. It encompasses a variety of genres, including scientific illustration, realistic drawing, and painting of botanical subjects. The goal of botanical painters is to comprehend plant structure and visually express this information to their audience. For more on botanicals, click here.

Botanical Artist

A skilled artist who creates precise illustrations of plants, often used in scientific records and printed alongside descriptions in books and media. Their goal is to accurately document the shapes, structures, colors, life cycle, and habits of unique plant species while providing a visually appealing image.

Breakfast Still Life

A genre of still life painting that typically depicts a modest meal, often including items like bread, cheese, fruit, and beverages such as wine or beer. These paintings often feature a carefully arranged composition that highlights the textures and reflections of the objects, creating a sense of realism and depth. The use of light and shadow is also a key element, adding to the overall effect of the scene.

Bright Art Brush

A brush with a flat ferrule and short-length hairs set in a long handle. The hairs curve inward at the tip and are virtually the same breadth and length as the brush head. This brush works well for applying heavy color in short, controlled strokes; however, if overworked, a Bright will remove as much paint as it applies. Use this brush when you want the brush strokes to show. These brush types are better for working up close rather than holding the brush at a distance from the canvas.

Bristle Brushes

A natural hair paintbrush used by artists. Bristle brushes are stiff and springy brushes made from the hairs from the back of a pig. They have natural “split ends,” which make them ideal for oil painting because they can withstand heavy oil paint, textured canvas, and harsh solvents like turpentine. The stiff bristles will leave a strong mark on the canvas. In addition, Bristle brushes are easy to clean.

Bristle brushes, ideally half an inch wide or larger, are most effective for covering large canvas areas, starting a painting, or working on very large pieces. It’s possible to complete entire paintings exclusively with bristle brushes. For more intricate details in smaller sections, however, sable brushes are the recommended choice.

Bristles

Sometimes referred to as hairs or filaments, bristles make up the head of the brush, called the “brush head.” This is the part of the brush that holds the paint. They are made from natural hair, synthetic fibers, or a combination of both. Natural bristles are animal hair, while synthetic bristles are nylon or polyester.

Bristles are formed into different shapes, which dictate the type of brush: bright, fan, filbert, flat, and round. The quality of the bristles determines the cost of the brush. The tip of the bristles is called the toe, while the heel is where the strands go into the ferrule at the tip of the handle. The belly is the fattest part of the bristle head.

Bristol Board

A high-quality heavyweight drawing paper, sometimes made with cotton fiber prepared or glued together, usually with a caliper thickness of 0.006″ and up, used for many types of two-dimensional artwork, including lettering.

Brush Anatomy

The anatomy of an artist’s paintbrush consists of three main components: the head, the ferrule, and the handle.

Brush Head: The hairs or bristles of the brush. The strands are made from either natural or synthetic fibers. This is what an artist uses to apply and push paint around on the canvas. The head has three parts: the very tip of the head is called the toe. The fattest part is called the belly, and the point where the head meets the ferrule is called the heel.

Ferrule: The metal cylinder or band that attaches the head to the handle and helps hold the hairs in shape. Ferrules are made from a range of metals, including tin, aluminum, brass, copper alloys, nickel, and chrome plating. High-quality brushes have a brass or copper alloy ferrule that won’t rust or come loose. These types have the best adhesion to the handle and a double or triple crimp. The crimp is the part of the ferrule that secures it to the handle. This is important because if the ferrule does not fit properly, the bristles will fall out, or the ferrule could come off the handle.

Handle: Refers to the brush’s long stem, held during painting. Brush handles typically are made from materials like wood, acrylic, or bone, however, most handles are made from hardwoods such as beech. Their lengths vary and differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. Short handles are designed to fit comfortably in the palm, facilitating various painting techniques and movements. In contrast, oil painting brushes typically have longer handles to provide better balance. The size of a paintbrush is usually indicated by a number on the handle, starting from 000 (the smallest size), followed by 0, 1, 2, and so on, increasing to larger sizes. Regardless of size, a quality brush will balance on your finger.

See “paintbrush” for more information about brushes.

Brush Drawing

A technique in visual arts that uses a round and pointed brush to produce linear images using India ink or watercolor. This style is very useful for illustrating nature objects since it produces a linear feel rather than a painterly finish. Brush drawing is ideal for generating delicate and detailed images.

Brushstroke

The mark left by a loaded (filled) brush on a surface. Brushstrokes are characterized by their direction, thickness, texture, and overall quality. Some artists purposefully obscure individual brushstrokes to achieve a smooth surface. Other artists make their brushstrokes obvious to reveal the process of painting or to express movement or emotion.

Brushwork

The technique of applying paint to a surface using a brush. It’s a fundamental aspect of painting and significantly influences the overall look and feel of a piece of art. Artists can vary their brushwork style, from smooth and controlled strokes to loose and expressive marks. The way an artist uses their brush can convey different textures, emotions, and visual interest in their work. Every painter has a different brush technique that adds to an artist’s style and distinguishes their work.

Built Environment

Man-made surroundings created to fulfill human desires and needs. Structures, features, and facilities viewed collectively as a setting for human activity in which people live, work, and play.

Bust

In sculpture, a representation of the upper part of the human figure, including the head, neck, and part of the shoulders and breast. The bust is a type of portrait that aims to capture the likeness of an individual, often (but not exclusively) displayed atop a pedestal or column.

Byzantine Art

(Visual arts: architecture, mosaics, and painting. Art movement: Byzantine Empire, 4th-5th Century A.D.)
An art style rooted in Christianity and classical Greek mythology that was a significant artistic movement during the Middle Ages in the Byzantine Empire and surrounding areas. It focused on the Orthodox church, focusing on the painting of icons and decorating churches with frescoes and mosaics. Byzantine art was known for its intricate mosaics, often depicting flat figures against a golden background, aiming to convey spiritual and symbolic meaning. The art form favored stylized representations rather than naturalistic ones, using graceful figures and golden tesserae to create a sense of wonder and admiration for the church. The style ended with the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453 during the European Renaissance, but its influence continued in Russia and other Orthodox countries where the church held sway.

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This glossary of art terms and definitions is provided as a valuable resource for art enthusiasts. If you like the information here and find it helpful, please consider purchasing a painting. Your support helps to cover the cost of keeping this art vocabulary, terms and definitions lexicon online. Simply click or tap the thumbnail link of any Teresa Bernard oil painting to view additional details.

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CALLIGRAPHER     |     CYCLORAMA

Quick links to more art terms and definitions are located at the end of the list.

Calligrapher

An artist skilled in the art of calligraphy, which involves creating beautiful and expressive handwriting or lettering using specialized tools like pens, brushes, or quills. Calligraphers focus on the precise and deliberate arrangement of strokes to achieve harmonious and visually stunning compositions.

Calligraphy

A distinctive style of artistic handwriting that is created by using special pen nibs or brushes that allow a calligrapher to vary the thickness of a letter’s line elements. An elegant, decorative writing style developed as an art form itself and used to enhance the artistic appeal and visual beauty of handwritten papers and manuscripts.

Camden Town Group of Painters

(Visual arts: painting. Art movement: London, 1911-1913.)
A group of Post-Impressionist artists from London, who met weekly in Walter Sickert’s studio. Their goal was to break away from traditional artistic groups and introduce French bohemianism to the English art scene. Drawing inspiration from Van Gogh and Gauguin, they drew on scenes of London life, including music halls and urban settings. Despite their expressive use of color, their paintings remained representational and realistic, reflecting a modern aesthetic distinct from Parisian developments. In 1913, the Camden Town Group was absorbed into the London Group, which was formed by the merger of numerous smaller groups of contemporary English painters.

Canvas

A term used by artists to describe the surface they create their paintings on. It also refers to a heavy, closely woven fabric that is affixed to a piece of thin cardboard (see canvas board) or that is stretched onto stretcher bars (see stretched canvas). Canvas material is typically made of linen or cotton.

Canvas Board

A rigid surface covered with primed canvas glued onto lightweight cardboard, approximately 1/8″ thick. They are durable, resistant to warping, and less fragile than stretched canvas. Canvas boards are preferred by artists for smaller paintings and are easy to frame. They are ideal for on-location painting because their lightweight, and the sunlight will not shine through the back. Also called “canvas panel,” which is a term that is interchangeable with “canvas board.” For more information see blog article “Three Types of Oil Painting Canvas.”

Canvas Paper

A textured, coated paper with a flexible surface resembling a canvas, used for small sketches and color notes. It comes in pads or single sheets and is not recommended for painting due to its fragility and lack of longevity. Works painted on canvas paper require extreme restorative and conservative treatments, usually within a few decades.

Caricature

An artistic representation where certain features of a subject are exaggerated to create a humorous or grotesque effect. This can be done through drawing, painting, or other artistic methods. Caricatures often highlight distinctive traits, making them more pronounced than in reality, but still retaining a likeness.

Center of Interest (in art)

Refers to the part of a composition that draws the viewer’s attention the most. It’s the focal point that captures and holds the viewer’s gaze, making it the most important element in the artwork.

Key aspects of a center of interest include:

• • Contrast: Using differences in color, value, or texture to make the area stand out.
  • Placement: Positioning the center of interest strategically within the composition.
  • Detail: Adding more intricate details to this area compared to the rest of the artwork.
  • Color: Utilizing vibrant or contrasting colors to attract attention.

The center of interest helps guide the viewer’s eye through the artwork and enhances the overall impact of the piece.  Also called the “focal point.”

Ceramics

The art of making objects with clay and firing them in a kiln. Wares of earthenware and porcelain, as well as sculpture, are made by ceramists. Enamel is also a ceramic technique. Ceramic materials may be decorated with slip, engobe, or glaze, applied by several methods, including resist, Mishima, and snag gam. Pots can be made by the coil, slab, some other manual technique, or a potter’s wheel.

Charcoal

A stick made from compressed burned wood used for drawing and for preliminary sketch work on canvases. Compressed charcoal is available in a variety of forms, including stick, wood-encased pencils, and peel-as-you-go paper wrapped pencils, that range from extra soft to hard.

Chiaroscuro

An artistic technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume and three-dimensionality in a composition. The term comes from the Italian words “chiaro” (light) and “scuro” (dark).

Key aspects of chiaroscuro include:

• • Contrast: The use of light and shadow to highlight certain parts of the composition.
  • Volume and Depth: Creating the illusion of three-dimensional forms on a two-dimensional surface.
  • Dramatic Effect: Often used to evoke a sense of drama or intensity.

This technique was popularized during the Renaissance and Baroque periods by artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, and Rembrandt.

China Clay

(Also called kaolin.)
A type of fine white clay used in ceramics and porcelain production. It’s valued for its smooth texture and ability to enhance glazes and clay bodies.

Christian Art

A genre of art that depicts important Christian themes and stands as a testimony to faith. Images of Jesus Christ, as well as scenes from His life and ministry are the most common subjects of Christian art. It is significant because it deepens our understanding of Christianity and the Bible. Also called “sacred art.” See also, “religious art.”

Chroma

The brightness or saturation of a color describing its intensity or how pure it is. High-chroma colors are more saturated, while low-chroma colors are less pure and more pastel in tone. See also “Color Saturation.”

Chromatic

Pertaining to color or colors; being or having or characterized by hue. A color perceived to have a color saturation greater than zero.

Cityscape

A painting of a city landscape.  Artistic representations that capture the physical features of a city, urban life, and specific locations of a town (such as a city block, street corner, outdoor café, rooftops, etc.), or other metropolitan areas. It’s the urban equivalent of a landscape, offering glimpses into the heart of cities and the rhythm of daily life. Similar to cityscapes are “townscapes.”

Classic Still Life

Traditional compositions that typically features inanimate objects arranged in a deliberate composition. These objects can include items like fruits, flowers, glassware, books, and other everyday items. Classic still lifes often emphasize the beauty and texture of the objects, using light and shadow to create a sense of depth and realism.

Classicism

Refers to an aesthetic attitude and style that draws inspiration from the themes, techniques, and subjects of ancient Greece and Rome. It spans approximately from the formation of Greek city-states in the 8th century BCE to the decline of the Roman Empire in the 5th century CE. Artists who embrace classicism seek to echo the elegance and wisdom of those ancient civilizations.

Classicism places significance on timeless values associated with art from antiquity. These principles include:

• • Harmony: Striving for balance and order in composition.
  • Idealism: Representing forms in their perfected state.
  • Proportion: Ensuring harmonious relationships between parts.
  • Restraint: Avoiding excess or flamboyance.
  • Balance: Achieving equilibrium in visual elements.

Closed Composition

A type of composition in painting or photography where all the elements are contained within the borders or framework of the canvas or image. The main subject is usually located near the center drawing the viewer’s eye to it. All the other compositional elements help guide the viewer’s attention to the subject matter and away from the edges. Such a composition often results in static, consistent, stable images that feel complete, finished, and calm. Still life‘s and portraits are good examples of closed composition.

A closed composition is the exact opposite of “open composition.”

CMYK

The abbreviation for cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K). These are the four primary colors used in process printing that are combined in varying amounts to produce a wide range of colors.

Collage

Introduced by the Cubists, the technique of creating a work of art by adhering flat articles such as paper, fabrics, string, or other materials to a flat surface such as a canvas whereby a three-dimensional result is achieved.

Color

A basic element of art that involves light. It is produced when light waves (wavelengths) strike an object and are reflected into our eyes. Each light wave has a distinct color. Objects appear to be different colors because some wavelengths are absorbed while others are reflected or transmitted back to our eyes resulting in the colors we see.

Color Field Painting

A style of abstract painting that emerged as an art movement in New York City during the 1940s and 1950s. It is mostly distinguished by broad expanses of solid, flat color that lack sharp tones or contrasts and spread across the canvas, creating flat picture planes and sections of uninterrupted surface. There’s no clear focal point of interest. The primary focus and theme is color, which is heavily emphasized.

Color Groups (in art)

Refers to the systematic arrangement of colors used to create harmony and visual interest in a composition. Also called “color schemes” or “color families.”

Some common color groups include:

• • Analogous Colors: Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel, such as blue, blue-green, and green. These colors usually harmonize well and create a serene and comfortable design.
  • Complementary Colors: Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, like red and green or blue and orange. These pairs create a high contrast and vibrant look, especially when used at full saturation.
  • Split-Complementary Colors: A variation of the complementary color scheme. It uses a base color and the two colors adjacent to its complementary color. This scheme offers high contrast like complementary colors but with less tension.
  • Triadic Colors: Three colors that are evenly spaced around the color wheel, such as red, yellow, and blue. This scheme is popular for its vibrant and balanced look.
  • Tetradic (or Rectangular) Colors: Four colors arranged into two complementary pairs. This scheme offers plenty of possibilities for color variation and is the richest of all the schemes.
  • Monochromatic Colors: Variations in lightness and saturation of a single color. This scheme is elegant and easy on the eyes, creating a cohesive and harmonious look.

Understanding these color groups can help you make more informed choices in your artwork, enhancing the overall visual impact.

Color Harmony

The relationship of colors that work well together side-by-side, as opposed to colors that clash with one another. It can be a simple relationship involving only one color with several shades (monochromatic) or two complementary colors, or it can be a more complex relationship involving multiple colors.

Color Opposites

Pairs of colors that are directly opposite each other on the color wheel. These pairs create a high contrast and vibrant look when used together.  Some of the more common color opposite pairs are: Red and Green, Blue and Orange, and Yellow and Purple. See also “Complimentary Colors.”

Color Permanence

Refers to a pigment’s lasting power. Tubes and other paint containers are sometimes labeled with a code indicating a color’s degree of permanence.

Letter Code

Degree of color permanence

Color Properties

The three primary qualities of color are: hue (the name of the color), chroma (the purity and strength of the color), and value (the lightness or darkness of the color). Also called hue, saturation or intensity, and lightness.

Color Saturation

Refers to the intensity or purity of a color. It describes how vivid, rich, or intense a color appears. Here are some key points about color saturation:

• • High Saturation: Colors are bright, vivid, and pure. They stand out and attract attention.
  • Low Saturation: Colors appear muted, dull, or grayish. They are less intense and can create a more subdued or harmonious effect.

Saturation is one of the three properties of color, along with hue (the color itself) and value (the lightness or darkness of the color). Adjusting saturation can help set the mood, create contrast, and focus attention in a composition.

Color Scheme

The overall selection and arrangement of colors used in a design or artwork. See “Color Groups” for more information.

Color Separation

A traditional photographic process of separating artwork into component films of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black in preparation for printing to ultimately create a full-color printed product. Recent computer innovations have obviated the need for separated film negatives in specific applications.

Color Temperature

The temperature of color is how a particular color is perceived, either cool or warm. Cool colors range from green to violet on the color wheel, whereas warm colors range from yellow to red. Each temperature takes up one-half of the color wheel. Somewhere in the green and violet spectrums, the temperature changes between cool and warm. Also reference “cool colors” and “warm colors.”

Color Theory

Practical guidelines that govern the ideas, principles, and applications of color in art and design. Color theory consists of three components: the color wheel, color harmony, and color application or context, which can all be used by visual artists to create logical structures in their designs and compositions.

Color Wheel

A circular diagram, developed by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666, that visually represents the placement of colors in relation to each other. It is divided into 12 sections, each showing a distinct color, and categorizes colors into primary, secondary, and tertiary (third) categories. Artists and interior designers use this as a visual aid to understand color relationships and define color schemes.

Colored Pencil

A drawing tool with a pigmented core, used by art students and professionals. Can be wax- or oil-based, water-soluble, or pastel.

Colorimetry

A field of science and technology that studies how the human eye perceives color. Colorimetry uses numbers to describe colors and is used in various industries like chemistry, color printing, textile manufacturing, and paint manufacturing.

Commercial Art

Refers to art that is made for commerce. The term is somewhat obsolete and is currently being replaced in many colleges with the term “Visual Communication.”

Commission

Refers to the act of hiring someone to execute a specific work of art or set of artworks. For more information on this topic, see “How to Commission a Painting.” The term may also refer to the fee charged by a gallery or agent when selling works to a third party.

Complementary Colors

Two colors that are directly opposite one another on the color wheel. When placed next to one another, complementary colors are intensified and often appear to vibrate. This contrast can be used to draw attention to specific elements in a composition. Additionally, when mixed together, complementary colors can neutralize each other, creating a more muted or grayish tone. Also called “color opposites.”

The complementary or color opposites are:

Primary Color
and Opposite

Secondary Color
and Opposite

Tertiary Color
and Opposite

Complete Abstraction

(Also called nonobjective art.)
A type of abstract art that takes things a step further. Here, there’s no trace of any reference to anything recognizable from the real world. Artists working in complete abstraction create purely from their imagination, intuition, or emotional response. Their compositions don’t rely on depicting specific objects or scenes.

Composition

The arrangement of the elements of art within a design area in accordance with the principles of design, ensuring unity and consistency in a piece of art, allowing the observer to comprehend its meaning.

Computer Art

Refers to visual images made with the assistance of computers. Computer art is often made with drawing, painting, illustrating, and photographic programs or applications like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator.

Concept Art

A type of visual art created during the preproduction stage of a movie, video game, or other complex visual work, primarily aimed at explaining and evaluating various concepts before advancing to the final product.

Concept Artist

A creative professional who develops visual concepts for media such as films, video games, and animation. They design characters, environments, and props, working with directors and producers to establish the visual style.

Conté

A drawing medium made from compressed powdered graphite or charcoal mixed with a clay base. It is a firm pastel used for detailed work and is known for its classic earth colors, including sanguine, bister, black, whites, and grays. Also known as Conté sticks or Conté crayons.

Contemporary Realism

An art movement that thrives on well-executed, representational paintings. These artworks are created with meticulous technical skill, emphasizing the tangible and recognizable. Within this movement, artists delve into various sub-categories:

• • Figurative Realism: Capturing the human form and its nuances.
  • Narrative Paintings: Telling stories through visual compositions.
  • Photorealism: Meticulously reproducing scenes with photographic precision.
  • Hyperrealism: Taking realism to an almost surreal level, where details are rendered flawlessly.

Contemporary Still Life

A modern take on the traditional still life genre, often integrating aspects of current culture, technology, and artistic creativity. Diverging from the classic still lifes that emphasize realistic depictions of objects, contemporary versions tend to be abstract, conceptual, and inclined towards experimentation.

The terms “contemporary still life” and “modern still life” are frequently used interchangeably, they do have distinct meanings based on the time periods and artistic approaches they represent. Contemporary art refers to works created from the late 20th century to the present day. The characteristics of Contemporary still lifes often incorporate elements of today’s culture, technology, and media. They can be more abstract, conceptual, and experimental, using a variety of media including digital art, photography, and mixed media. Themes such as consumerism, identity, and the passage of time are commonly explored.

Contour Drawing

An outline of something, especially one that defines its shape or form. Contour drawing is a technique where the artist sketches the outline of a subject, capturing its shape and mass without focusing on intricate details. This method emphasizes the overall form and structure, often creating a three-dimensional effect through the use of lines.

Contour drawing is a fundamental skill in art, helping artists improve their observation and rendering abilities. It’s particularly useful for quick sketches and can be a great exercise for both beginners and experienced artists.

Contrast

A design principle that emphasizes the difference between two or opposing elements, forming a unified composition. It adds variety to a design, preventing monotony and confusion. Contrast also adds visual interest by comparing light and dark areas, lines, forms, and spaces. It creates unity by drawing the viewer’s eye into the artwork, guiding them around the piece. Too much contrast can lead to confusion and monotony.

Convergence Lines

Cool Color

Colors whose relative visual temperatures make them seem cool. Cool colors generally include yellow-green, green, blue-green, blue, blue-violet, and violet.

The characteristics of cool colors include:

• • are made with blue, green, or violet, and combinations of them.
  • tend to feel cool, reminding us of water and sky.
  • tend to recede into the background, i.e., move away from the viewer.
  • are more calming and soothing.

Copyright

The legal right granted to the creator or assignee to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical works and authorize others to do the same. The copyright symbol ©️ (a circled capital letter C for copyright) is utilized in copyright notices.

Critique

An in-depth and analytical evaluation of a work of art, theory, or argument, aiming to provide feedback, broaden knowledge, or express opinions. It can be positive or negative, depending on the subject’s strengths and weaknesses. A good critique should be constructive and objective and focused on improving the artist’s work. For more information see blog article “How to Write a Constructive Art Critique.”

Cropping

The removal of extraneous or unwanted parts of an image, usually a photograph. It involves excluding parts of a photo or illustration to show only the portion desired to fit a given space requirement. Cropping is often used to improve or redefine the composition or focal point of an artwork.

See blog article titled “Tightly Cropped Paintings: The Art of Focus and Intrigue” for more information.

Cubism

A 20th-century French art movement that uses two-dimensional geometric shapes to depict three-dimensional organic forms. A style of painting created by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in which the artist breaks down the natural forms of the subjects into geometric shapes and creates a new kind of pictorial space.

Curator

A person responsible for overseeing and managing collections in cultural institutions like museums, galleries, and libraries. Their responsibilities include the research, interpretation, and building of collections. As well as exhibition planning, educational outreach, and the preservation of collections. The term “curator” originates from the Latin word “cura” meaning “to take care.”

Cyan

A color that sits between blue and green on the spectrum. In printing, it’s one of the four process colors in CMYK (C stands for cyan) along with magenta, yellow, and black.

Cyclorama

A large-scale panoramic painting that covers the interior walls of a circular room, providing a 360-degree view of a continuous scene, typically a landscape. The goal is to give viewers the sensation of actually standing in the midst of the location that is depicted in the image. Real objects were frequently positioned in the foreground to heighten the senses. In the late 1800s, cycloramas became increasingly popular as a kind of entertainment that drew large crowds of people.

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DADA     |     DYNAMIC COMPOSITION

Quick links to more art terms and definitions are located at the end of the list.

Dada

An avant-garde art movement that emerged during World War I in Europe in negative reaction to the atrocities and folly of war. Dada artists poked fun at all the established traditions and tastes in art with works that were deliberately satirical and nonsensical.

DayGlo Colors

Also called fluorescent colors and neon colors, are bright, clean materials with a unique “glowing” effect under ultraviolet or black light. They are widely used to attract attention, focus attention on objects, warn people of hazardous situations, and get an object or situation noticed. You commonly see them in traffic cones, detergent packaging, tennis balls, and fishing lures. They appear in various media, including oil and acrylic paints, inks, dyes, markers, and crayons. See also, “fluorescent colors.”

Dead Color Layer

A crucial stage in painting, consisting of a monochrome underpainting as the base layer before additional layers of paint are applied to create depth and vibrancy. This stage establishes the composition, as well as main light and dark relationships in the final artwork. Also referred to as the monochrome version of the final painting.

Decalcomania

An art technique involving the transfer of images from one surface to another. This method dates back to the 18th century and is often used in ceramics, pottery, and glasswork. The process typically involves pressing a paper with a printed design onto a substrate such as ceramic or glass, then removing the paper to leave the image on the surface.

In the 20th century, surrealist artists like Max Ernst adapted decalcomania as a painting technique, using it to create intricate, abstract textures and patterns. This involved spreading paint between two surfaces and then peeling them apart to produce unique effects.

Decalcomania’s versatility and capacity for creating unexpected results make it a fascinating technique in both decorative and fine arts.

Decorative Art

A form of visual art that involves the design and decoration of objects that have both aesthetic and practical value. Ceramics, jewelry, enamels, furniture, glass, ivory, metals, and textiles are examples of decorative art forms, particularly when utilized as interior decoration.

Decoupage

(A French word meaning “to cut out.”)
The art of decorating objects by gluing colored paper cutouts onto them, often combined with special paint effects, gold leaf, and other decorative elements. This technique can be applied to various surfaces like wood, metal, or glass, and involves sealing the layers with varnish to create a smooth, polished finish.

Design (in art)

Refers to the thoughtful arrangement and organization of visual elements like line, shape, texture, color, form, and space. It involves applying principles such as balance, emphasis, contrast, and movement to create visually appealing and meaningful compositions. Design serves as the underlying structure that guides the viewer’s experience and helps convey the artist’s intended message or emotion. It’s used in various art forms, from graphic design and illustration to interior design and fashion.

Designer

A designer is a person who plans the appearance and function of a product, structure, or system before it’s made. They work in various disciplines like graphic design, web design, game design, interior design, fashion design, architecture, and industrial design. Designers communicate ideas through visual representations and use design tools like digital design and sketches to create artwork.

Designing

The process of creating a plan or blueprint for a work of art. This involves conceptualizing and organizing elements such as lines, shapes, colors, textures, and space to achieve a specific aesthetic or functional goal. The design process can be applied to various forms of art, including graphic design, fashion design, interior design, and more. Designing often starts with brainstorming and sketching ideas, followed by refining and developing these concepts into a final piece. It requires both creativity and technical skills to balance visual appeal with practical considerations.

Digital Art

Refers to any artistic work or practice that uses digital technology as an essential part of the creative or presentation process. This broad category includes various forms such as digital paintings, illustrations, 3D models, animations, and even interactive installations. Digital art can be created using software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or specialized 3D modeling programs. Artists might use a graphics tablet, a computer mouse, or even a smartphone to create their work. The flexibility and accessibility of digital tools allow for endless creative possibilities, making it a popular medium for both professional and amateur artists.

Diorama

A three-dimensional miniature model representing a scene, typically depicting historical events, natural environments, or fictional scenes. These models often include detailed figures, landscapes, and objects arranged to create a realistic and immersive experience.

Dioramas are commonly used in museums to provide educational displays, helping to visually convey complex subjects or moments in history. They can range from small, tabletop-sized models to large, room-sized installations. The meticulous attention to detail and scale in dioramas makes them a powerful tool for storytelling and education.

Diptych

(Pronounced dip-tik. From the Greek words “di” meaning “two,” and “ptychē” meaning “fold” or “layer.”)
A work of art consisting of two painted or carved panels where each panel depicts a different but related scene. The two panels in a diptych work in harmony to create a single cohesive art piece. These panels can be hinged together or presented side-by-side. Diptychs aren’t limited to any specific medium. They can be paintings, drawings, carvings, or even photographs. See also Polyptych.

Distemper (in art)

A traditional painting technique that employs water-based paint mixed with a binder, such as animal glue or casein, to create a matte finish. This method was widely used in the past for both fine art and decorative purposes, particularly before the advent of oil paints. Distemper is valued for its ease of application and the soft, velvety appearance it imparts to surfaces. However, it is less durable than oil paint, making it more suitable for works intended for indoor display or temporary projects.

Doodle

A drawing created while a person’s attention is otherwise occupied. Doodles are simple sketches that may hold specific representational significance or be merely a collection of arbitrary and abstract strokes.

Doodling

The act of drawing or sketching aimlessly, often without a specific goal or finished product in mind. It typically involves creating simple, unstructured drawings, such as patterns, shapes, or even recognizable figures, usually done while the mind is otherwise preoccupied. Doodling can be a great way to relax and enhance creativity. It helps improve concentration and can even aid in processing information during activities like meetings or lectures. Despite its casual nature, doodling is considered a form of art because it allows for self-expression and creativity.

Double Loading

A painting technique that involves loading a brush with two colors side by side. This is a technique typical of tole and other kinds of decorative painting. Also known as “sideloading.”

DPI

(An acronym that stands for “dots per inch.”)
A measure of dot density that refers to the number of individual dots in a line across a 1-inch span. Higher DPI values result in better print quality and sharper images, affecting image clarity and detail. It characterizes the resolution of hard copy prints and digital prints.

Draftsmanship

Refers to the skill and technique involved in drawing. This encompasses a wide range of abilities, from creating precise technical drawings and architectural plans to expressive, freehand sketches. A draftsman, or draughtsman, is an artist who demonstrates a high level of proficiency in drawing, often characterized by their control over line quality, perspective, anatomy, shading, and composition.

Draftsmanship is fundamental to many forms of art and design, serving as the basis for painting, sculpture, illustration, and more. Mastery of this skill allows artists to accurately capture the visual world and effectively communicate their ideas.

Drawing

The art or technique of producing images on a surface, typically paper, by making marks with tools like ink, graphite, chalk, charcoal, or crayon. It involves creating lines and areas of tone to represent objects, concepts, emotions, or abstract forms. Drawing is fundamental to many visual arts, serving as a basis for painting, sculpture, and other forms. It can range from simple sketches to highly detailed works and is often used for planning and conceptualizing larger projects.

Drip Painting

An abstract art style that gained popularity in the 20th century through the work of Jackson Pollock. This technique involves dripping or pouring paint onto the canvas, highlighting movement and spontaneity to create dynamic and unique effects.

Drypoint

A printmaking technique where an image is incised into a plate with a hard-pointed needle or similar sharp tool. The plate is usually made of metal, such as copper or zinc, but it can also be plastic or acrylic. Unlike etching, drypoint does not involve the use of acid to create the image.

The process of drypoint involves scratching the design directly onto the plate, creating a burr (a raised edge) along the incised lines. When ink is applied to the plate, the burr holds the ink and produces rich, velvety lines with a distinctive character. This quality makes drypoint particularly valued for its expressive potential and tactile effects.

Duotone

A printing technique that uses two colors to create a tonal image. This method involves printing an image with two different inks, typically a dark color and a lighter one, to produce a richer and more dynamic effect compared to a standard monochrome image.

Duotones can create striking visual contrasts and a sense of depth, making them a popular choice for creative and impactful imagery.

Dynamic Composition

Refers to the arrangement of elements in a visual work that creates a sense of movement, energy, and tension. This type of composition actively guides the viewer’s eye throughout the piece, often using diagonal lines, strong contrasts, and asymmetrical arrangements to evoke a sense of vitality and action.

In dynamic compositions, elements are placed in a way that disrupts balance and symmetry, creating visual interest and engagement. Techniques such as overlapping forms, varied scales, and directional lines contribute to this lively effect. Artists use dynamic composition to bring life and excitement to their work, enhancing the emotional impact and narrative flow.

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This dictionary of art terms is provided as a valuable resource for art enthusiasts. If you like the information here and find it helpful, please consider purchasing a painting. Your support helps to cover the cost of keeping this art terminology lexicon online. Simply click or tap the thumbnail link of any Teresa Bernard oil painting to view additional details.

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EARTH ART     |     EXTERNAL FOCUS

Quick links to more art terms and definitions are located at the end of the list.

Earth Art

An art movement that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s. It involves creating site-specific works using natural materials like soil, rocks, vegetation, and water. These artworks are often integrated into the landscape itself, making the environment an essential part of the piece. See also “Land Art.”

Earth Pigments

(Also known as Mineral Pigments or Natural Pigments.)
Pigments derived from naturally occurring minerals and clay deposits. These pigments have been used by artists for centuries, and they hold a timeless allure. Earth pigments are naturally colored soil: clay and minerals dug up and ground into a fine powder.

Earth pigments encompass a wide spectrum of colors, textures, and properties. Some common hues include:

• • Ochre: Ranging from pale yellow to deep reddish-brown, ochre is one of the earliest pigments used by humans. It’s rich in iron oxide.
  • Sienna: A warm, earthy brown with reddish undertones, sienna comes from natural clay deposits.
  • Umber (raw and burnt): Raw umber leans toward browns, while burnt umber takes on reddish-brown tones. Both are derived from iron oxide.
  • Venetian Red: This reddish-brown pigment owes its existence to hematite, another iron oxide.

Earth Tones

A term that gained popularity in the 1970s during the environmental movement. People sought to reconnect with nature and embrace more natural and organic lifestyles. These colors mirror the earth’s natural hues, including browns, greens, grays, and other warm and muted shades.

Some of the most common earth tones include:

• • Brown: Rich and grounding, brown hues evoke soil, wood, and tree bark.
  • Green: From mossy greens to olive shades, green represents foliage and growth.
  • Gray: Muted grays evoke stone, pebbles, and overcast skies.
  • Beige and Tan: These warm neutrals resemble sand and sun-bleached surfaces.
  • Rust: A reddish-brown shade reminiscent of oxidized iron.
  • Khaki: A light, yellow-brown color often associated with military uniforms.
  • Olive: A subdued green with hints of gray.
  • Moss: A soft, natural green found in—you guessed it—moss.

Easel

An upright support, typically a tripod, used for displaying items. It is commonly used to support an artist’s canvas while painting or to exhibit a finished painting. Artists’ easels come in a range of sizes and styles, from sturdy studio easels to lightweight, portable designs suitable for plein air excursions.

Ebru

(Also known as paper marbling.)
A traditional Turkish art form that creates intricate, marble-like patterns on paper. This technique involves floating pigments on the surface of water or a viscous solution called “size” and then transferring the patterns onto paper.

Artists use special tools such as brushes made from horsehair and rose twigs to manipulate the colors on the water surface, creating unique, flowing designs. Once the desired pattern is achieved, a sheet of paper is carefully placed on top to absorb the pigments, capturing the intricate design. No two Ebru pieces are identical.

Ecological Art

(Also called “eco-art.”)
A contemporary art genre and artistic practice created by artists worldwide concerned about local and global environmental situations. Artworks that are made from recycled and natural materials.

Ecorché

(Pronounced “eh-kor-SHAY.”)
Refers to a representation of a human or animal figure with the skin removed to display the underlying muscles, bones, and anatomy. This technique is often used in anatomical studies and artistic training to help artists understand and depict the human body more accurately. Ecorché models can be sculptures, drawings, or paintings, providing a detailed view of the internal structure and aiding in the study of proportions and movement.

Ecorché has been used since the Renaissance by artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, who meticulously studied anatomy to enhance their depictions of the human form. It remains an important tool in art education and medical illustration.

Ecru

A color similar to that of unbleached linen. Once considered a shade of beige, it has now become more precisely defined as “a grayish yellow that is greener and paler than chamois or old ivory.” Ecru comes from the French word écru, which means “unbleached.”

Egg Tempera

A permanent, fast-drying painting medium used for fine art, restoration, and icon painting. It consists of pigments mixed with a water-soluble binder, typically egg yolk. This was a very common medium before the invention of oil paints.

Elements of Art

The fundamental components used by artists to create their works. These elements are often referred to as the building blocks of art. There are seven primary elements:

• • Line: A mark with length and direction, created by a point that moves across a surface.
  • Shape: A two-dimensional area defined by lines or edges. Shapes can be geometric (like squares and circles) or organic (free-form or natural shapes).
  • Form: A three-dimensional object with volume and thickness. Forms can be viewed from different angles.
  • Space: The area around, between, or within objects. Space can be positive (filled with something) or negative (empty areas).
  • Value: The lightness or darkness of a color. Value helps to create depth and contrast in an artwork.
  • Color: The hue, value, and intensity of an object. Color can evoke emotions and set the mood of a piece.
  • Texture: The surface quality of an object, which can be tactile (actual texture) or visual (implied texture).

These elements are essential for creating balanced, engaging, and visually appealing artworks.

Embossing

A process in printing to create a raised surface on paper or other substrates. It adds texture and dimension, turning a flat sheet into a tactile experience. The process involves custom-made dies (metal plates) that shape the paper fibers to create the raised effect. Types of embossing include:

• • Blind Embossing: No other embellishments—just the embossed effect itself.
  • Combination Embossing: Combines embossing with other finishes like foil stamping.
  • Registered Embossing: Combines embossing with ink, foil, or other elements.
  • Single-Level Embossing: Simplest form, using a die that changes the paper surface at one level.
  • Multi-Level Embossing: Uses a die with distinct levels for more detailed texture.
  • Sculptured Die: Custom hand-tooled die for bas-relief-like sculptural impressions.

Emphasis (in art)

A design principle that draws attention to a single area or focal point within an artwork, giving it dominance and making it stand out. Without emphasis, a composition is merely a collection of equally important features, and nothing stands out when it lacks emphasis.

En Plein Air Painting

(French for “in the open air.” Also called “Plein air painting.”)
Refers to creating artwork outdoors, directly in the natural environment. Instead of working in a studio, artists venture into the open air to capture scenes, landscapes, and people using natural light. This approach allows them to observe changing weather conditions, light, and atmosphere firsthand. The French Impressionists popularized plein air painting, emphasizing spontaneity and the immediacy of perception. Notable artists who practiced this technique include Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Alfred Sisley.

Encaustic Painting

(Also known as hot wax painting.)
A technique that involves applying a heated wax medium infused with colored pigments to a surface, often using wood or canvas. The medium consists of beeswax and damar resin, mixed with oil paint or ink. Metal tools and specialized brushes shape the medium as it cools, while heat lamps or torches fuse and bind the layers. This technique allows for sculpting and layering materials within the wax.

Engraving

A printmaking technique where an artist incises or cuts a design into a hard surface, usually a metal plate, with a tool called a burin or graver. The grooves created by the cutting tool hold the ink, which is transferred to paper through pressure, typically using a printing press. This technique allows for precise, intricate details and fine lines, making it a favored method for producing high-quality prints, such as illustrations, maps, and banknotes.

Entomological Art

Artworks inspired by insects, or those created with insect-derived materials. Throughout history and across cultures, insects have consistently influenced artists and artisans. For example, the ancient engravings of crickets and scarab beetles found in Egyptian religious art highlight the longstanding impact of insects.

Contemporary entomological art focuses on insects as subjects often evoking a blend of fascination and repulsion, reflecting our complex feelings toward these tiny creatures. Ultimately, entomological art provides a distinctive viewpoint, allowing us to appreciate the beauty and strangeness of these tiny creatures, offering a fresh perspective of life on Earth. See also “insect art.”

Environmental Art

Artistic works intended to enrich or blend in with the surrounding natural environment. It includes historical perspectives on nature as well as more contemporary ecological and political works that seek to improve the environment, integrate with it, or make a statement about environmental challenges.

Environmental Still Life

A genre of still life painting that focuses on depicting objects within a broader environmental context, often highlighting themes related to nature, sustainability, and the impact of human activity on the environment. This type of still life goes beyond traditional compositions by incorporating elements that reflect environmental concerns and the natural world. Artists working in this genre might include items like plants, recycled materials, or objects found in nature, arranged in a way that draws attention to environmental issues. The goal is often to provoke thought and raise awareness about topics such as pollution, climate change, and conservation.

Etching

A printmaking technique where artists scratch or draw their design into a metal plate coated with an acid-resistant substance. Ink is applied to the etched lines, and then the plate is pressed onto paper to create the final print. It’s a versatile method used for intricate and expressive artworks.

Ethnographic Art

Refers to the visual arts and material culture of indigenous peoples. It’s also known as non-Western art or tribal art. Historically, Western anthropologists, private collectors, and museums—especially ethnographic and natural history museums—have collected these artworks. They often have ceremonial or religious significance and originate from rural tribal cultures. See also “Tribal Art.”

Exhibition (in art)

Refers to the organized display of artworks for public viewing. These exhibitions can be held in various venues such as galleries, museums, art fairs, or alternative spaces. Exhibitions are curated to showcase the work of individual artists, groups, or specific themes and periods in art.

They serve multiple purposes by:

• • Providing artists with a platform to present their work.
  • Allowing the public to engage with art.
  • Fostering dialogue and critical analysis.

Exhibitions can range from small, local shows to major international events like the Venice Biennale or Art Basel.

Expressionism

Post-World War I European art movement that emphasized the expression of inner experience rather than a solely realistic portrayal. This art form emphasizes subjective emotions and responses that objects and events arouse in the artist rather than objective reality. Expressionism is marked by its use of distorted lines and shapes, along with exaggerated colors, to evoke emotional resonance. Vincent van Gogh is highly regarded as a pioneer of this artistic movement.

External Focus

In the realm of art, this term refers to an approach where artists draw inspiration from the physical world around them. Artists with an external focus observe and depict their surroundings. This external perspective often leads to the creation of objective art, which is experienced by viewers rather than emanating solely from the artist’s internal thoughts or emotions.

Opposite of “internal focus.”

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FAN ART     |     FUTURISM

Quick links to more art terms and definitions are located at the end of the list.

Fan Art (or Fanart)

Artwork created by the fans of popular fictional books, TV shows, movies, comics, etc. Such works are typical of favorite characters or scenes that are hand-drawn, painted, or digitally produced using a computer program. Fanart is considered a form of artistic expression for fans to convey their love and appreciation for the cultural icon they are creating artwork for. They are neither commissioned works of art nor endorsed by the creators of the fictional work the fan art depicts.

Fan Art Brush

A flat brush with a thin layer of hairs spread out in the shape of a fan and a flat ferrule on a long handle. This brush is excellent for smoothing, blending, and feathering. The synthetic hairs are perfect for painting highlights and flowing strands of hair, grasses, leaves, and thin branches on trees, creating textural effects, and blending the soft edges of clouds. A word of caution, though: be careful not to make identical or repetitive marks that look unnatural.

Fantasy Art

A genre of art that combines fantasy or one’s imagination and reality, and frequently features mythological, magical, and supernatural themes. Fantasy art is the product of an artist’s vivid imagination and can be figurative and naturalistic rather than abstract.

Fat Over Lean Rule

A technique used in oil painting that dictates that each successive layer of paint be applied with slightly more oil and that ‘leaner’ paint is layered beneath ‘fatter’ paint. Lean paint is paint that has been mixed with a paint thinner. Fat paint is paint that has a higher oil content by adding an oily medium such as linseed oil which makes it more flexible and takes longer to dry. This technique helps prevent the paint from cracking in the finished work since the lower oil content in the initial layers dry faster. Following this rule ensures proper paint adhesion to the canvas, ensuring the painting’s durability and longevity.

Fauvism

An art movement that flourished around the turn of the twentieth century in France, comprised of a group of artists known as Les Fauves (the wild beasts), whose painting style stressed high-contrast colors and aggressive brushwork, displaying a more raw and less natural manner of expression. Fauvism is characterized by its use of bright colors, textured brushwork, and non-naturalistic portrayals. André Derain and Henri Matisse were the movement’s leaders.

Federal Arts Project

A government initiative designed to create jobs for American artists during the Great Depression. The program, part of the New Deal, was established in 1935 and dissolved in 1943.

Ferrule

Refers to the metal or plastic devise that aligns and anchors paintbrush bristles or hairs in an adhesive. Ferrules can be made from tin, aluminum, brass, copper alloys, nickel, or chrome plated. Quality brushes have a brass or copper alloy ferrule. The ferrule is attached to the handle by crimping or by binding wires. High-quality ferrules won’t rust or come loose. Also see “Brush Anatomy.”

Figurative Art

Artwork that clearly depicts real-world figures, objects, or subjects. It focuses on creating recognizable representations, often employing realistic details, colors, and shapes to capture tangible elements of our everyday reality on canvas, in stone, or through other artistic media.  It is closely related to Representational Art, however, there are some subtle differences.

Figure Drawing

An art form that involves sketching the human figure in various shapes and postures, often done live with a nude model. This art form can take various forms, from highly detailed renderings to loose and expressive sketches. The term can also refer to the act of producing such a drawing.

Filbert Art Brush

A flat, oval-shaped brush with medium to long chiseled, rounded edge hairs and a thick, flat ferrule on a long handle. This brush is ideal for blending soft, rounded edges, like flower petals. Its curved tip allows for easy control of blending and softening edges. It creates thin lines when used on its side, and broad brushstrokes when used flat. By varying the pressure as you use the brush, you can create a tapering mark.

Filigree

A captivating form of intricate metalwork used in jewelry and other small objects. Filigree involves twisting, curling, or plaiting fine, pliable metal threads (usually gold, silver, or copper) and soldering them together. The result is a lace-like, ornamental openwork that adorns surfaces.

Fine Art

A visual expression of human creativity, involving technical skills and imagination, created for aesthetic expression, communication, or contemplation. Painting and sculpture are the best-known of the fine arts. For more information on this topic, see blog article “What is Fine Art?”

Fine Artist

A practitioner (such as a painter or sculptor) of the fine arts who earns a living from their artistic creations. When an artist has mastered their craft and their work is highly valued, they are regarded as fine artists.

Fixative

A liquid, similar to varnish, is sprayed over a finished piece of artwork to preserve it better and prevent smudging. Artwork media requiring fixatives include drawings done in pencil, charcoal, and pastel.

Flat Art Brush

A brush with a flat-shaped end, like a screwdriver, having a flat ferrule and medium-to-long brush strands. The strands are arranged in a rectangular shape that is longer than wide. Looking at it from the side, it is narrow. This brush is ideal for bold, sweeping strokes, washes, filling wide spaces, and impasto. It can also be used for fine lines, straight edges, and stripes. Used flat produces broad brushstrokes, while turned on the narrow edge produces thin strokes. Flat art brushes are primarily used for covering large areas with flat strokes and blending.

Flower Art

A broad term for a style of artwork that encompasses various artistic mediums featuring flowers or floral motifs. It can include paintings, drawings, sculptures, and even digital or computer art. There are many different styles of flower artwork, ranging from realistic to abstract. For more on flower art, click here.

Flower Still Life

A genre of still life painting that focuses on the depiction of flowers, often arranged in bouquets, vases or other containers. Flower still lifes are celebrated for their vibrant colors, intricate details, and the ability to capture the delicate beauty of flowers. These paintings often explore themes of nature, beauty, and the passage of time, as flowers can symbolize both life and its fleeting nature. The compositions can range from simple and elegant to complex and dynamic, often incorporating elements like insects, fruits, and other objects to add depth and interest.

Fluorescent Colors

Refers to colors that absorb and reflect more light than conventional colors. As a result, these pigments are brighter and more intense than normal colors. They are so saturated that they feel as if they might continue to glow without a light source. Fluorescent colors emit a vivid brightness that makes them seem like they emit light, especially when viewed under a blacklight. Fluorescent colors react to ultraviolet light and convert light to a dominant wavelength or color. There are six fluorescent colors, they are: blue, green, orange, pink, red, and yellow. Some people refer to fluorescent colors as neon. All fluorescent colors are “fugitive.”

Foam Core Board

(Also known as foam board.)
A lightweight material used for mounting photographs, backing picture frames, creating scale models, and painting. It consists of a polystyrene foam core covered with paper on both sides.

Focal Point

In the world of art, a focal point is a crucial element that guides the viewer’s eye toward a specific area of interest within a composition. It acts as a visual anchor—a spot that demands attention. When an artwork has a well-defined focal point, it creates balance, depth, and emphasis.

Folk Art

Art created by individuals who have had no formal academic training in art but whose works are 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 characters and diacritical marks you get by pressing the shift, option, or command/control keys.

Fontography

Refers to the art and science of designing, creating, arranging, styling, and displaying fonts, typefaces, characters, glyphs, images, and symbols. Essentially, it’s the specialized craft of crafting the visual forms of letters and characters that are then used in typography. A person who designs fonts is called a “fontographer.”

Foreground

The area of an artwork that appears closest to the viewer’s perspective. It is often located on a lower plane or bottom of the canvas.  Imagine it as the front stage—the area right up front in a two-dimensional composition, such as a painting, photograph, or illustration. When you look at a painting, the foreground is where your eyes first land, and it often sets the stage for what’s to come. The foreground plays a crucial role in guiding the viewer’s visual journey through the artwork.

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.

Form

The visible shape and volume of a three-dimensional work, including unfilled areas that are integral to the work as a whole.

Formal Balance

 (Also known as Symmetrical Balance.)
A concept in aesthetic composition that involves equal weight and importance on both sides of an artwork. Formal balance ensures that an artwork’s visual elements are evenly distributed across its composition. It also creates a sense of equilibrium by mirroring one side of the composition with the other.

The characteristics of formal balance are:

• • Identical Mirroring: In formal balance, both halves of the composition are essentially mirror images of each other. If you were to overlay one half onto the other, they’d align seamlessly.
  • Stability and Order: Formal balance evokes stability and order. It feels harmonious and controlled.
  • Common Usage: You’ll find formal balance in various artistic styles, including portraits, cubism, and modern art.

Found-object Art

(Also known as junk art or assemblage art.)
Art that involves creating artworks from discarded or everyday materials. Artists repurpose items like old tools, scrap metal, or broken machinery to construct sculptures or installations. The goal is to transform the mundane into something meaningful or thought-provoking.

Fractal Art

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.

Frame

A border made to enclose, enhance, and protect an artwork, picture, or a mirror. A frame serves as a protective barrier for artwork. It shields the piece from environmental factors like dust, moisture, and harmful UV rays. Without proper framing, these elements can lead to fading, discoloration, and physical damage. Beyond protection, framing plays a pivotal role in enhancing visual impact. The right frame should complement the colors, style, and mood of the art piece. Additionally, the frame provides a transition from the artwork to the surrounding space, creating a harmonious visual flow within the room.

Freehand Drawing

The art of drawing without the use of tools or mechanical devices like grids, rulers, and compasses. To draw something freehand, you must not use any aids such as tracing or measuring either. Freehand artists draw using only their hands, relying on their observational skills to measure and depict what they observe.

French Curve

A versatile drawing tool used by artists, draftspersons, and designers to create smooth curves that don’t strictly follow the circle’s curve. A French curve is a thin, clear, hard material template, often made of plastic, with several different curves and shapes in a scroll or curved form. These curves allow for more organic and varied shapes, adding a touch of fluidity and naturalness to artistic compositions. Also called a drawing curve, irregular curve, or airplane curve.

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.

Frottage Art

An art technique developed by Max Ernst in 1925. The technique entails placing a sheet of paper on top of a rough or textured surface and rubbing a soft pencil, graphite, chalk, crayon, or other medium over it to obtain an impression of the surface texture of the material underneath the sheet. The French word for rubbing is “frottage.”

Fugitive Colors

Short-lived pigments capable of fading or changing, especially with exposure to light, to atmospheric pollution, or when mixed with certain substances.

Functional Art

(Also known as Utilitarian Art.)
A genre of art that combines form and function, creating objects that are both beautiful and useful. This includes high-quality, artistically crafted objects like dishes and clothes, as well as aesthetic objects like furniture, lighting, and books.

Futurism

An avant-garde artistic and social movement that emerged in Italy during the early 20th century. Allow me to delve into the details for you.

Futurism celebrated dynamism, speed, and the transformative power of technology. Its proponents sought to capture the essence of modern life—the hustle and bustle of cities, the rapid advancement of industry, and the exhilaration of progress.

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This glossary of art terms is provided as a valuable resource for art enthusiasts. If you like the information here and find it helpful, please consider purchasing a painting. Your support helps to cover the cost of keeping this art vocabulary list and lexicon online. Simply click or tap the thumbnail link of any Teresa Bernard oil painting to view additional details.

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GALLERY     |     GUERRILLA KNITTING

Quick links to more art terms and definitions are located at the end of the list.

Gallery

Refers to a building, hall, room, or series of rooms where sculpture, paintings, photographs, or other works of art are exhibited and or sold. Unlike museums, galleries focus on displaying contemporary and current artworks, often showcasing innovative pieces by rising artists. Visitors can view the art, engage with it, and inquire about purchasing specific works.

Gallery-Wrapped Canvas

A type of canvas used by artists to create paintings on top of the canvas surface. Canvas fabric is stretched across and wrapped around wooden stretcher bars. It is then attached to the back of the stretcher bars using staples or spline. Gallery-wrapped canvas allows artists to paint on the sides or edges of the canvas and to hang it without a frame. Some artists and collectors prefer the more contemporary look of unframed art.

For more information see blog article “Three Types of Oil Painting Canvas.”

Genre

(A French word meaning “kind” or “genus.”)
A realistic style of painting that depicts scenes of everyday life. Dutch artworks of peasant and tavern scenes are considered typical genre paintings.

Genre Painting

A realistic style of painting that depicts scenes of everyday life. It shows average folks going about their lives, whether they are at work or having fun. These paintings feature intimate scenes of daily life, costumes, residential settings, interiors, festivities, bar scenes, marketplaces, and other street scenarios. It might also represent a crowded street, a beach party, a dinner gathering, or any other location where life happens. Dutch artworks of peasant and tavern scenes are considered typical genre paintings.

Geometric Art

An art movement that emerged in the early 20th century by artists fascinated with geometric shapes. Inspired by geometry, a type of mathematics, geometric art is a form of abstract art that uses basic shapes like squares, circles, triangles, and rectangles in its designs. Geometric artworks can be created using various materials like paint, ink, pencil, paper, metal, and plastic. And it is often used to create seamless patterns, abstract backgrounds, and various photo effects.

Geometric Symmetry

Refers to a specific type of symmetry that arises from precise mathematical relationships and regular shapes. In geometrically symmetrical compositions, elements are arranged in a way that maintains balance through mirroring, rotation, or repetition. Unlike more organic or freeform symmetries, geometric symmetry relies on strict rules and predictable patterns.

Geometric symmetry plays a crucial role in art, providing a foundation for balance, harmony, and visual order. It ensures that elements within an artwork are evenly distributed. Regular shapes—such as squares, triangles, or circles—often serve as building blocks. By duplicating elements precisely, artists achieve a sense of equilibrium. Think of tessellations—those repeating patterns without gaps or overlaps. They captivate viewers with meticulous arrangement and optical illusions.

Gesso

A primer or coating made of plaster, chalk, or gypsum, bound with glue, applied to canvases to ensure they are suitable for paint application. Without this layer of primer, the paint would soak into the weave and possibly damage the canvas material. When applying multiple layers of gesso, it is best to lightly sand each layer before applying the next one. Gesso can be applied to just about any surface and may be painted on with acrylic or oil paint. It can also be built up, molded into relief designs, or carved.

Gesture Drawing

A freehand drawing technique used by artists to quickly capture the action, form, and pose of a model or figure. It involves using the whole arm with loose movements, focusing on the shape rather than details. This method is beneficial in improving the hand and eye coordination for artists of all levels, from beginners to experienced.

Giclee

(Pronounced “zee-clay”) a printmaking process usually on an IRIS inkjet printer to make reproductions of a photograph or painting. The printer can produce a vast range of colors, resulting in prints that are of exceptionally high quality.

GIF

An acronym for “Graphic Interchange Format,” an image format type generated specifically for computer use. Its resolution is usually very low (72 dpi, or that of your computer screen), making it undesirable for printing purposes.

Gilding

A decorative method that involves applying a thin layer of gold or similar metal to solid surfaces such as metal, wood, porcelain, or stone. The process enhances the object’s appearance, creating a luxurious and ornate finish.

Glaze

Refers to a thin, translucent layer of acrylic or oil paint applied to a painting. It modifies the appearance of the underlying paint layer, altering aspects such as chroma, value, hue, and texture. Glazes consist of a small amount of pigment mixed with a greater amount of binding medium. Artists use glazing to create depth, enhance luminosity, and allow underlying colors to shine through.

Gold Leaf

An extremely thin tissue of actual gold used primarily for gilding—decorating surfaces with a layer of gold. It has been employed in various artistic contexts throughout history. Gold leaf can be applied to various surfaces, such as:

• • Paper: Gold leaf adheres beautifully to paper, creating a radiant effect. Think of religious icons, where halos and backgrounds often feature gold leaf.
  • Wood: Furniture, frames, and wooden sculptures can be gilded with gold leaf.
  • Ceramics: Porcelain and pottery gain a lustrous finish when adorned with gold leaf.
  • Glass: Stained glass windows sometimes incorporate gold leaf for added brilliance.
  • Textiles: Although less common, gold leaf can be applied to fabric or textiles.
  • Metal: Even metal surfaces, such as jewelry or decorative metalwork, can benefit from gold leaf.

Golden Age of Illustration

An era, spanning roughly from the 1880s to the 1930s, which was marked by unprecedented excellence in book and magazine illustration. Although it isn’t officially recognized as a distinct historical era within the art world, its impact remains significant.

The Golden Age of Illustration emerged due to technological advancements that allowed accurate and inexpensive reproduction of art. Specifically, the halftone printing process became mainstream during this time. And by the early 1900s, full-color reproduction had also become advanced enough for use in magazines and books. This enabled artists’ work to be directly reproduced in all its glory.

The Golden Age of Illustration was a time when technology, industrialization, and a voracious appetite for new graphic art converged. It brought forth a wealth of beautifully crafted illustrations that continue to captivate us today.

Golden Ratio

(Also referred as the golden mean.)
A compositional technique that creates harmonious proportions in paintings by utilizing a mathematical ratio found in nature. It is an actual ratio of 1:1.618, which can be demonstrated by drawing a rectangle with a width of 1 and a length of 1.618. Within this rectangle, there is a square with a ratio of 1:1 and another rectangle with a ratio of 1:1.618. If another square is drawn within the smaller rectangle, it will have a ratio of 1:1 and another rectangle with a ratio of 1:1.618. This ratio can create beauty and balance in the layout and design of all paintings. The point where the diagonal lines intersect is crucial when using this ratio to compose your paintings, as it is infinitely divisible, allowing multiple intersections for sub-elements.

Goniochromism

(Also known as iridescence.)
A fascinating phenomenon where certain surfaces—whether in nature or man-made—appear to change color as if they’re putting on a shimmering cloak when you shift your viewing angle or the angle of illumination. This captivating effect happens due to wave interference of light in microstructures or thin films. Whether it’s the glimmering green of beetle wings or the rainbow hues in seashells, iridescence adds a touch of magic to our world.

Good Design Principles

(Also referred to as the principles of design or the principles of composition.)
Refers to a set of guidelines or principles that are the backbone of effective and visually engaging design. Good design isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about solving problems, enhancing experiences, and making life better. These principles aren’t rigid rules; they’re simple tools for effective communication.

The design principles are:

• • Balance ensures visual stability. It can be symmetrical (equal weight on both sides) or asymmetrical (unequal but visually balanced).
  • Contrast involves juxtaposing different elements (e.g., light vs. dark, big vs. small) to create visual interest.
  • Emphasis directs the viewer’s attention to a specific element within a design. It’s about making something stand out.
  • Hierarchy organizes information by importance. It guides the viewer’s eye.
  • Repetition creates consistency and reinforces visual themes. It unifies a design.
  • Rhythm establishes a visual flow. It’s like a beat or pattern within a design. Repeat visual elements at regular intervals to create rhythm.
  • Pattern involves repeating motifs or shapes. It adds interest and predictability. Use patterns in backgrounds, textures, or decorative elements.
  • Proportion deals with the size relationship between elements. It ensures harmony.
  • Unity ensures that all elements work together as a cohesive whole.
  • White space (negative space) is the empty area around design elements. It provides breathing room.

Gothic Art

A medieval style of art that emerged in Northern France in the 12th century. It is distinguished by meticulous workmanship, elaborate decorations, and religious themes. It evolved from Romanesque art and Gothic architecture and is commonly linked with towering cathedrals with pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and spectacular stained glass. Renaissance Italian writers developed the term Gothic to describe the evolution of medieval architecture after the barbarian Gothic tribes destroyed the Roman Empire and its classical culture in the fifth century.

Gouache

A type of watercolor paint made heavier and more opaque by the addition of a white pigment (chalk, Chinese white, etc.) in a gum arabic mixture. This results in a stronger color than ordinary watercolor.

Gradation

The gradual transition between opposites—whether it’s from one color to another, from lighter to darker shades, large shapes to smaller ones, or other visual elements. Gradation is a powerful technique that artists use to create harmony and unify their compositions. It ties together things that might otherwise compete with each other.

Graffiti Art

(Also called Street Art.)
A term used to describe visual artwork that has been spray-painted, drawn, or inscribed on public surfaces such as walls and sidewalks. While some view it as vandalism, others appreciate it as a form of expression aimed at beautifying urban landscapes by transforming dull or empty spaces.

Graphic Art

A diverse visual expression, often created on flat surfaces. It uses a variety of techniques to represent subjects, including drawing, painting, and photography. It also includes decorative elements, patterns, and designs for aesthetic purposes. Graphic art can be textual or use printing techniques like engraving. Most graphic art is two-dimensional, with emphasis on line, color, and tone. It combines creativity, technique, and visual communication to create captivating and expressive works.

Graphic Artist

Graphic artists are creative professionals who create visual materials to convey emotions, stories, and messages to audiences. They focus on artistic expression and work in both traditional and digital media. They create original artwork, illustrations, or animations for various projects, including advertisements, posters, book covers, comic books, graphic novels, animations, film illustrations, and cartoons. Graphic artists use their skills and tools to design images, logos, illustrations, animations, and other elements for various media and purposes.

Graphic Design

The art of arranging images and text to convey a message, applied in various media like print, digital, motion pictures, animation, product decoration, packaging, and signs. As a practice, graphic design traces its beginnings back to the origin of the written word. However, it only became identified as a separate entity in the late 19th century. 

Graphic Designer

(Often used interchangeably with the term “graphic artist.”)
A specialist who creates and communicates visual concepts through the integration of technology and art. Graphic designers focus on effective communication strategies within specified specifications utilizing text, images, colors, fonts, and other elements to design and layout information for a variety of mediums such as websites, printed pages, brochures, magazines, banners, and advertisements. Their goal is to inform, inspire, and captivate consumers with their designs, reflecting the desired message and brand of their clients or customers. They ensure readability and aesthetically pleasing layouts using principles like contrast, balance, and visual hierarchy.

Graphite

A metallic gray writing and drawing material made of carbon primarily used in pencil form. Artists use graphite for drawing. Graphite’s thin, refined strokes create delicate lines, making it a versatile tool for both preliminary sketches and final pieces.

Grayscale

(Also known as monochrome.)
Refers to an image composed exclusively of shades of gray. It’s the range of gray tones between black and white (see the illustration below). Unlike full-color images, which use a spectrum of colors, grayscale images rely solely on variations of black, white, and the intermediate grays in between. Each shade of gray represents a specific amount of light transmission. At the lowest intensity, black signifies the total absence of light, while at the highest intensity, white represents total light transmission or reflection.

Grayscale is one of the core fundamentals of art, akin to perspective, color theory, composition, and anatomy. Understanding values (the lightness or darkness of tones) is crucial for any artist, regardless of their chosen style.

Green

The color that is created when blue and yellow (primary colors) are mixed together.  Green is one of the three secondary colors (orange, green, and violet) on the color wheel. (See Secondary Colors.) The complement or opposite of the color red. Part of the RGB color model used on television and computer screens.

Grid

Refers to a series of crossed lines that meet to form a boxed pattern used in the predetermined placement of photographs and graphic elements on a canvas. Helpful in creating compositions.

Grid Enlarging

The process of using a grid to enlarge an image; for hand drawing very precisely another image on the same or a different scale, usually larger; used in scaling an image by drawing. For more information on using this method, see the article titled Using a Grid to Enlarge and Transfer an Image to Canvas.

Grisaille

Monochrome painting generally employs shades of gray executed in a black pigment and an inert white pigment in oil, gouache, or tempera; a stained-glass window incorporating muted tones as opposed to bright colors.

Group of Seven

Canada’s first internationally recognized art movement. It played a pivotal role in shaping Canadian art during the early 20th century. Founded in 1920, The Group of Seven consisted of self-proclaimed modern artists who shared a common vision. The group primarily focused on landscape painting, especially scenes from northern Ontario. Their paintings captured the rugged beauty of Canada’s wilderness, emphasizing its unspoiled terrain.

Guerrilla Art

(Also called Street Art.)
A form of art-making that entails installing unauthorized works of art in public places. This form of art expression allows the artist to express their views and opinions to a large audience anonymously. Such statements can be either political or merely to call attention to one’s surroundings. Guerrilla art differs from other forms of art. It is inherently environmental and does not rely on conventional mediums like canvas. Traditional artworks can be transported between galleries without altering their essence or interpretation; however, guerrilla art is different. The very surface that it adorns often plays a crucial role in the significance of the work, just as much as the artwork itself.

Guerrilla Knitting

(Also known as yarn bombing or yarn graffiti.)
A form of street art that involves covering objects or structures in public spaces with colorful knitted or crocheted yarn. This crafty approach uses soft and snug materials instead of the usual graffiti mediums like paint or chalk, offering a unique transformation of the urban environment.

You May Also Like

This glossary of art definitions is provided as a valuable resource for art enthusiasts. If you like the information here and find it helpful, please consider purchasing a painting. Your support helps to cover the cost of keeping this art vocabulary and meanings lexicon online. Simply click or tap the thumbnail link of any Teresa Bernard oil painting to view additional details.

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HALFTONE     |     HYPERREALISM

Quick links to more art terms and definitions are located at the end of the list.

Halftone

A reprographic technique used in printing and graphic design. It creates the illusion of continuous-tone imagery by using dots that vary in size or spacing. These dots simulate gradients or shades of color. When viewed from a distance, the patterned areas appear as smooth tones. Halftone images consist of thousands of small dots, and they play a pivotal role in printing, allowing for depth and gradation in monochromatic spaces

Handbuilding

A pottery technique where clay objects are created by hand without using a potter’s wheel. This traditional method allows artists to shape and form clay through various manual techniques such as pinching, coiling, and slab construction. Handbuilding offers greater flexibility and control over the final shape, enabling the creation of unique and intricate designs.

Hard-Edge Painting

Refers to a twentieth-century movement in painting in which the edges of shapes are crisp and precise rather than soft or blurred. The opposite of blending. This technique consists of rough, straight edges that are geometrically uniform and encompass rich solid colors, neatness of surface, and the arrangement of forms all over the canvas.

Hard Pastels

Refers to square-shaped pastel sticks made of pigment and clay. Unlike their softer counterparts, hard pastels have a higher concentration of binder and less pigment. Ideal for drawing fine lines and detailed elements in art, they serve as precision instruments—crisp, dependable, and adept at imparting vivid hues to a canvas. See also Pastels.

The features of hard pastels are:

• • More Binder, Less Pigment: Hard pastels have more binder and less pigment than soft pastels.
  • Fine Lines and Details: Ideal for fine lines and sketching.
  • Use: Great for drawing and can be combined with soft pastels.
  • Surface: Also works on paper and board.

Harlem Renaissance

(Also known as the New Negro movement.)
Refers to a vibrant cultural and artistic explosion that took place in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City during the 1920s and early 1930s. The Harlem Renaissance is often associated with literary and performing arts, however, visual artists played a crucial role. Sculptors, painters, and printmakers formed a black avant-garde, infusing their work with Afrocentric themes and perspectives. Their art celebrated African American culture, identity, and history, countering derogatory stereotypes prevalent in popular culture.

Harmonious Colors

Colors that go well together and sit next to each other on the color wheel. For example: red and orange; orange and yellow; yellow and green; green and blue; blue and purple; purple and red. Complementary colors, analogous colors, and other related colors schemes are also considered harmonious.

Harmony (in visual art)

Refers to the skillful integration and coordination of diverse elements within a composition to achieve a visually pleasing and balanced result. Harmony encompasses the effective use of various artistic elements, such as:

• • Color: Selecting a cohesive color palette where hues relate and complement one another.
  • Value: Balancing light and dark tones to create depth and unity.
  • Texture: Ensuring that surface qualities harmonize—whether it’s smoothness, roughness, or pattern.
  • Shape and Form: Arranging shapes and forms so they work together seamlessly.
  • Line: Guiding the viewer’s eye with purposeful lines—whether they’re bold, delicate, or flowing.
  • Other Elements: Consider rhythm, balance, and proportion too.

Hatching

A technique used in art to create tonal or shading effects by drawing or painting closely spaced parallel lines. When lines are crossed or placed at an angle to one another, the method is called cross-hatching. Artists use this modeling technique, indicating tone and suggesting light and shade, by varying the length, angle, closeness, and other qualities of the lines, most commonly used in drawing, linear painting, engraving, and ethnic art.

HEX Color System

A way of representing colors from various color models through hexadecimal values. The term “hex” comes from the word “hexadecimal.” A hexadecimal color follows the format #RRGGBB, where RR represents red, GG represents green, and BB represents blue. A hex code is made up of six digits, usually preceded by a hashtag (#). The numbers in this code correspond to the amount of red, green, and blue in the color.

Hierarchy of the Genres

A formalized ranking system introduced by the great European Academies in 1669 in the wake of the Italian Renaissance. It comprised five painting-genres that were based on a genre’s prestige and cultural value. They are:

1. 1. History paintings were considered the highest form of art. It depicted significant historical, mythological, or religious events.
   2. Portraiture involved capturing the likeness of specific individuals—whether nobility, scholars, or common people.
   3. Genre paintings depicted scenes from everyday life—ordinary people engaged in typical activities.
   4. Landscape art focused on natural scenery—forests, mountains, rivers, and skies.
   5. Still life paintings featured inanimate objects—flowers, fruits, food, or everyday items.

Hieratic Scale

An artistic technique used to communicate importance through size. In this approach, figures of greater significance, such as deities or royalty, are depicted larger than less important figures, regardless of their actual physical proportions. This technique was prominently used in ancient Egyptian and medieval art to emphasize the hierarchical status of individuals within a composition.

Highlight

The area on an object where the light hits most directly, creating the brightest spot in a drawing or painting. This technique is used to direct attention or to emphasize through the use of pigment or color.

Historical Paintings (or History Paintings)

Artwork that incorporates a theme from classical history, mythology, or the Bible. They can represent a wide range of historical events, subjects, or themes. History paintings often portray a scene from a significant event from the past.

Horizon Line

A level line in a painting where the earth’s surface (or sea) and the sky appear to meet. It defines the farthest distance of the background and is the place where a central vanishing point is established. The horizon line will ALWAYS be at eye level, regardless of whether you are at ground level or standing on a mountaintop. It changes as you change positions. The line at the top of mountains or buildings is not the horizon line; these objects “rest” on the horizon line. Sometimes hills, trees, buildings, or other objects can hide it from view, but the horizon line will always be present.

Horizontal Balance

Refers to the even distribution of visual weight across the horizontal axis within an artwork. This balance results in a feeling of equilibrium and steadiness within the artwork.

Horseshoe Arch

An architectural element characterized by its rounded, horseshoe shape. This arch curves more than a semicircle, creating a distinctive and aesthetically pleasing form. It is commonly associated with Islamic architecture, particularly in structures from the Moorish period in Spain, such as the Great Mosque of Córdoba. The horseshoe arch’s unique shape not only adds beauty but also contributes to the structural integrity of buildings. Its design has influenced various architectural styles across different cultures and historical periods.

Hudson River School

A prominent American art movement from 1825-1875, formed by a group of landscape painters who emphasized the beauty and significance of the American wilderness. Their meticulously portrayed landscapes, often idealized, captured the ruggedness and sublimity of the Hudson Valley.

Hue

Refers to the name of a color, such as red, green, or yellow. A hue is a pure pigment—one without any added tint (white) or shade (black). It’s the fundamental building block of color that differentiates it from the others.

Humanism (in art)

Refers to a Renaissance cultural movement that emphasized the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively. Humanism sought to revive the classical art, literature, and knowledge of ancient Greece and Rome, focusing on human potential and achievements.

Hybrid Art

An art genre that combines different mediums, techniques, and technologies to create innovative and interdisciplinary works. This approach blurs the boundaries between traditional art forms and often incorporates elements from fields such as science, digital media, performance, and installation.

The fusion of diverse methods and materials in hybrid art allows for the exploration of new creative possibilities and often results in works that are immersive, interactive, and thought-provoking. Artists in this genre might use anything from biotechnology to virtual reality to create pieces that challenge conventional notions of art and engage audiences in novel ways.

Hyperrealism

A genre of art that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s as an extension of photorealism. Hyperrealism is characterized by its meticulous precision and acute attention to detail, often achieving a level of realism where the artwork is almost indistinguishable from a high-resolution photograph. Artists meticulously study photographs and then reproduce the images with lifelike accuracy, creating a trompe l’oeil effect—deceiving the viewer into thinking they’re looking at a real photograph.

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Quick links to more art terms and definitions are located at the end of the list.

Icon

An artistic visual representation or symbol of anything considered holy and divine, such as God, saints, or deities. An icon could be a painting (including a relief painting), sculpture, or mosaic. It also refers to a little picture on a computer screen that represents the various functions of the computer. Generally, the user clicks on an icon to start an application or function.

Iconography

The branch of art history that involves the identification, description, and interpretation of the content of images. It encompasses the study of symbols, themes, and subject matter depicted in art, particularly focusing on their meaning and significance within a given cultural, historical, or religious context.

Through iconography, scholars analyze the visual elements of a work of art, deciphering the underlying messages, narratives, and ideologies conveyed by the artist. This field often involves comparing visual elements to literary sources, historical records, and other artworks to provide a deeper understanding of the cultural and symbolic references embedded in the artwork.

Iconography serves as a critical tool in understanding the evolution of visual language and the ways in which societies communicate ideas through imagery.

Illumination (in art)

Refers to the decoration of manuscripts with intricate designs, ornate letters, and miniature illustrations. This practice flourished particularly during the Middle Ages, where religious texts and important documents were often embellished with gold leaf, vivid colors, and detailed imagery to enhance their visual appeal and convey symbolic meaning.

Illuminated manuscripts are characterized by their use of precious materials, including gold and silver, which were applied to the pages to create a radiant effect, hence the term “illumination.” These works of art were typically created by scribes and artists working in monastic scriptoria, meticulously crafting each page by hand.

Illusionism

A technique in art that creates the illusion of a real object or scene, or a sculpture where the artist portrays figures in a realistic manner, tricking the eye into believing the objects are real and occupying the same space as the viewer. A concept also known as mimesis.

Illustrate

To create visual representations (drawings, paintings, or other imagery) for books, magazines, or other print or electronic media to clarify or explain the text or show what happens in a story.

Illustration

A visualization, such as a drawing, painting, photograph, or other work of art, stresses the subject more than form. The aim of an illustration is to elucidate or decorate a story, poem, or piece of textual information (such as a newspaper article) by providing a visual representation of something described in the text.

Illustration Board

A type of thick board made by fixing textured absorbent paper onto a rigid backing, such as cardboard or poster board. It’s sturdy, weighty, and designed for creating complete artworks. One surface of the board is meant for use, and it provides an excellent canvas for drawing and painting. Whether you’re using charcoal, watercolors, or other media, illustration board ensures your work stays flat and durable.

Illustrator

A graphic artist who specializes in enhancing the written text by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text. Also refers to a computer illustration program developed by Adobe Systems, Inc.

Impasto

A painting technique where paint is applied thickly to a canvas or panel so that brushstrokes or palette knife marks are visible. Originating in 14th-century Italy, it gained popularity during the Renaissance, when artists like Michelangelo began using impasto in their sculptures and paintings.

Implied Line

A line in an artwork that is subtlety perceived by the viewer but has no physical shape and flows from one area to the next, implying continuation by similar direction and juxtaposition.

Impressionism

A free and spontaneous painting style that began in France around 1870. It appears rough and incomplete, marked by small, thin, and noticeable brushstrokes. Impressionist artists frequently painted en plein air to capture the natural light and color of the landscape. They seldom used black, opting instead for dark tones and complementary colors. Impressionism typically conveys the artist’s immediate impression, rather than an intricate depiction. Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro were pivotal figures in this art movement.

Imprimatura

(An Italian term meaning “first paint layer.”)
An initial stain of color applied to a canvas or painting surface before starting the actual artwork. It provides a transparent, toned ground, allowing light to reflect through the subsequent paint layers. Artists often create imprimaturas using earth pigments like raw sienna, diluted with turpentine. It’s especially useful in classical approaches where underpainting and drawing are established ahead of time.

Incising (in art)

Refers to the technique of cutting or engraving into a surface with a sharp tool to create a design, pattern, or decoration. This method is commonly used in various forms of art, including ceramics, printmaking, and sculpture.

India Ink

A simple black or colored ink, made from a black pigment consisting of lampblack and glue, used for drawing and outlining, especially when inking comic books and comic strips.

Indian River School

An American art movement of the 1950s and early 1960s. A group of artists collaborated to create dramatic and power-filled images portraying scenes in Florida. The group was heavily influence by a Florida naturalist named, A.E. “Beanie” Backus. The group created their artworks using materials like Masonite, Upson board, canvas board and canvas. Furthermore, rather than selling through art galleries, the artists sold their work directly to customers along highways.

Indigo

A deep and rich color, positioned between blue and violet on the visible spectrum of light. Indigo is often described as a dark purplish-blue; it has a unique hue that can sometimes appear more blue or more purple depending on the light and context. Its origins trace back to the indigo dye derived from the Indigofera tinctoria plant, a substance historically prized for its use in textile and artistic applications.

Industrial Design

The design of the mass-produced products of our everyday environment, from sinks and furniture to computers. The word was first used in America in the 1920s to characterize the work of specialized designers who worked on product design.

Informal Balance

(Also known as Asymmetrical Balance.)
Refers to a type of balance that occurs when both halves of a composition maintain a sense of balance, but with different art elements on each side. In other words, both sides have “visual weight” that complements each other, creating an almost symmetrical effect. Unlike strict symmetry, informal balance feels more spontaneous and less organized, making it a versatile tool for artists.

Insect Art

Refers to the illustration and depiction of insects in a detailed and accurate manner. It includes precise and realistic images of insects for research and education, as well as fine art that depicts their beauty and complexity. Artists make intriguing pieces based on the rich forms, colors, and features of numerous insects, such as butterfly wings and beetle armored exoskeletons. This special blend of science and creativity makes each insect a unique subject for artistic expression. Also called “entomological art.”

Installation Art

A genre of contemporary art that involves creating three-dimensional works designed to transform the perception of a space. Unlike traditional artworks that are typically confined to a canvas or pedestal, installation art encompasses entire environments, inviting viewers to engage and interact with the space in a multisensory experience.

This form of art often incorporates various materials, including found objects, natural elements, technology, and multimedia components such as sound and video. Installations can be site-specific, meaning they are created to exist in a particular location, enhancing or altering the viewer’s experience of that space.

Intaglio

A printmaking technique where lines forming an image are cut into a metal plate and filled with ink. Pressing a sheet of paper against the inked plate transfers the print of the image onto the paper.

Intensity (or Saturation) of Color

Refers to the purity or dullness of a color. A color’s purity depends on whether it has been mixed with another hue and, if so, to what extent. The most vibrant colors are those straight from the tube. Colors mixed with different hues are considered less intense. To reduce the intensity of a color, there are two options: 1) mix the color with gray or 2) mix the color with its complement.

Intermediate Colors

(Also known as “tertiary colors.”)
Refer to the colors between primary and secondary colors on the color wheel. They are created by mixing equal parts of one primary color and one secondary color. Intermediate colors allow greater flexibility beyond primary and secondary hues.

The Intermediate Colors are:

• • Yellow-Green: A mix of yellow and green.
  • Blue-Green: A blend of blue and green.
  • Blue-Violet: Combining blue and violet.
  • Red-Violet: A fusion of red and violet.
  • Red-Orange: Mixing red and orange.
  • Yellow-Orange: A delightful blend of yellow and orange.

Internal Focus

In the realm of art, refers to a creative approach where artists draw inspiration from their thoughts and feelings. These artists delve into their inner world, seeking to express intangible concepts, emotions, or ideas. Rather than strictly portraying external reality, they use physical objects as a means to convey what lies within them. Surrealism, post-impressionism, fauvism, cubism, and abstract expressionism are examples of art movements driven by internally focused artists. Also referred to as “internal vision.” Opposite of “external focus.”

International Association of Astronomical Artists (IAAA)

A global guild of artists that promotes astronomical and space art projects, using various mediums like painting, drawing, sculpting, blowing glass, and digital art to create space-themed images. For more on the IAAA, visit their website here.

Iridescence

(Also known as goniochromism.)
A color change phenomenon that occurs on certain surfaces like an oil slick, soap bubble, or fish scales, that appears to gradually change color as the angle of view changes. This lustrous rainbow-like effect is due to the differential refraction of light waves.

Irregular Curve

(Also known as French curve, drawing curve, or aircraft curve.)
Refers to a thin, clear, hard material (often made of plastic) shaped in a scroll or curved form. It is used as a guide by artists and designers past specific points that aren’t found along the curve of a perfect circle. Essentially, it acts as a flexible template that allows artists to create smooth, free-flowing curves that deviate from standard geometric shapes. Common uses of this tool are:

• • • Drawing: Artists use irregular curves to create organic, natural shapes—such as the graceful curves of leaves, waves, or cloud formations.
    • Design and Drafting: Architects, fashion designers, and engineers use them to create complex, custom curves in their designs.
    • Precision: Irregular curves help maintain consistency and accuracy when drawing or drafting by hand.

Isometric Perspective

A method of visually representing three-dimensional objects in two dimensions, where the three principal axes are equally foreshortened. Unlike traditional perspective, which uses vanishing points, isometric perspective keeps the scale consistent without distortion. It involves drawing objects with equal angles, typically 30 degrees to the horizontal, ensuring that the scale of an object remains the same regardless of depth.

Isotype

(An acronym for International System of Typographic Picture Education.)
A method of graphic design and data visualization that uses symbols and pictograms to represent data and information.

This system uses standardized symbols, which are often simple and easily recognizable, to convey statistical information and other forms of data without the need for extensive text. Isotype has been employed in various fields, including education, social sciences, and public information campaigns, helping to communicate information effectively across language barriers.

Ivory Carving

The carving or shaping of ivory into sculptures, ornaments, and decorative articles using animal tusks and teeth, notably from elephants, whales, and walruses, by using sharp cutting tools, either mechanically or manually.

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This art definitions and vocabulary resource is provided as a valuable resource for art enthusiasts. If you like the information here and find it helpful, please consider purchasing a painting. Your support helps to cover the cost of keeping this art definitions lexicon online. Simply click or tap the thumbnail link of any Teresa Bernard oil painting to view additional details.

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