Soheyla Visual Arts Vocabulary

A

Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paint is a fast-drying paint. Acrylic paints can be thinned with water. It is a water-based “plastic” paint. It is thicker and stronger than watercolor paint.

Pronunciation: ə-ˈkri-lik

Aesthetics

Having a sense of the beautiful; is characterized by a love of beauty. Relating to, involving, or concerned with pure emotion and sensation as opposed to pure intellectuality. Giving or designed to give pleasure through beauty; of pleasing appearance.

Pronunciation: es-ˈthe-ticks

Armature (sculpture)

An armature is a framework upon which the sculpture is built. This framework provides structure and stability, especially when a soft material such as wax, newspaper, or clay is being used as the medium. When sculpting the human figure, the armature is like the skeleton and has essentially the same purpose: to hold the body erect.

A structure is used beneath something else for support. For example, a sculptor might create a clay sculpture with a wood or wire armature beneath it as support.

Pronunciation: är-mə-ˌchu̇r

Asymmetrical

Uneven balance.
A balance is achieved through the use of unequal parts or elements. If we divide a painting into two parts exactly in the middle, the left side should not contain the same shape of content as the right side.

Pronunciation: ā-sə-ˈme-tri-kəl

B

Balance in Art

As a basic principle of art, the definition of balance refers to how the elements (lines, shapes, colors, textures, etc.) of a piece are arranged. This refers to the elements of the artwork having equal weight.

When we talk about balance in art, we are referring to the arrangements of one or more elements in work so that they appear symmetrical (even) or asymmetrical (uneven), in design and proportion, producing overall harmony.

Pronunciation: ˈba-lən(t)s

Batik

A technique of wax-resist dyeing is applied to whole cloth, or cloth made using this technique. A method of dyeing a fabric by which the parts of the fabric not intended to be dyed are covered with removable wax.

Simply put, paraffin or beeswax is used to resist paint or dye on fabric or paper, so that designs and patterns are produced on the unwaxed areas.

Pronunciation: bə-ˈtēk

Biscuit (pottery) or Bisque

Biscuit refers to pottery that has been fired but not yet glazed. Biscuit is any pottery after the first firing and before any glaze is applied. This can be a final product such as bisque porcelain, or unglazed earthenware, often called terracotta, or, most commonly, an intermediary stage in a glazed final product.

After the clay has its first firing in a kiln, it is called bisque ware.

Pronunciation: ˈbis-kət or ˈbisk

Brayer or Roller

A tool that is used to apply ink to printing surfaces in printmaking.

Pronunciation: ˈbrā-ər or ˈrō-lər

C

Casting (sculpture techniques)

The process of mixing liquid with plaster and pouring it into a mold to dry.

Pronunciation: kas-ting

Ceramics

Products are made from clay and similar materials. Earthenware. Stoneware. The word ceramics is used to describe the shaping, finishing, and firing of the clay.

Pronunciation: sə-ˈra-miks

Chalk Sticks

Sticks of calcium sulfate or calcium carbonate, known, when used for this purpose, as chalk.

Sticks of processed ‘chalk’ are produced especially for use with blackboards in white and also in various colors. These are often made not from chalk rock but calcium sulfate.

Pronunciation: ˈchȯk

Chiaroscuro

An oil painting technique, developed during the Renaissance, that uses strong tonal contrasts between light and dark to model three-dimensional forms, often to dramatic effect.

The balance of light and dark in a painting; creates volume in a work of art by showing the contrasts between light and dark.

Pronunciation: kyärəˈsk(y)o͝orō

Chroma

The purity of a color, or its freedom from white or gray.

Pronunciation: ˈkrō-mə

Collage

Artwork is made by combining various materials (such as paper, cloth, or wood) glued on a surface.

Pronunciation: kə-ˈläzh

Complementary Colors

Complementary colors are pairs of colors that, when placed next to each other, create the strongest contrast.

These are the colors that appear opposite to one another on a color wheel. The complements are Red and Green; Blue and Orange; Yellow and Violet.

Pronunciation: käm-plə-ˈmen-t(ə-)rē kə·lərs

Composition

This is the arrangement of things like lines, colors, and form into specific proportions or relations and especially into artistic form.

Pronunciation: käm-pə-ˈzi-shən

Contour Drawing

Contour drawing is an artistic technique used in the field of art in which the artist sketches the contour of a subject by drawing lines that result in a drawing that is essentially an outline; the French word contour means, “outline.”

This is an outline drawing that shows only the edge and not the volume or mass of an object.

Pronunciation:ˈkän-ˌtu̇r ˈdrȯ(-)iŋ

Contrast

Contrast is simply defined as difference. The difference between art elements like color, value, size, texture, and so on can intensify the elements used. As a result, the elements used in a work of art can become more powerful. Although contrast is closely related to variety, it is usually considered a principle of art.

Pronunciation: ˈkän-ˌtrast

Crayon

A pointed stick or pencil of colored clay, chalk, wax, etc., is used for drawing or coloring.

Pronunciation:ˈkrā-ˌän

D

Distemper (paint)

A distemper is an early form of whitewash, also used as a medium for artistic painting, usually made from powdered chalk or lime and size. This term also has a variety of meanings for paints used in decorating and as a historical medium for painting pictures and contrasted with tempera.

Pronunciation: dis-ˈtem-pər

E

Elements (of Art)

Pronunciation: dis-ˈtem-pər

The emphasis, Dominance, And Focal Point

Emphasis is created by visually reinforcing something we want the viewer to pay attention to. Focal points are areas of interest the viewer’s eyes skip to. The strongest focal point with the greatest visual weight is the dominant element of the work.

This is the difference in the importance of one aspect of a work of art from all other aspects. It’s about what stands out the most in a work of art. Let’s say for example that you are looking at a rough, textural sculpture made of splintered pieces of wood. Ok, now let’s say that that same sculpture is painted bright pink and neon green. Chances are that the colors used would probably dominate the piece, almost to the point at which you don’t even notice the wood splinters. Just as there are loud people who dominate conversations, there are also elements of art that dominate paintings, prints, and sculptures.

Pronunciation: ˈem(p)-fə-səs, ˈdä-mə-nən(t)s, ˈfō-kəl ˈpȯint

Encaustic

Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added. The liquid or paste is then applied to a surface—usually prepared wood, though canvas and other materials are often used.

Pronunciation: in-ˈkȯ-stik

F

Form

In terms of art, form refers to 3-Dimensional objects, that have length, width, height, depth, and volume. As artists, we must have a strong understanding of form and how to create the illusion of form in drawings and paintings.

Pronunciation: ˈfȯrm

G

Genre (Art)

Genre art is the pictorial representation in any of various media of scenes or events from everyday life, such as markets, domestic settings, interiors, parties, inn scenes, and street scenes.

Pronunciation: ˈzhän-rə

Gesture (Drawing)

This is a quick drawing that captures the energy and movement of an object rather than how it looks.

A gesture drawing is a laying in of the action, form, and pose of a model/figure. Typical situations involve an artist drawing a series of poses in a short amount of time, often as little as 10 seconds, or as long as 5 minutes.

Pronunciation: ˈjes-chər

Glaze

In painting, (watercolor or oil), a glaze is a translucent layer of color. In ceramics, a glaze is a “liquid glass” that is applied to bisque ware, then fired in a kiln. The result is a hard protective coating.

Pronunciation: ˈglāz

Golden ratio

The Golden Ratio, also known as the Golden Section, is found in the design and beauty of nature, it can also be used to achieve beauty, balance, and harmony in art and design. It’s a tool, not a rule, for composition, but learning how to use it can provide a great technique for laying out a painting on a canvas.

The golden ratio can be used in more elegant ways to create aesthetics and visual harmony in any branch of the design arts.

Pronunciation: ˈgōl-dən ˈrā-shē-ˌō

Greenware

When clay is leather hard, not yet fired, it is called greenware. In this state, the clay can be made wet and turned back into a useable material.

Pronunciation: ˈgrēn-ˈwer

Ground

A ground or primer is the background surface on which you paint. It is usually a coating such as a gesso primer, which physically separates your painting from the support. It is the foundation of a painting, applied onto the raw canvas, paper, or other support.

Pronunciation: ˈgrau̇nd

H

Harmony

Artistic harmony occurs when all the elements (balance, texture, space, form, color, line, and movement) of an art piece work together to create a pleasing composition.

Pronunciation: ˈhär-mə-nē

Hue

Hue describes the gradation of colors. It is one of the main properties of a color distinguishing with adjectives a color’s lightness or colorfulness.

Pronunciation: ˈhyü

I - J

Image

A visual representation of something.

Pronunciation: ˈi-mij

Intensity

Quality of brightness and purity (high intensity= color is strong and bright; low intensity= color is faint and dull).

Pronunciation: in-ˈten(t)-sə-tē

M

Mandala

A mandala is a complex abstract design that is usually circular.

Pronunciation: man-ˈde-lə

Medium

The material that is used in a work of art. For example clay, paint, pencil, and so on. If you are talking about more that one art medium, you say media.

Pronunciation: ˈmē-dē-əm

Metaphor in Art

A visual metaphor is the representation of a person, place, thing, or idea using a visual image that suggests a particular association or point of similarity. Also known as pictorial metaphor and analogical juxtaposition.

Using simile and metaphor. Imagery is a figurative comparison between two things that have no literal connection. By comparing things that are not alike, writers use imagery to create a poetic or descriptive impact. … There are two very easily recognized forms of imagery: similes and metaphors.

Pronunciation: ˈme-tə-ˌfȯr

Mobile

Mobile is a group of three-dimensional shapes that are suspended and free moving. There are three types of mobiles; those that hang from the ceiling, those that stand, and those that are attached to a wall. The word mobile was coined by a fellow named Marcel Duchamp. If you want to see some cool mobiles, look up an artist by the name of Alexander “Sandy” Calder.

Pronunciation: ˈmō-bəl

Movement in Art

Using art elements to direct a viewer’s eye along a path through the artwork, and/or to show movement, action, and direction.

Repeating art elements regularly or cyclically to create interest, movement, and/or harmony and unity.

Pronunciation: ˈmüv-mənt

Motifs

A recurring thematic element (as in the arts); especially: a dominant idea or central theme. A single or repeated design or color.

Pronunciation: mō-ˈtēf

N

Negative Space

The space that surrounds an object in an image. Just as important as that object itself, negative space helps to define the boundaries of positive space and brings balance to a composition.

Pronunciation: ˈne-gə-tiv ˈspās

P

Paper Mache (papier-mâché)

A light strong molding material of wastepaper pulped with glue and other additives.

This is an ancient art consisting of paper and a binder of some sort (glue for example). It can be blended and mixed into a mulch and formed into shapes or it can be used with strips of newspaper formed over cardboard, wood, etc.

Pronunciation: ˌpā-pər-mə-ˈshā

Pattern

A design that is created by repeating lines, shapes, tones, or colors. The design used to create a pattern is often referred to as a motif. Motifs can be simple shapes or complex arrangements.

Patterns can be man-made, like a design on fabric, or natural, such as the markings on animal fur.

Children may use different patterns to show perspective

Pronunciation: ˈpa-tərn

Perspective

Perspective in art is the technique used to represent three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface (a piece of paper or canvas ) in a way that looks natural and realistic. Perspective is used to create an illusion of space and depth on a flat surface (or the picture plane).

Pronunciation: pər-ˈspek-tiv

Pigment

Pigments are a fine, loose powder and the main ingredient in eyeshadow.

Nearly all paint colors come from nature. Dirt, rock, plants, etc. are the raw material, which is ground down into what is called a pigment. This is then mixed with a binder to make it sticky (gum arabic – from trees, glue, or egg yolk), and a medium to make it liquid (water, oil).

Pronunciation: ˈpig-mənt

Plaster

A powder that when mixed with water, will harden into a chalk-like solid.

Many of the greatest mural paintings in Europe, like Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling, are executed in fresco, meaning they are painted on a thin layer of wet plaster, called intonaco; the pigments sink into this layer so that the plaster itself becomes the medium holding them, which accounts for the excellent durability of fresco. Additional work may be added a secco on top of the dry plaster, though this is generally less durable.

Plaster may be cast directly into a damp clay mold. In creating this piece molds (molds designed for making multiple copies) or waste molds (for single use) would be made of plaster. This “negative” image, if properly designed, may be used to produce clay productions, which when fired in a kiln become terra cotta building decorations or these may be used to create cast concrete sculptures.

Pronunciation:ˈpla-stər

Plaster Cast

Plaster is applied to the original to create a mold or cast (that is, a negative impression) of the original. This mold is then removed and fresh plaster is poured into it, creating a copy in plaster of the original. Usually, very elaborate molds were made out of several to even dozens of pieces, to cast the more difficult undercut sculptures. Plaster is not flexible, therefore the molds were made as 3D jigsaw puzzles for easy removal of the original and the cast from the mold. Later gelatine, rubber, and silicone molds were used, backed by plaster or polyester for support.

Pronunciation:ˈpla-stər ˈkast

Principals of Art

Balance, emphasis, movement, proportion, rhythm, unity, and variety; the means an artist uses to organize elements within a work of art.

Pronunciation: ˈprin(t)-s(ə-)pəls

R

Repetition

Repetition refers to one object or shapes repeated; the pattern is a combination of elements or shapes repeated in a recurring and regular arrangement; rhythm–is a combination of elements repeated, but with variations.

Pronunciation: ˌre-pə-ˈti-shən

Rhythm

Repeating art elements regularly or cyclically to create interest, movement, and/or harmony and unity.
In the visual arts, rhythm is received through your eyes rather than your ears.

Pronunciation:ˈri-t͟həm

S

Self-expression

Pronunciation: ˌre-pə-ˈti-shən

Shade

A color that has been combined with a mixture of black to make it darker. That’s what a shade is. The opposite of shade is tint.

Pronunciation: ˈshād

Space

An element of art by which positive and negative areas are
defined or a sense of depth achieved in a work of art.

Pronunciation: ˈspās

Spectrum

The spectrum making up visible light contains light in the colors violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red.

Pronunciation: ˈspek-trəm

Stabile

A freestanding abstract sculpture or structure, type of wire or sheet metal, in the style of a mobile but rigid and stationary.

Pronunciation: ˈstā-ˌbī(-ə)l

Stippling

Stippling is a process used to create an image using a series of dots with paint, ink, or pencil to produce gradations of light and shade. Submitted by: Sharon Austin

Pronunciation: ˈsti-p(ə-)liŋ

Symbol

A symbol is a simple picture or image that represents an element, idea, or subject. It can allow the viewer to recognize the idea faster or it can tell a story without using words.

Pronunciation: ˈsim-bəl

Symmetry

Balance can be symmetrical (“formal”), where elements are given equal “weight” from an imaginary line in the middle of a piece.

Pronunciation: ˈsi-mə-trē

T

Texture

The texture is the surface quality.

Pronunciation: ˈteks-chər

Tint

A color that has been combined with white to make it light. That’s what a tint is. The opposite of tint is shade.

Pronunciation: ˈtint

U

Unity

Unity occurs when all of the elements of a piece combine to make a balanced, harmonious, complete whole.

Pronunciation: ˈyü-nə-tē

V

Value

Value is the variation of light and dark on the surface of an object that appears in a work of art. Think shadows, darkness, contrast, and light.

Pronunciation: ˈval-(ˌ)yü

X

X-Ray Drawing/Painting

The X-Ray technique shows the interior as well as the exterior of any object.

Pronunciation: ˈeks-ˌrā

Museum of Contemporary Visual Art & Collections of Child Art.

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