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Visual Art Glossary

Abstract art: A style of art that uses lines, shapes, colours and textures to depict an object without attention to depicting the object in a realistic manner.
After- image: Weak image of the complementary colour created by the brain as a reaction to prolonged looking at a colour. (After looking at red, the after-image is green).
Alternating rhythm: Repeating motifs but changing the position, content or spaces between them.
Analogous colour: Colours that are beside each other on the colour wheel.
Arbitrary colour: Colours chosen by the artist to symbolize an idea or express a mood or feeling.
Art criticism: The process and result of critical thinking about art. It usually involves the description, analysis and interpretation of art, as well as some kind of judgment.
Assemblage: Sculpture consisting of many objects and materials which have been put together.
Asymmetrical balance: Informal balance in which unlike objects have equal visual weight.
Background: Part of the picture plane that seems to be farthest from the viewer.
Balance: Principle of design that deals with arranging the visual elements in a work of art for harmony of design and proportion.
Bas- relief: Sculpture in which part of the surface projects from a flat plane.
Bonsai: Artificially dwarfed plant or tree common in the Japanese culture.
Calligraphic line: Flowing line made with brushstrokes, similar to oriental writing.
Calligraphy: Handwriting usually very beautifully formed with a flat-nibbed pen or brush.
Chiaroscuro: Using contrast of light and dark to create the illusion of three-dimensional form on a two- dimensional surface. Clustering; In design, creating a focal point by grouping different objects or shapes together.
Collage: A work of art made from pieces of pictures, paper, found materials, etc. juxtaposed and glued to a surface.
Colour interactions: An optical sensation that colours are changed by their relationship to other colours.
Colour scheme: Plan for selecting or organizing colour (monochromatic, analogous, complementary, triad, split-complementary, warm, cool or neutral colours).
Colour triad: Three colours spaced an equal distance apart on the colour wheel (e.g., red, yellow, and blue).
Colour wheel: A tool for organizing colour.
Complementary colour: Colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel (e.g., blue and orange). These colours are the strongest contrast to each other. When a hue is mixed with its complement, its intensity is reduced.
Composition: Arrangements of elements in a work of art.
Continuation (continuity): In design, arranging shapes so that the line or edge of one shape leads into another (technique for creating unity).
Contour lines: Contour lines define edges, ridges or outlines of a shape or form.
Contrast: A principle of design used to emphasize, provide variety and interest, or to create a certain feeling in the work.
Convergence: Technique for creating focal point by arranging visual elements so that many edges or lines point to one area.
Cool colours: Green, blue and purple. Colours often associated with cool places, things or feelings.
Crafts: Art works that are both decorative and functional. (weaving, fabric design, jewelry- making and pottery).
Crosshatch: Technique for shading, using two or more crossed sets of parallel lines.
Culture: Behaviours, ideas, skills and customs of a group of people.
Distortion: Changing an object's usual shape to communicate ideas and feelings.
Documentary film: A film based on facts or real events.
Documented: Often art works which are temporary in nature are photographed or filmed to record their existence.
Dominant element: Element in a work of art which is noticed first (elements noticed later are subordinate).
Draftsperson: An artist who draws plans for machinery and buildings.
Elements of art: Colour, line, texture, shape and form.
Emphasis: Principle of design that stresses one element or area to attract the viewer's attention first.
Exaggeration: Increasing or enlarging an object or figure to communicate ideas or feelings.
Fine art: A traditional term for art that is valued for its qualities, ideas or expressiveness and not just its technical excellence; for example, painting, sculpture and architecture.
Flowing rhythm: Visual rhythm which is created by repeating wavy lines.
Focal point: Area of an art work which attracts the viewer's attention first. Contrast, location, isolation, convergence and the unusual are used to create focal points.
Foreground: Part of a picture which appears closest to the viewer and often is at the bottom of the picture.
Foreshortening: A form of perspective where the nearest parts of an object or form are enlarged so that the rest of the form appears to go back in space.
Gesture drawing: A drawing done quickly to capture a movement.
Harmony: Refers to ways similarities in a work are accentuated to create an uncomplicated, uniform appearance.
Hatching: Technique of shading using a series of parallel lines.
Hieroglyphics: Egyptian writing using symbols.
Hue: Another word for colour (colour has three properties: hue, value and intensity).
Illusion: A deceptive or misleading image.
Illustrator: An artist who creates images for books, magazines, etc.
Installation art: A work of art which is made for and placed within a certain space. It can activate the viewer to become involved in the space or react to the environment.
Intensity: Brightness or dullness of a colour. Intensity can be reduced by adding the colour's complement.
Isolation: Technique for creating focal point by putting one object or image alone.
Juxtapose: To place objects side by side.
Kinetic art: Art work which depends on movement for its effect.
Linear perspective: Technique of creating the illusion of depth on a flat surface. The lines of buildings and other objects converge to a vanishing point on a horizon line (viewer's eye level).
Logo: A visual symbol that identifies a business, club, individual or group.
Maquette: A small preliminary model made by a sculptor before undertaking a larger work.
Media: Any materials and techniques used to produce a work of art, such as paint, glass, clay, fibre, etc.
Middleground: Area in a picture between the foreground and the background.
Mixed media: Any art work which uses more than one medium.
Monochromatic colour: Colour scheme which uses one hue and all its tints and shades for a unifying effect.
Motif: Repeated unit to create visual rhythm.
Negative space: Space around an object or form.
Neutral colours: Black, white and grey. Non- objective; An art work without a recognizable object.
Opaque: Quality of a material that does not let any light pass through.
Organic form: Shapes or forms that are free-flowing and non- geometric.
Path of movement: The path along which the viewer's eye moves from one part of an art work to another.
Pattern: Lines, colours or shapes repeated in a planned way.
Perspective: Method used to create the illusion of space on a two-dimensional surface. It can be created by overlapping, placement, detail, colour intensity or value, converging lines and size variations.
Petroglyph: A carving or inscription on a rock surface.
Pictograph: A drawing or painting on a rock surface.
Picture plane: The surface of a drawing or painting.
Point-of- view: The angle from which something is viewed.
Positive space: Shapes or forms on a two-dimensional surface.
Principles of design: Guidelines that artists use in composing designs and controlling how viewers are likely to react to the image. Balance, contrast, proportion, rhythm, emphasis, harmony, variety and unity are examples of the principles of design.
Progressive rhythm pattern: Visual rhythm that changes the motif each time it is repeated.
Proportion: Principle of design concerned with the relationship of one object to another with respect to size, amount, number and degree.
Radial balance: Kind of balance where the elements branch out from a central point.
Random rhythm: Visual rhythm in which a motif is repeated in no apparent order.
Regular rhythm: Visual rhythm created through repeating the same motif with the same distance between the repetitions.
Repetition: Technique for creating unity and rhythm by using a single element or motif over and over again.
Reproduction: Copy of a work of art.
Rhythm: Principle of design that repeats elements to create the illusion of movement. Rhythm can be random, regular, alternating, progressive and flowing.
Scale: The proportion between two sets of dimensions.
Shade: Dark value of a colour made by adding black.
Shape: Element of art that is two-dimensional and encloses space. Shapes are usually geometric or organic and have length and width.
Sighting: Technique used in drawing to determine the proportional relationships of one part of an object to another.
Simplicity: Technique used to create unity by limiting the number of variations of an element.
Space: Space in an art work can be the area around, within or between images or elements. Space can be created on a two-dimensional surface by using such techniques as overlapping, object size, placement, colour intensity and value, detail and diagonal lines.
Split complementary: A colour scheme based on one hue and the hues on either side of its complement on the colour wheel.
Stippling: Technique of shading using dots.
Style: Style is the artist's ways of presenting things. Use of materials, methods of working, design qualities, choice of subject matter, etc. reflect the individual, culture or time period.
Subject: A topic or idea represented in an art work.
Subordinate element: Element in an art work noticed after the dominant element.
Subtractive method: Sculpture that is made by cutting, carving or otherwise removing material.
Surrealism: A style of painting concerned with the subconscious mind and dreams. Many surrealist artists make unusual combinations of objects which appeared very realistic.
Symbols: Objects that are intended to represent something other than themselves.
Symmetrical balance: Formal balance where two sides of a design are identical.
Thumbnail sketch: Quick sketches that an artist uses to work out ideas.
Tint: Light value of a colour made by adding white.
Translucent: Quality of a material which allows diffused light to pass through it.
Transparent: Quality of a material which allows light to pass through it.
Trompe- l'oeil: Means "fool-the-eye". Style of painting where the artist creates the illusion of three- dimensional objects.
Unity: Principle of design that gives the feeling that all parts are working together.
Value: The lightness or darkness of a colour.
Vanishing point: In perspective drawing, a point or points on the horizon where receding parallel lines seem to meet.
Variety: Principle of design that artists use when they want to add interest to a work of art.
View finder: A small, hand-held paper with an opening cut in it in proportion to the paper size used for drawing. Students use it by closing one eye and looking through the opening to determine a pleasing composition.
Visual weight: The interest or attraction that certain elements in an art work have upon the viewer. It can be affected by size, contour, intensity of colour, warmth or coolness of a colour, contrast in value, texture and position.
Warm colours: Red, yellow and orange. They suggest warm places, things and feelings.