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.