Glossary of Terms Used in the Visual Arts Content Standards
Abstract
Artwork in which the subject matter is stated in a brief, simplified manner; little or no attempt is made to represent images realistically, and objects are often simplified or distorted.
Additive
The process of joining a series of parts together to create a sculpture.
Aesthetics
A branch of philosophy; the study of art and theories about the nature and components of aesthetic experience.
Analogous
Closely related colors; a color scheme that combines several hues next to each other on the color wheel.
Arbitrary
Colors selected and used without reference to those found in the real world.
Art criticism
An organized system for looking at the visual arts; a process of appraising what we want students to know and be able to do.
Art elements
See elements of art.
Assemblage
A three-dimensional composition in which a collection of objects is unified in a sculptural work.
Asymmetry
A balance of parts on opposite sides of a perceived midline, giving the appearance of equal visual weight.
Atmospheric perspective
Also called aerial perspective. Uses bluer, lighter, and duller colors for distant objects in a two-dimensional work of art.
Background
The part of the picture plane that seems to be farthest from the viewer.
Balance
The way in which the elements in visual arts are arranged to create a feeling of equilibrium in an artwork. The three types of balance are symmetry, asymmetry, and radial.
Collage
An artistic composition made of various materials (e.g., paper, cloth, or wood) glued on a surface.
Color
The visual sensation dependent on the reflection or absorption of light from a given surface. The three characteristics of colors are hue, intensity, and value.
Color relationships
Also called color schemes or harmonies. They to the relationships of colors on the color wheel. Basic color schemes include monochromatic, analogous, and complementary.
Color theory
An element of art. Color has three properties: hue, value and intensity.
Complementary colors
Colors opposite one another on the color wheel. Red/green, blue/orange, yellow/violet are complementary colors.
Composition
The organization of elements in a work of art.
Content
Message, idea, or feelings expressed in a work of art.
Contour
Drawings The drawing an object as though the drawing tool is moving along all the edges and ridges of the form.
Contrast
Differences between two or more elements (e.g., value, color, texture) in a composition; juxtaposition of dissimilar elements in a work of art. Also, the degree of difference between the lightest and darkest parts of a picture.
Cool colors
Colors suggesting coolness: blue, green and violet.
Curvature
The act of curving or bending; one of the characteristics of line.
Curvilinear
Formed or enclosed by curved lines.
Design
The plan, conception, or organization of a work of art; the arrangement of independent parts (the elements of art) to form a coordinated whole.
Distortion
Condition of being twisted or bent out of shape. In art, distortion is often used as an expressive technique.
Dominance
The importance of the emphasis of one aspect in relation to all other aspects of a design.
Elements of art
Sensory components used to create and talks about works of art: line, color, shape/form, texture, value, space.
Emphasis
Special stress given to an element to make it stand out.
Expressive content
Ideas that express ideas and moods.
Figurative
Pertaining to the human figure.
Foreground
Part of a two-dimensional artwork that appears to be nearer the viewer or in the front. Middle ground and background are the parts of the picture that appear to be farther and farthest away.
Focal point
The place in a work of art at which attention becomes focused because of an element emphasized in some way.
Form
1. A three-dimensional volume or the illusion of three dimensions; related to shape (which is 2-D).
2. The particular characteristics of an artworkÍs visual elements (as distinguished from its subject matter or content).
Function
Purpose and use of a work of art.
Genre
The representation of people, subjects, and scenes from everyday life.
Gesture drawing
The drawing of lines quickly and loosely to show movement in a subject.
Harmony
The principle of design that creates unity within a work of art.
Hue
Refers to the name of a color (e.g., red, blue, yellow, orange).
Installation art
Refers to the hanging of ordinary objects on museum walls or the combining of found objects to create something completely new. Later, installation art was extended to include art as a concept.
Intensity
Also called chroma or saturation. It refers to the brightness of a color (a color is full in intensity only when pure and unmixed). Color intensity can be changed by adding black, white, gray, or an opposite color on the color wheel.
Line
A point moving in space. Line can vary in width, length, curvature, color, or direction.
Line direction
Horizontal, vertical, diagonal.
Line quality
The unique character of a drawn line as it changes lightness/darkness, direction, curvature, or width.
Linear perspective
A graphic system used by artists to create the illusion of depth and volume on a flat surface. The lines of buildings and other objects in a picture are slanted, making them appear to extend back into space.
Mass
The outside size and bulk of a form, such as a building or a sculpture; the visual weight of an object.
Maquette
A small preliminary model (as of a sculpture or a building).
Media
1. Plural of medium referring to materials used to make art.
2. Categories of art (e.g. painting, sculpture, film).
Middle ground
Area of a two-dimensional work of art between foreground and background.
Mixed media
An artwork in which more than one type of art material is used to create the finished piece.
Monochromatic
A color scheme involving the use of only one hue that can vary in value or intensity.
Mood
The state of mind or feeling communicated in a work of art, frequently through color.
Motif
A unit repeated over and over in a pattern. The repeated motif often creates a sense of rhythm.
Movement
The principle of design that deals with the creation of action.
Multimedia
Computer programs that involve users in the design and organization of text, graphics, video, and sound in one presentation.
Negative
Shapes or spaces that are or represent the areas unoccupied by objects.
Neutral colors
Black, white, gray, and variations of brown. They are included in the color family called earth colors.
Nonobjective
Having no recognizable object as an image. Also called nonrepresentational.
Observational drawing skills
Drawing skills learned while observing firsthand the object, figure or place.
One-point perspective
A way to show 3-D objects on a 2-D surface. Lines appear to go away from the viewer meet at a single point on the horizon known as the vanishing point.
Organic
Refers to shapes or forms having irregular edges or to surfaces or objects resembling things existing in nature.
Pattern
Anything repeated in a predictable combination.
Performance art
A type of art in which events are planned and enacted before an audience for aesthetic reasons.
Perspective
A system for representing three-dimensional objects viewed in spatial recession on a two-dimensional surface.
Point of view
The angle from which the viewer see the objects or scene.
Portfolio
A systematic, organized collection of student work.
Positive
Shapes or spaces that are or represent solid objects.
Printmaking
The transferring of an inked image from one surface (from the plate or block) to another (usually paper).
Primary colors
Red, yellow and blue. From these all other colors are mixed.
Principles of design
The organization of works of art. They involve the ways in which the elements of art are arranged (balance, contrast, dominance, emphasis, movement, repetition, rhythm, subordination, variation, unity).
Properties of color
Characteristics of colors: hue, value, intensity.
Proportion
The size relationships of one part to the whole and of one part to another.
Rectilinear
Formed or enclosed by straight lines.
Reflection
Personal and thoughtful consideration of an artwork, an aesthetic experience, or the creative process.
Rhythm
Intentional, regular repetition of lines of shapes to achieve a specific repetitious effect or pattern.
Rubric
A guide for judgment or scoring, a description of expectations.
Scale
Relative size, proportion; used to determine measurements or dimensions within a design or artwork.
Sculpture
Three-dimensional artwork that is either in the round (to be viewed from all sides) or bas relief (low relief in which figures protrude slightly from the background).
Secondary colors
Colors that are mixtures of two primaries. Red and yellow make orange, yellow and blue make green, blue and red make violet.
Shade
Color with black added to it.
Shape
A two-dimensional area or plane that may be open or closed, free-form or geometric. It can be found in nature or is made by humans.
Space
The emptiness or area between, around, above, below, or contained within objects. Shapes and forms are defined by the space around and within them, just as spaces are defined by the shapes and forms around and within them.
Still life
Arrangement or artwork showing a collection of inanimate objects.
Structure
The way in which parts are arranged or put together to form a whole.
Style
A set of characteristics of the art of a culture, a period, or school of art. It is the characteristic expression of an individual artists.
Stylized
Simplified; exaggerated.
Subordination
Making an element appear to hold a secondary or lesser importance within a design or work of art.
Subtractive
Sculpting method produced by removing or taking away from the original material (the opposite of additive).
Texture
The surface quality of materials, either actual (tactile) or implied (visual). It is one of the elements of art.
Theme
An idea based upon a particular subject.
Three-dimensional
Having height, width, and depth (also referred to as 3-D).
Tint
Color with white added to it.
Tone
Color with gray added to it.
Two-dimensional
Having height and width but not depth (2-D).
Two-point perspective
A system to show 3-D objects on a 2-D surface. The illusion of space and volume utilizes two vanishing points on the horizon line.
Unity
A principle of design that connects a variety of elements of art and principles of design into a work of art with harmony and balance.
Value
Lightness or darkness of a hue or neutral color. A value scale shows the range of values from black to white.
Value scale
A value scale shows the range of values from black to white and light to dark.
Vanishing point
In perspective drawing a point at which receding lines seem to converge.
Virtual
An image that is of the imagination, not of the real world.
Variety
A principles of art concerned with combing one or more elements of art in different ways to create interest.
Visual literacy
Includes thinking and communication. Visual thinking is the ability to transform thoughts and information into images; visual communication takes place when people are able to construct meaning from the visual image.
Visual metaphor
Images in which characteristics of objects are likened to one another and represented as that other. They are closely related to concepts about symbolism.
Volume
Refers to the space within a form (e.g., in architecture, volume refers to the space within a building).
Warm colors
Colors suggesting warmth: red, yellow and orange.
Watercolor
Transparent pigments mixed with water. Paintings done with this medium are known as watercolors.