Glossary of Terms Used in the Visual Arts Content Standards

Terms

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 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.