Art Vocabulary


2D OR TWO- DIMENSIONAL- things that look flat. 3D OR THREE- DIMENSIONAL -objects that occupy space.ABSTRACT - art that does not attempt to represent the appearance of objects, real or imaginary. The artist takes an image or object and changes its appearance by leaving out details, simplifying or rearranging its parts to express his or her idea or feeling. Abstraction can occur in varying degrees, perhaps to the extent where you may not recognize the subject in the final product. Abstract work with no recognizable subject matter is called non-objective art.ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISTS- a group of New York artists of the 1940's-50's, including Jackson Pollock. They made abstract works meant to express their feelings. ACRYLIC- pigment in a plastic binder medium; water-based paint that adheres to most surfaces.
ACTION PAINTING- a way of painting by splashing and dripping paint with energetic movements. It was made famous by Jackson Pollock. ADDITIVE TECHNIQUE- joining a smaller piece of clay to a larger piece. AERIAL PERSPECTIVE - the effect of distance or atmosphere sAESTHETIC - the science of the beautiful in art; defined by visual, moral, social, and contemporary standards. ALLEGORY- something which has a hidden symbolic meaning.ARCHITECTURE -the art of making plans for buildings or a style of building ARMATURE- a base made of wire, iron, cardboard, or sticks for supporting a sculpture.ART- things made to be looked at, especially paintings and sculptures. It can also be used to describe anything creative, including music and poetry. ART CRITICISM - describing and evaluating the media, processes, and meanings of works of visual arts, and making comparative judgments. ART ELEMENTS- visual arts components such as line, texture, color, form, value, and space. ART HISTORY- a record of the visual arts, incorporating information, interpretations, and judgments about art objects, artists, and conceptual influences on developments in the visual arts.ARTIFACT- hand-made object that represents a particular culture or period.ART MOVEMENT- a group of artists who work together and share ideas, and often hold joint exhibitions. ART NOUVEAU- an art and design movement of the 1890's, known for flowery, decorative patterns as in the work of Gustav Klimt. ASSEMBLAGE- a sculpture created of related or unrelated materials. ASYMMETRICAL -different on either side of a central axis.BACKGROUND- the part of a picture that appears to be farthest away from the viewer. BALANCE- equilibrium in a composition, either symmetrical or asymmetrical.BAS-RELIEF- low-relief sculpture that projects slightly from a background. BLEEDING- the tendency for some colors to show through a second layer of paint. BLENDING- the transition of color from one tone to another; for example, in a sky. BLOCK-a piece of material with a hand-cut design on its surface from which multiple copies are printed. BRAYER- a rubber roller used to apply ink in printmaking. BRUSH STROKES- marks in paint made by a brush. BUST - sculpture of head, neck, and sometimes shoulders CALLIGRAPHY - fine handwriting in ink with a quill, reed pen, or brush; follows specific rules or designs. CANVAS- a strong cloth which, since the Renaissance, many artists have used as a surface for painting.CARICATURE -character studies that usually exaggerate one or more features.CARTOON full-scale drawing for tapestry or wall painting; or a humorous satirical drawing.CARVING - a subtractive method of sculpture; taking away wood or stone.CERAMIC - any object made of clay and fired.CHALK calcium carbonate, used in gesso, mixed with colored pigment to make pastels.CHIAROSCURO - the use of light and shadow to create a focal point or mood.CLASSICAL - originating in Greece and Rome; represents unadorned beauty. CLAY - a moist earth of decomposed rock; used in products such as pottery, bricks, tiles, and sculpture.COILING - a method of creating pots by building bottom and walls with even, ropelike coils. COLLAGE - a work of art created by arranging and gluing assorted materials onto a flat surface.COLOR WHEEL - an arrangement of colors that shows how to mix the primary colors to create new colors. COLORS:Analogous-colors closely related on a color wheel. Example: red, red-orange, yellow. Complementary - colors which fall directly opposite each other on the color wheel. Example: blue/orange. Primary - Blue, yellow, red. Colors from which all other colors are derived. Primary colors can not be mixed from other colors Secondary colors - colors made by mixing equal proportions of any two primary colors. Example: red + blue = violet Cool -blues, greens. Warm - reds, yellows. Monochromatic-a color scheme that involves different values of a single color Harmonious-colors, such as red and orange, that come next to each other on the color wheel. Seen side by side, they seem to blend together. Neutral-complementary colors mixed to produce a dull, subdued color (variations of gray); the non-colors of black and white. Receding-cool colors which we generally perceive to be moving away in a field of color Advancing-warm colors which we generally perceive to be coming forward in a field of color.COMMISSION- the hiring of one or more artists to create a work of art.COMPOSITION - the placement of forms, shapes, colors, and light and dark areas in a work of art. Artists use composition to direct the viewer's eye to the most important elements of a work of art. CONTEMPORARY ART - generally defined as art produced during the second half of the 20th century. CONTEXT - a set of interrelated conditions (such as social, economic, political) in the visual arts that influence and give meaning to the development and reception of thoughts, ideas, or concepts and that define specific cultures and eras. CONTOUR LINES - outside and inside lines defining an image or shape.
CONTRAST - to set in opposition for the purpose of comparison. CRAFTSMANSHIP - having expertise at a particular skill. CRAYON- a stick of wax used for coloring or drawingCRAY-PAS- an oily crayon used for coloring, drawing, and blending.CROSSHATCH - to create differences in value through a crossed series of parallel lines. CUBISM -natural forms changed by geometrical reduction. DEPTH - the illusion of space in a picture plane.DESIGN- the organization of line, form, color, value, texture and space in an eye-pleasing arrangement. DETAILS- dealing with some item by showing all of the particulars. DONOR a client or patron of an artist who donates the work to an institution; in altarpieces the donor and family were often included in the painting. DRAWING -usually a work in pen, pencil, or charcoal on paper. DRY BRUSH - a technique used with wet media applied with an almost-empty brush. EASEL- a support for an artist's canvas during painting. EDITION -signing, numbering, and dating a print. ELEMENTS OF ART - the visual "tools" artists use to create art. The categories include line, color, shape, space, light and texture. EMBELLISH - to add ornamental details to.




Constructivism -
An abstract art movement that emerged in Russia around 1917.  Constructivists viewed art as a scientific activity, an exploration of line, color, surface, and construction, and sought to apply their ideas to political and social issues.