Visual Art Vocabulary

Question 1

Path of a point that moves through space; can be described in terms of width, direction, movement, length, curvature, and even color

Answer 1

Line

Question 2

Distinct spatial form depicted in two dimensions (height & width) and created by lines or a change in color, shading, or materials

Answer 2

Shape

Question 3

Unit in an artwork that is defined or set apart by a definite contour

Answer 3

Form

Question 4

Visual or actual area within and around shapes and forms.

Answer 4

Space

Question 5

Contents of a shape or form and is bound by edges or surfaces

Answer 5

Positive space

Question 6

“Empty” area surrounding a shape or form and also helps to define the boundaries of a shape or form.

Answer 6

Negative space

Question 7

Look and feel of a surface

Answer 7

Texture

Question 8

Hue, value, and intensity of an object

Answer 8

Color

Question 9

Relative lightness or darkness of tones or colors

Answer 9

Value

Question 10

Building block components of a work of art; visual pieces that are put together to make a coherent whole

Answer 10

Elements of design

Question 11

Principle of art that is concerned with the sense of stability of the visual elements

Answer 11

Balance

Question 12

Assortment of lines, colors, forms, shapes, or textures in a work of art

Answer 12

Variety

Question 13

Regular repetition of lines, shapes, colors, or patterns in a work of art

Answer 13

Rhythm

Question 14

Accent, stress, or importance of a part of an artwork

Answer 14

Emphasis

Question 15

Relationship of the distance of objects in a composition; the relationship of the size of one part to another or to the whole

Answer 15

Proportion

Question 16

When proportional relationships are created relative to a specific unit of measurement

Answer 16

Scale

Question 17

Significant degrees of difference between lines, colors, shapes, values, forms, and/or textures.

Answer 17

Contrast

Question 18

Interrelation, balance, and organization of all elements of an artwork to achieve a quality of oneness, or a pleasing sense

Answer 18

Unity

Question 19

Mixture of copper, tin, and other metals often used in cast sculptures because it is very strong and hard

Answer 19

Bronze

Question 20

Artful form of writing letters or words with brushes or pens, originated by the Chinese

Answer 20

Calligraphy

Question 21

Technique for making sculpture by cutting away unwanted parts; a carved object

Answer 21

Carving

Question 22

To copy a solid object by pouring a liquid, such as melted metal, clay, wax, or plaster, into a mold and letting it harden

Answer 22

Cast

Question 23

Art of making and decorating objects of clay that are fired in a kiln; pottery

Answer 23

Ceramics

Question 24

Work of art created by gluing bits of paper, fabric, scraps, photographs, or other materials to a flat surface

Answer 24

Collage

Question 25

Colors that are opposites on the color wheel and contrast with each other

Answer 25

Complementary colors

Question 26

Family or related colors ranging from the greens though the blues or violets

Answer 26

Cool colors

Question 27

Part of a design that is most important, most powerful, or has the most influence

Answer 27

Dominant

Question 28

Decorative designs sewn on cloth with a needle and thread or yarn

Answer 28

Embroidery

Question 29

Process of carving or cutting pictures, letters, or designs into a hard material

Answer 29

Engraving

Question 30

Most important part or area in a work of art; center of interest

Answer 30

Focal point

Question 31

Portion of a work of art that appears to be in front

Answer 31

Foreground

Question 32

Painting done with water based paint on fresh plaster so that as it dries the colors are absorbed into the wall

Answer 32

Fresco

Question 33

Horizontal band of decorative or narrative art, often part of the decoration of a building

Answer 33

Frieze

Question 34

Gradual, often subtle change from light to dark, rough to smooth, or from one hue to another

Answer 34

Gradation

Question 35

Related qualities of the visual elements of a composition; achieved by repetition of characteristics that are the same or similar

Answer 35

Harmony

Question 36

Actual or imaginary line in a work of art representing the point at which water or land seems to end and the sky begins

Answer 36

Horizontal line

Question 37

Another word for color

Answer 37

Hue

Question 38

Manuscript page that is decorated with ornamental designs, miniatures, or lettering, often with gold leaf

Answer 38

Illuminated manuscript

Question 39

Relative brightness or dullness of a color

Answer 39

Intensity

Question 40

Design or view made up of natural outdoor scenery

Answer 40

Landscape

Question 41

Picture or design made by fitting small pieces of colored paper, glass, tile, stone, or other materials onto a background

Answer 41

Mosaic

Question 42

Large painting that covers a wall

Answer 42

Mural

Question 43

Colors that blend or combine with all other colors to alter their value or intensity

Answer 43

Neutral colors

Question 44

Style of painting or drawing in which the image created bears little resemblance to the natural or realistic form of the subject

Answer 44

Nonrepresentational art

Question 45

Line that shows or reveals the outer edges of a shape or form

Answer 45

Outline

Question 46

Tray or board on which colors are mixed; also, the colors used by a particular artist or for a particular artwork

Answer 46

Palette

Question 47

Imaginary route the eyes follow when one is viewing a work of art; usually begins at the bottom edge, moves clockwise, and ends at the center of interest

Answer 47

Path of vision

Question 48

Repetition of shapes, lines, or colors in a design

Answer 48

Pattern

Question 49

Representation, of a three dimensional object on a flat, two dimensional surface

Answer 49

Perspective

Question 50

Fine, colored powder that makes paint when combined with various liquid mixtures

Answer 50

Pigment

Question 51

Painting, sculpture, drawing, photograph, or other work of art showing a person, several people, or an animal

Answer 51

Portrait

Question 52

The hues red, yellow, and blue, which in different combinations produce all other colors except white

Answer 52

Primary colors

Question 53

Type of sculpture in which figures are raised above the surface or from a background that is flat or has hollowed out parts

Answer 53

Relief

Question 54

Style of painting and drawing that depicts the subject as it appears

Answer 54

Representational

Question 55

Ratio of the size of parts in a drawing or artwork to their size in the original

Answer 55

Scale

Question 56

Carving, model, or other three dimensional piece of art

Answer 56

Sculpture

Question 57

Color to which black or another dark hue has been added to make that color darker

Answer 57

Shade

Question 58

Simple, quick, rough drawing done without a lot of detail but catching the chief features and a general impression of an object or scene

Answer 58

Sketch

Question 59

Carved, modeled, or sculpted free standing three dimensional figures

Answer 59

Statue

Question 60

Drawing or painting of an arrangement of nonmoving, nonliving objects

Answer 60

Still life

Question 61

Picture or design woven or stitched in cloth and hung on a wall

Answer 61

Tapestry

Question 62

Family of related colors ranging from the reds through the oranges and yellows

Answer 62

Warm colors

Question 63

Background of a watercolor picture prepared by using thin, watery paint applied quickly with large, sweeping brush strokes

Answer 63

Wash

Question 64

Wooden surface on which a picture or design has been cut to form a relief used for printing

Answer 64

Woodcut