Art Terminology Overview

Shape

Two dimensional enclosed flat space

Form

Three dimensional enclosed volume like a cube or sphere

Texture

The way a surface feels, actual or implied

Value

The lightness or darkness of a color

Space

Positive and negative areas, or the feeling of depth in an artwork

Color

Consists of hue, value, and intensity

Line

The path of a moving point

Movement

Arrangement of parts creating a sense of motion

Pattern

Indicates a type of movement characterized by repeated shapes, lines, or colors

Contrast

Differences between elements like color, texture, value, and shape

Emphasis

Refers to the visual weight in an artwork

Unity

Combination of elements resulting in a sense of wholeness or harmony

Composition

Placing greater attention on certain areas or objects in an artwork

Shade

A color with black added

Complementary

Colors opposite each other on the color wheel

Neutral

Black, white, brown, and gray

Secondary

Mixing two primary colors resulting in violet, green, and orange

Primary

Red, yellow, and blue

Tint

A color with white added

Intermediate/Tertiary

Made by mixing a primary color with a secondary color

Analagous

3 colors that are side-by-side on the color wheel

Intensity

Refers to the brightness or dullness of a color

Hue

Another name for color

Warm

Color scheme of red, yellow, and orange

Cool

Color scheme of blue, violet, and green

Value Scale

Organizes values from white to black

Genre

Style of art depicting scenes from everyday life

Abstract

Art showing simplified, fragmented arrangements of shape, line, texture, and color

Non-Objective

Art with no recognizable subject matter

Art Criticism

Description, Analysis, Interpretation, Judgment

Subject Matter

What is being depicted in a work of art

Portrait

Image of a person's face

Landscape

Artwork showing features of the natural environment

Still Life

An arrangement of inanimate objects

Craftsmanship

Skills used to produce an excellent finished product

Narrative

Painting that tells a story

Social Commentary

Commentary on important events or society

Media

Materials an artist uses to create an artwork

Religious

Depicts an event or figure from any known religion

Self-Portrait

Artist's depiction of themself

Cityscape

Urban environment such as buildings, man-made structures

Renaissance

Art movement defined as a rebirth/revival of cultural awareness and education

Impressionism

Art movement capturing subjects focusing on natural light and color

Fauvism

Art movement with bright colors and thick brush strokes

Post-Impressionism

Art movement with aggressive brush strokes and arbitrary uses of color

Cubism

Art movement founded by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque

Surrealism

Art movement exploring the subconscious imagination

Non-Objective

Abstracted art with no recognizable subject matter

Greenware

Unfired pottery that is bone-dry but not yet kiln-fired

Plastic

Soft, malleable clay easy to shape

Leatherhard

Partially dried clay firm enough to handle and carve

Bonedry

Completely dry clay ready for firing

Bisqueware

Clay fired once in a kiln, not yet glazed

Glassware

Clay fired in a kiln with glaze applied, creating a finished piece

Kiln

Furnace or oven for firing ceramic products

Glaze

Glass-like coating for decoration or waterproofing pottery

Slip

Liquid clay for joining pieces or surface decoration