Comprehensive Sculpture, Painting, and Printmaking Techniques for Art Students

What is relief in sculpture?

A sculptural technique where the sculpted elements remain attached to a solid background of the same material.

What is bas relief?

A low relief sculpture where the figures project only slightly from the background.

What is high relief?

A type of relief sculpture where the figures project significantly from the background, often creating a more three-dimensional effect.

What is in-the-round sculpture?

A sculpture that is designed to be viewed from all sides, not attached to a background.

What is freestanding sculpture?

A sculpture that stands independently and is not attached to any other surface.

What is reductive sculpture?

A sculptural technique where material is removed to create the final form.

What is additive sculpture?

A sculptural technique where material is added together to create the final form.

What is casting in sculpture?

A process of creating a sculpture by pouring liquid material into a mold.

What is the lost-wax process?

A method of metal casting in which a molten metal is poured into a mold that has been created by means of a wax model.

What is repoussé?

A metalworking technique where a malleable metal is shaped by hammering from the reverse side to create a design in low relief.

What is contrapposto?

A pose in sculpture where one part of the body is turned in opposition to another part, creating a sense of dynamic balance.

What is found object sculpture?

A form of sculpture created from objects that are not normally considered art, often repurposed or recontextualized.

What is site-specific sculpture?

A sculpture created to exist in a certain place, often designed to interact with the surrounding environment.

What is annealing?

A heat treatment process used to soften materials, often used in metalworking and glassmaking.

What is gyniform?

A term describing forms that resemble or are inspired by the female body.

What is medium in painting?

The materials used to create a work of art, such as oil, watercolor, or acrylic.

What is a binder in painting?

A substance that holds pigment particles together and allows them to adhere to a surface.

What is pigment in painting?

A coloring agent used in paints, inks, and other materials, often derived from natural or synthetic sources.

What is glaze in painting?

A thin, transparent layer applied over a painting to enhance its appearance or protect the surface.

What is sfumato?

A painting technique that creates a soft transition between colors and tones, often used to create a smoky effect.

What is gesso?

A primer used on surfaces to prepare them for painting, typically made from a mixture of chalk and binder.

What is chiaroscuro?

A technique used in painting to create a strong contrast between light and dark areas.

What is tenebrism?

A style of painting characterized by dramatic illumination and stark contrasts between light and dark.

What is grisaille?

A painting technique that uses shades of gray to create a monochromatic effect.

What is trompe l'oeil?

A technique that uses realistic imagery to create the optical illusion that depicted objects exist in three dimensions.

What is a thangka?

A traditional Tibetan Buddhist painting on cotton or silk, often depicting a deity, scene, or mandala.

What is fresco?

A mural painting technique where water-based pigments are applied to freshly laid wet plaster.

What is watercolor?

A painting medium made of pigments suspended in a water-based solution.

What is oil paint?

A type of paint made by mixing pigments with oils, allowing for rich colors and blending.

What is acrylic paint?

A fast-drying paint made of pigment suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion.

What is tempera?

A painting medium made from colored pigments mixed with a water-soluble binder, such as egg yolk.

What is egg tempera?

A type of tempera paint made using egg yolk as a binder.

What is distemper?

A water-based paint made from pigments mixed with a binding agent, often used for wall painting.

What is encaustic?

A painting technique that involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added.

What is acacia gum?

A natural gum obtained from the acacia tree, used as a binder in watercolor paints.

What is linseed oil?

A drying oil derived from flax seeds, commonly used as a binder in oil paints.

What is chalk + gum?

A mixture used in painting, where chalk is combined with a gum binder to create a paint.

What is egg yolk?

The yellow part of an egg, used as a binder in egg tempera painting.

What is animal fat?

Fat derived from animals, sometimes used in traditional paint formulations.

What is wax in painting?

A substance used in various painting techniques, such as encaustic, to create texture and depth.

What is plastic polymer?

A synthetic material used in modern paints and coatings.

What is gessoed wood?

Wood that has been coated with gesso to prepare it for painting.

What is canvas?

A strong fabric used as a surface for painting, typically made from cotton or linen.

What is hatching in drawing?

A technique used to create tonal or shading effects by drawing closely spaced parallel lines.

What is cross-hatching in drawing?

A technique that uses intersecting sets of parallel lines to create shading and texture.

What is shading in drawing?

The technique of using varying degrees of darkness to represent light and shadow.

What is stippling in drawing?

A technique that uses small dots to create texture and shading.

What is intaglio in printmaking?

A printmaking technique where the image is incised into a surface, and ink is applied to the incised areas.

What is engraving in printmaking?

A printmaking technique that involves cutting designs into a hard surface, typically metal.

What is woodblock in printmaking?

A relief printing technique where an image is carved into a block of wood, which is then inked and pressed onto paper.

What is Southern School painting?

A style of Chinese painting that emphasizes the expression of personal feelings and the beauty of nature, originating during the Song Dynasty.

What is literati painting?

A style of Chinese painting associated with scholar-artists, focusing on personal expression and intellectual themes.

What is Zen painting?

A style of East Asian painting that emphasizes simplicity, spontaneity, and the expression of Zen Buddhist philosophy.

What is Sumi-e?

A Japanese style of ink wash painting that emphasizes simplicity and the beauty of nature.

What is Mughal painting?

A style of South Asian painting that flourished during the Mughal Empire, known for its intricate detail and vibrant colors.

What is Rajput painting?

A style of Indian painting that developed in the Rajput courts, characterized by its vibrant colors and themes of romance and valor.