Visual Arts Elements & Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering the visual elements of art, their properties, and related concepts such as color schemes, perspective, and motion.

Elements of Art

The basic visual components—line, shape, mass, color, texture, value, space, time & motion—used to create and analyze artworks.

Line

A prolongation of a point or mark on a surface; solid lines define form, while broken lines suggest hidden forms.

Curved Line

A smoothly bending line often used to convey softness, fluidity, or organic forms.

Wavy Line

A line that undulates up and down, suggesting rhythm or movement.

Bumpy Line

A line with repeated small rises and dips, implying texture or irregularity.

Horizontal Line

A straight line running side-to-side, typically conveying rest or stability.

Vertical Line

A straight line running up-and-down, often suggesting strength or growth.

Diagonal Line

A straight line set at an angle, used to imply action, tension, or depth.

Shape

A two-dimensional area with height and width defined by boundaries or lines.

Organic Shape

A natural, irregular, or rounded 2-D form resembling living things.

Geometric Shape

A measurable 2-D form such as squares, circles, or triangles.

Mass

The solid, three-dimensional (height, width, depth) portions of an object.

Color

Visual perception produced when light wavelengths are reflected, allowing differentiation of objects and conveying emotion.

Hue

The basic or pure color as shown on the color wheel.

Value (Color Property)

The lightness or darkness of a hue; tints result from adding white, shades from adding black.

Saturation

The brightness or dullness (purity) of a color; increased by adding more pigment, decreased by adding gray or the complement.

Color Wheel

Circular arrangement of primary, secondary, and tertiary hues used to identify effective color relationships.

Color Scheme

A planned combination of colors that work harmoniously in an artwork.

Monochromatic Scheme

Uses one hue with various values (tints and shades).

Analogous Scheme

Employs three or four adjacent colors on the color wheel.

Complementary Scheme

Pairs a hue with the color directly opposite it on the color wheel.

Triadic Scheme

Combines three colors equally spaced around the color wheel.

Split-Complementary Scheme

Uses a color plus the two hues adjacent to its complement.

Tetradic Scheme

Also called double complementary; involves two complementary color pairs.

Texture

The feel or appearance of a surface, described as actual or implied.

Actual Texture

A surface quality that can be physically felt, determined by the material used.

Implied Texture

A surface quality simulated visually, such as painted fur that looks touchable.

Value (Element of Art)

The lightness or darkness of areas within an artwork, used to create depth and shadow.

Space

The area occupied by or surrounding objects; includes positive and negative space.

Positive Space

Areas of interest and focus—the subjects or objects themselves.

Negative Space

The empty or open areas around and between subjects.

Perspective

Techniques for creating the illusion of depth on a 2-D surface.

Atmospheric Perspective

Depicts distance through light and air effects—distant forms appear lighter and less detailed.

Linear Perspective

Creates depth using vanishing points and receding lines that converge.

Time and Motion

An element involving actual or illusory movement; includes kinetic works or 2-D illusions of action.

Illusion of Movement

Perceived motion in still images achieved through compositional devices.

Kinetic Sculpture

Three-dimensional art that physically moves via wind, motors, or environmental forces.