Visual Arts Flashcards

Flashcards for reviewing visual arts concepts, including color theory, elements of art, principles of design, and art techniques.

Primary Colors

Red, Blue, Yellow

Secondary Colors

Orange, Green, Purple

Tertiary Colors

Red-Orange, Yellow-Orange, Yellow-Green, Blue-Green, Blue-Violet, Red-Violet

Color

The element of art derived from reflected light, used to express mood, symbolism, and visual interest.

Tint

A color mixed with white to make it lighter.

Shade

A color mixed with black to make it darker.

Complementary Colors

Colors opposite each other on the color wheel (Red and Green, Blue and Orange, Yellow and Violet).

Analogous Colors

Colors next to each other on the color wheel (e.g., Blue, Blue-Green, Green; Red, Red-Orange, Orange).

Polychromatic

Artwork that uses many different colors.

Monochromatic

Artwork made using only one color and its tints and shades.

Value

The lightness or darkness of a color or tone.

Gradation Scale

Shows a gradual transition from light to dark values.

Five Basic Components of Value

Highlight, Light, Midtone, Core Shadow, Cast Shadow

Line

A mark made by a tool, often used to define shapes, contours, and outlines.

Line Quality

The thickness, thinness, darkness, or lightness of a line.

Five Kinds of Line

Horizontal, Vertical, Diagonal, Curved, Zigzag

Shape

A flat, enclosed area defined by lines, textures, or colors.

Two Basic Types of Shapes

Geometric and Organic

Form

A three-dimensional object that has depth, width, and height.

Texture

The way a surface feels or looks like it would feel.

Two Types of Texture

Real (actual) and Implied (visual)

Principles of Design

The rules or guidelines that artists use to organize the elements of art in a composition.

Unity

The feeling that all parts of the artwork belong together and create a harmonious whole.

Balance

The distribution of visual weight in a work of art (symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial).

Three Ways That Space Can Be Created In A Drawing

Overlapping, Size Variation, and Atmospheric Perspective

Space

The area around, between, and within objects.

Four Steps in Feldman's Formal Art Criticism Method

Description, Analysis, Interpretation, Judgment

Collage

A work of art made by assembling different materials like paper, photos, and fabric onto a surface.

Graded Wash

A watercolor technique where the color gradually changes from dark to light.

Burnishing With Colored Pencils

Applying heavy layers of colored pencil to create a smooth, shiny surface.

Dry Brush Technique

Technique that uses a small amount of paint and a dry brush to create texture or fine details.

One-Point Perspective

A drawing method that shows objects receding to a single vanishing point on the horizon line.

Atmospheric Perspective

Technique that uses color and clarity to show depth, with distant objects appearing lighter and less detailed.

Cross-Contour Lines

Cross-Contour lines follow the form of an