Art Appreciation Exam Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering visual literacy, color theory, elements of design, and approaches to art analysis.

Art

An idea expressed visually with the intent of evoking thought.

Representational

Artwork that refers to an object.

Photorealistic

Images that are realistic but also feel specifically related to photography.

Naturalistic

Images that feel life like and true to the world around us, but are not photo like.

Illusionistic (Tromp L’oeil)

A style of representational and naturalistic art that tricks the eye.

Idealized

An image that conforms to a society's highest standard of beauty.

Stylized

Conforming to a preset standard or convention of depiction.

Organic

Related to the natural world and characterized by more curved lines.

Geometric

Characterized by more straight lines and not being natural.

Contour

The $3d$ boundary of a form which indicates volume and space.

Directional Lines

Lines that tell the eye where to travel.

Implied Lines

Lines that are not physically there but are implied.

Soft Edged Line

Lines that provide a more spiritual feel.

Hard Edged Line

Lines that feel more grounded and established.

Dynamic

Artworks having lots of curves and diagonals with push and pull effects.

Static

Stable artwork that gives a sense of stability.

Positive Space

The space in an artwork that we observe to be present.

Negative Space

The space that serves as the background of the object.

Contrast of Value

Shading in artwork and the quality of light.

Contrast of Color

Putting colors that contrast together to create form and space.

Overlap

Placing figures on top of one another to create depth.

Contrast of Scale

The use of size to give depth.

Location and Placement

Figures placed near the bottom feel closer while those higher up on paper feel farther.

Point of View

Unique placement that allows viewers to take part in the art.

Foreshortening

Long figures shown from a shortened perspective.

Atmospheric Perspective

A technique where distant objects appear less clean than objects closer.

Linear Perspective

A system where lines that are parallel in reality seem to converge to give a sense of depth.

2 or 3-point perspective

Implementation of multiple vanishing points to create depth.

Subtractive color mix

Mixing colors like paints that will bring you farther from white.

Additive color mixing

Mixing of light that would create white.

Hue

Pure spectrum colors like red, orange, yellow, blue, green, and violet which appear in the hue circle or rainbow.

Value

The quality of light or dark in a $2d$ work, where darkest are the lowest and brightest is the highest value.

Saturation

The brightness of a color, with primary colors being the brightest because they have not been mixed.

Primary Colors

Yellow, blue, and red; colors used to make any other color but cannot be made by mixing others.

Complimentary Colors

Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel.

Warm Colors

Colors that are more red or yellow.

Cool Colors

Colors that are closer to blue.

Analogous Colors

Any two to four colors that are next to each other on the color wheel, providing a soothing effect.

Monochromatic

A color scheme using one hue but varying color saturations or values of that hue.

Optical Mixing

Placing colors on canvas not fully mixed so the eye mixes the colors for the viewer.

Symmetrical Balance

A type of balance where the left and right sides have similar visual weight.

Asymmetrical Balance

A type of balance where there is a distinct visual weight from the left side to the right side.

Economy/Simplicity

Artwork that does not use a lot of different elements and is very simple.

Complexity

Artwork with a lot of things going on that is intricately detailed.

Repetition

The repeating of an image over and over again through an entire work.

Rhythm

A visual beat or time movement through space that creates a regular arrangement of patterns for the eye to follow.

Unity

Elements of the artwork that are similar and work together to make a whole.

Variety

Small differences in detail that add interest and balance unity.

Actual Texture

Texture that can be physically felt on the painting through paint mix and other details.

Visual Textures

The illusion of texture in an artwork.

Proportions

The relationship of the parts to the whole of its environment.

Formal Approach

Analyzing art derived purely from a work’s visual and physical formal qualities.

Iconography

The interpretation of symbols embedded in artwork.

Social Historical Approach

Examining the historical significance, the society that produced the work, and the history surrounding the artwork.

Biography and Psychology

Analyzing the biographical knowledge and social psychology of the artist.