Intro to Art Semester 1 Vocabulary

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and definitions related to the elements of art and principles of design.

Color

Derived from reflected light, characterized by hue, value, and intensity.

Hue

The name of the color.

Value

How light or dark a color is, essential for creating the illusion of form, depth, and space.

Intensity

How bright or dull a color is.

Warm Colors

Colors such as red, orange, and yellow.

Cool Colors

Colors such as blue, violet, and green.

Texture

The surface quality that can be seen or felt.

Real Texture

When an artwork really feels the way it looks.

Implied Texture

When an artwork looks like it feels a certain way but does not.

Form

Three-dimensional objects that have height, width, and depth.

Line

A moving dot through space, the most basic element of art.

Space

Refers to the emptiness or area between, around, above, below, or within objects.

Positive Space

The actual object in the artwork.

Negative Space

The surrounding area around the positive space.

Shape

A two-dimensional area defined in some way, with only height and width.

Contrast

Differences in values, colors, textures, shapes, and other elements.

Balance

The distribution of visual weight in a work of art.

Symmetrical Balance

When both sides of the central axis of an artwork are identical.

Asymmetrical Balance

When both sides of the central axis are not identical but visually balanced.

Unity

The cohesive quality that makes an artwork feel complete and finished.

Movement

Used by artists to direct viewers through their work, often to a focal area.

Pattern

The planned or random repetitions of art elements to enhance surfaces of artworks.

Emphasis

Used by artists to create dominance and focus in their work.

Rhythm

The repetition of visual movement—colors, shapes or lines.

Color Wheel

A color circle invented by Sir Isaac Newton, based on primary colors.

Primary Colors

Red, yellow, and blue; the colors used to mix other colors.

Secondary Colors

Colors created by mixing two primary colors, like green, orange, and violet.

Intermediate Colors

Colors made by mixing a primary color with a secondary color.

Complementary Colors

Colors opposite each other on the color wheel that neutralize each other when mixed.

Monochromatic Color Scheme

Using different values of one color throughout an artwork.

Analogous Color Scheme

Using three colors next to each other on the color wheel.

Tint

Making a color lighter by adding white.

Shade

Making a color darker by adding black.

Tone

Adding gray to a color.

Shading

The process of adding value to create the illusion of form, space, and light.

Highlight

Where the light source directly hits an object.

Core Shadow

The darkest shadowed area on the object, farthest from the light source.

Cast Shadow

The shadow that the object casts.

Stippling

Using dots to show value.

Cross Hatching

Creating values with criss-crossing lines.

Hatching

Creating values with lines.

Reductive Drawing

Using an eraser to lift out values from a drawing to add highlights.

Contour Line

Defines the outline of a form or shape without shading.

Blind Contour Drawing

Drawing the contour of an object without looking at the paper.

Modified Contour Drawing

An artist looks carefully at the edges of an object while occasionally looking at the paper.

Still Life

A painting or drawing of inanimate objects.