Art Vocabulary

Basic color schemes include monochromatic, analogous, and complementary.

Additive The process of adding or joining parts and/or visual elements together to create a
painting, collage or sculpture (as opposed to subtractive).

Additive The process of adding or joining parts and/or visual elements together to create a
painting, collage or sculpture (as opposed to subtractive).

Intensity Also called chroma or saturation; refers to the brightness of a color (a color is full in
intensity only when in its pure form and unmixed).

Asymmetry A lack of equality or equivalence between parts or aspects of something.

Acrylics Quick drying, plastic polymer pigment used with water.

Basic color schemes include monochromatic, analogous, and complementary.

Texture The surface quality of materials, either actual (tactile) or implied (visual).

Acrylics Quick drying, plastic polymer pigment used with water.

Perspective A system for representing three-dimensional objects viewed in spatial recession on a
two-dimensional surface.

Additive The process of adding or joining parts and/or visual elements together to create a
painting, collage or sculpture (as opposed to subtractive).

Distortion The condition of being twisted or altered from a usual or regular shape.

One-point perspective A way to show 3-D objects on a 2-D surface, lines appear to go away from the viewer
meet at a single point on the horizon known as the vanishing point.

Rubric A guide for judgment or scoring, a description of expectations.

Dominance An emphasis of one aspect, characteristic or quality in an image in relation to all others.

Linear perspective A graphic system used to create the illusion of depth and volume on a flat surface.

The three characteristics of colors are hue, intensity, and value.

SPARKed – SPARK in Education: Visual Arts Vocabulary
VISUAL ARTS VOCABULARY
Abstract Artwork in which the subject matter is stated in a brief, simplified manner; little or no
attempt is made to represent images realistically, and objects are often simplified or
distorted.

Printmaking The transference of an image from one surface (plate or block) to another (usually paper)
using ink.

Contrast Differences between two or more elements (e.g., value, color, texture) in a composition;
juxtaposition of dissimilar elements in a work of art.

Contrast Differences between two or more elements (e.g., value, color, texture) in a composition;
juxtaposition of dissimilar elements in a work of art.

Foreground Part of a two-dimensional artwork that appears to be nearer the viewer or in the “front”
of the image.

Motif A repeated pattern, often creating a sense of rhythm.

Additive The process of adding or joining parts and/or visual elements together to create a
painting, collage or sculpture (as opposed to subtractive).

Design The plan, conception or organization of a work of art; the arrangement of independent
parts (the elements of art) to form a coordinated whole.

Analogous Closely related colors; a color scheme that combines several hues next to each other on
the color wheel.

SPARKed – SPARK in Education: Visual Arts Vocabulary
VISUAL ARTS VOCABULARY
Abstract Artwork in which the subject matter is stated in a brief, simplified manner; little or no
attempt is made to represent images realistically, and objects are often simplified or
distorted.

Analogous Closely related colors; a color scheme that combines several hues next to each other on
the color wheel.

Linear perspective A graphic system used to create the illusion of depth and volume on a flat surface.

Installation art The combining of elements into a singular artwork that is specifically located in one
place; an artwork that exists only in the place in which it was/is installed, and is not able
to be relocated like a painting or print.

Line In visual art, a delineation or fracturing of space in color or black and white.

Emphasis Special attention or embellishment on an element, characteristic or object in a work of art
that makes it stand out from others.

Still life A specific type of visual artwork representing one or more inanimate object.

In visual art,
distortion is often used as an expressive technique.

Performance art A type of art in which an event or events are planned and enacted before an audience for
aesthetic reasons.

SPARKed – SPARK in Education: Visual Arts Vocabulary
VISUAL ARTS VOCABULARY
Abstract Artwork in which the subject matter is stated in a brief, simplified manner; little or no
attempt is made to represent images realistically, and objects are often simplified or
distorted.

Assemblage A three-dimensional composition in which a collection of objects is unified in a sculptural
work.

The three characteristics of colors are hue, intensity, and value.

The three types of balance are symmetry, asymmetry, and
radial.

Contrast Differences between two or more elements (e.g., value, color, texture) in a composition;
juxtaposition of dissimilar elements in a work of art.

Contour line drawings Drawing that represents the edges and ridges of a form, without tonal variation, shading,
etc.

Distortion The condition of being twisted or altered from a usual or regular shape.

In
images of buildings and objects, the lines defining their edges and features are slanted,
making them appear to extend back into space.

Motif A repeated pattern, often creating a sense of rhythm.

SPARKed – SPARK in Education: Visual Arts Vocabulary
Hue The gradation or attribute of a color that defines its general classification as a red, blue,
yellow, green or intermediate color.

Balance The way in which the elements in visual arts are arranged to create a feeling of
equilibrium in an artwork.

Background The part of the picture plane that seems to be farthest from the viewer.

Contour line drawings Drawing that represents the edges and ridges of a form, without tonal variation, shading,
etc.

Collage An artistic composition made of various materials (e.g., paper, cloth, or wood) glued on a
surface.

SPARKed – SPARK in Education: Visual Arts Vocabulary
VISUAL ARTS VOCABULARY
Abstract Artwork in which the subject matter is stated in a brief, simplified manner; little or no
attempt is made to represent images realistically, and objects are often simplified or
distorted.