ART APPR

Neutral colors

(sometimes called "earth tones") Not found on traditional color wheel. Beiges, grays, browns, white, black.

Kinetic Sculpture

3-D art that moves (via air currents, motors,or people).

Actual Line

A continuous, uninterrupted line.

Color Temperature

A description of color based on our associations with warmth or coolness.

Positive vs. Negative Shape

A shape defined by its surrounding empty space is a positive shape. An empty space given shape by its surround is a negative shape.

Volume

Amount of space a form occupies.

Monochromatic color scheme

An artwork that uses only one hue (color) and many values.

Cone of Vision

Area one can see when focusing on a single point in space.

Isometric Perspective

Arranges parallel lines diagonally in a work to give a sense of depth.

Directional Line

Artists can use line (or the idea of a line) to direct a viewer's attention to a particular part of a work.

Shade

Color darker in value than its purest state (hue plus black).

Tint

Color lighter in value than its purest state (hue plus white).

Analogous colors

Colors next to each other on the color wheel. Similar in wave-length, they do not contrast strongly with each other.

Complementary colors

Colors opposite each other on the color wheel. They contrast strongly with each other and seem to visually "vibrate" when placed next to each other. Have very different wave-lengths.

Optical colors

Colors our minds create based on the information we can perceive.

Primary colors

Colors that cannot be mixed from any other colors—red, yellow, and blue

Saturation

Degree of purity of a color. The grayer the color, the lower the saturation.

Atmospheric Perspective

Distant objects lack contrast, detail, and sharpness of focus. The atmosphere progressively veils a scene as the distance increases.

Irregular Line

Free and unrestrained lines that reflect nature, chaos, and accident.

In the Round

Free-standing work that can be viewed from all sides.Elements 4 and 5: Volume and Mass

Hatching/Cross-hatching

Hatching consists of a series of lines, close to and parallel to each other. Cross-hatching (a variant of hatching in which the lines overlap) is used to suggest values that create a greater sense of form and depth.

Implied Line

Implied line gives us the impression we are seeing a line where there is no continuous mark. No actual solid line is present; just the idea of a line is created.

Organic Shape

Made up of unpredictable, irregular lines that suggest the natural world.

Linear Perspective

Mathematical system that uses lines to create the illusion of depth in a 2-dimensional artwork.

Geometric Shape

Mathematically regular and precise

Chiaroscuro

Method of using value (light and dark) to create the impression of volume and three dimensions.Other Ways to Create an Illusion of Depth

Implied Motion

Motion that is implied when we do not actually see the motion happening, but visual clues tell us that it is a key aspect of the work.

Geometric Form

Regular forms, readily expressible in words or numbers.

Regular Line

Regular lines express control and planning. They communicate objectivity and accuracy.

Foreshortening

Results when the rules of perspective are applied to represent unusual points of view. Depicts a form at a very oblique (often dramatic) angle to the viewer in order to show depth in space.

Implied Shape

Shapes we can see where no continuous boundary exists.

Mass

Suggests that an object's volume is solid and occupies space (not empty).Mass can suggest weight in a three-dimensional object, but does not necessarily imply heaviness.Element 6: Texture

Organic Form

Tends to be irregular, similar to naturally occurring objects.

Hue

The general classification of a color; distinctive characteristics of a color as seen in the visible spectrum (green, red, etc.).

Contour Line

The outer edge or profile of an object. Contour lines can suggest a volume in space by giving clues about the changing character of a surface.Element 2: Shape

Figure-Ground Reversal

The reversal of the relationship between one shape (the figure) and its background (the ground), so that the figure becomes background and the ground becomes the figure.

Chromotherapy

The use of colors for healing purposes.

Performance Art

Theatrical art piece; the artist's intention is not to create an art object, but an experience that can exist only in one place and time in history.

Element 10

Time/Motion

Actual Motion

When something really changes over time; when objects physically move and change in real space and time.

Stroboscopic Motion

When we see two or more repeated images in quick succession, they tend visually to fuse together (like in animation).

Relief

Work in which forms project from a flat surface, designed to be viewed from one side only.

Shape

a two-dimensional area, with boundaries defined by lines or suggested by changes in color or value.

Texture

appeals to the viewer's tactile memories. Refers to the how the surface of a work feels when it is touched.

One-point

perspective uses a single vanishing point

Actual texture .

refers texture of the surface of 3-D works

Implied texture

refers to the surface of 2-D works (visual illusion of texture)

Value

refers to use of lightness and darkness to create a sense of depth.

Space

the distance between identifiable points or planes colors feel closer than dull colors)

Multi-point perspective

uses more than two distinct vanishing points, with a point above or below the horizon line.

Two-point perspective

uses two separate vanishing points and relies on horizon line