Art Appreciation Exam 1

Motif

A visual idea or design unit repeated throughout a composition

Unity and Variety work together

Unity and variety exist on a spectrum, with total blandness at one end, total disorder at the other. For most works of art, the artist strives to find just the right point on the spectrum with sufficient amount of unity enlivened by variety

Naturalism

Naturalistic images are those that look very much like images in the natural world. Pure Naturalism would contain no personal interpretation introduced by the artist. Similar to naturalism Illusionism or illusionistic means a type of art in which the objects are intended to appear as real as possible

Line

The path of a moving dot or a mark (or implied mark) between two end points Lines can be actual or implied. see page 54

Idealism -

The representation of forms according to a concept of perfection

Texture -

The surface character of materials as experienced by the sense of touch, or the implied surface of a work

Impasto

Thick paint. The application of a medium such as paint so that an actual texture is built up on a surface

Size

Things closer to us look larger and things further away look smaller.

Afterimage

a perceptual phenomenon. Visual sensation that persists after the external stimulus that first caused it has ceased. When we look at a color for a long period of time and then look away you may briefly see the opposite color due to fatigue of the cornea in the eyes. The afterimage of a color is its complement.

One-point Perspective -

a perspective system with a single vanishing point on the horizon

Two-point perspective -

a perspective system with two vanishing points on the horizon

Three-point perspective -

a perspective system with two vanishing points on the horizon and one not on the horizon

Foreshortening -

a perspective technique that depicts a form at a very oblique, often dramatic, angle to the viewer in order to show depth in space. Used most often to describe depictions of the human figure.

Sculpture: Relief

a raised form on a largely flat background. See two good examples on page 71

Positive shape

a shape defined by its surrounding empty space

Visible spectrum

a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we can actually see,

Perspective -

a system for portraying 3-d space on a 2-d surface. See illustrations page 89 - 995

Isometric perspective

a system using diagonal parallel lines to communicate depth, showing multiple viewpoints simultaneously. Originally used in China, it is now common in computer graphics.

Linear perspective

a system using imaginary sight lines to create the illusion of depth. Linear Perspective uses mathematical principles. The technique was perfected by Italian Renaissance artists to portray visual depth in the natural world by using diagonal parallel lines that appear to converge in the distance at one or more vanishing points.

Shape

a two-dimensional area, the boundaries of which are defined by lines or suggested by changes in color or value.

Kinetic art

a work that contains moving parts

Pattern

an arrangement of repeated elements in a regular and anticipated sequence. An ordered repetition of line, shape, texture or space on a visual surface

Negative shape

an empty space given shape by its surrounding area

Form

an object that can be defined in three dimensions; height and width and depth

Monochromatic

color scheme that uses only one color and tints, tones and shades of that color

Tertiary (intermediate) colors

colors made by mixing a primary and an adjacent secondary. They are Yellow-green, yellow-orange, blue-green, blue-violet, red-violet and red-orange

Contrast

combining art elements to stress the differences between those elements. Elaboration - The addition of minute detail or embellishment of the surface to certain areas of the composition

Content

feelings thoughts, underlining meanings, or themes. Subject matter - what the work of art depicts, landscape, portraits still life, history.

Cold or cool colors

green, blue-green, blue, blue-violet, and violet. They have a cooling and soothing effect. Associated with water, the sky and nature. Perceptually, cool colors recede and move away from us

Three-dimensional

has height, width, and depth. A two-dimensional area is referred to as a shape; a three dimensional solid is a form. Three-dimensional forms occupy a volume of space such as sculpture and architecture.

Organic shapes

having forms and shapes derived from living organisms. Organic shapes are based on the forms of nature, which are usually rounded, irregular and curving. see page 60

Two-dimensional

having height and width. Two-dimensional space refers to the flat surface of a drawing or painting. The appearance of depth on a two dimensional surface is an illusion.

Neutrals

having no hue: black, white, or gray. Sometimes a Brown color achieved by mixing two complementary colors

Analogous colors

hues containing a common color in different proportions. They are next to each other on the color wheel. Example: blue, blue-green and green create an analogous color scheme

Horizon line

imaginary line that mimics the horizon and represents the viewer's eye level

Organic Form

irregular and unpredictable forms like most things in the natural world.

Radial balance

is a composition in which all visual elements are balanced around and radiate outward from a central point. Radial balance is more common in architecture and crafts

Local color

naturalistic color or the actual color of an object

Mobile

suspended moving sculptures usually impelled by natural air currents

Color temperature

refers to our sense of warm or cool colors. The color wheel can be divided into warm and cool sides from yellow-green to red-violet

Geometric Form -

regular solid forms such as cubes, pyramids, spheres and cylinders.

Highlight -

the area of highest reflected light

Focal Point

the center of interest or activity in work of art, often drawing the viewer's attention to the most important element. The area in a composition to which the eye returns most naturally

Stylization

the distortion of a representational image to conform to certain artistic conventions or to emphasize particular qualities. We are more likely to call a work of art stylized when it shows certain features of a natural form or features closely associated with that form exaggerated in a special way

Variety

the diversity of different ideas, media, and elements in a work of art. Variety is difference, which provides interest. Variety is created by combining art elements in involved ways, to create intricate and complicated relationships

Unity

the imposition of order and harmony on a design. Unity is a sense of oneness, of things belonging together and making up a coherent whole. Unity can work visually as well as conceptually through a unity of ideas. Unity is created by combining elements to accent their similarities and bind the picture parts into a whole. It is often achieved through the use of repetition and simplicity. Harmony is a word often used interchangeably with unity

Value -

the lightness or darkness of a plane or area

Medium or media

the materials and methods used to create an image or object in drawing, painting, sculpture and other arts.

Subordination

the opposite of emphasis. it draws our attention away from particular areas of a work

Picture frame

the outermost limits or boundaries of the picture plane. These limits are represented by the edges of a canvas or paper, or by the margin drawn within these edges.

Outline

the outermost line of an object or figure, by which it is defined or bounded.

Contour line

the outline that defines a form

Composition

the overall design or organization of visual elements on the two-dimensional surface or picture plane

Context

the physical, social, and cultural background or setting of a work of art. Contextualism emphasizes the study of everything that surrounds and relates to the work of art: the viewer, the artist, the physical setting of the work, and the art, culture, and society that gave birth to it

Vanishing point

the point in a work of art at which imaginary sightlines appear to converge, suggesting depth

Emphasis

the principle of drawing attention to particular content within a work. Attention is drawn more to certain parts of the composition than others. Also known as Dominance

Hue

the property of a color that distinguishes it from others on the color wheel; the name of a color or color family

Rhythm

the regular or ordered repetition of elements. Rhythm produces a sense of movement, has a continuance or flow, and is achieved through placement of measured accents. Movement is used to describe rhythm but can also mean eye travel directed by visual pathways in a work of art, often to a focal point

Figure-ground relationship

the relationship between positive and negative shapes

Proportion

the relationship in size between the works individual parts and the whole. Refers to size relationships within a composition or work of art

Color harmony/color scheme

the selective use of two more colors and a single composition. One color affects another causing harmony or contrast

Cast shadow -

the shadow cast by the illuminated object.

Scale

the size of an object or an art work relative to another object or art work, or to a system of measurement

Volume

the space filled or enclosed by a three-dimensional figure or object

Actual or tactile texture -

the texture of an object or picture, as determined by the sense of touch.

Picture plane

the two-dimensional surface defined by height and width. The actual flat surface on which the artist executes a pictorial image.

Chiaroscuro -

the use of light and dark in a painting to create the impression of volume. Means "light/dark" in Italian

Hierarchical Scale

the use of size to denote the relative importance of subjects in an artwork

The Principles of Design

the ways the elements of Design are organized to create a work of art. They are Unity, Variety,Balance, Scale and Proportion, Emphasis and Focal Point, Rhythm, and Pattern

Complementary colors

two hues directly opposite one another on the color wheel and therefore assumed to be as different from one another as possible. When placed side-by-side complementary colors are intensified. When mixed together they produce a neutral

Mass

volume that has, or gives the illusion of having, weight, density, and bulk

Warm colors

yellow, yellow-orange, orange, red-orange, and red. We associate them with the heat and light of the sun and fire. Perceptually, warm colors project forward

Additive colors

mixing lights

Subtractive colors

mixing pigments

Continuous Narrative

(shows passage of time) when different parts of the story are shown within the same visual space

Palette

1. A term for the board on which artists set out their paints 2. the range of pigments artists select. The terms restricted palette (few colors) and open palette (many colors) are often used

Two types of Texture:

1. Actual or Tactile Texture 2. Implied or simulated (visual) texture)

The types of symmetrical balance we will study are

1. Exact symmetry 2. Relieved or approximate symmetry 3. Radial Balance

Three types of linear direction: see page 57

1. Horizontal 2. Vertical 3. Diagonal

Modeling -

1. In two-dimensional works of art, the creation of the illusion of depth or roundness through the use of light and shade. 2. in sculpture, the process of shaping a pliable material, such as day or wax, into a three-dimensional form.

Tint

A color lighter than a hue's normal value. A hue mixed with white

Abstract

Art imagery that departs from recognizable images from the natural world. Characteristic of art in which natural formsare not rendered in a naturalistic way, but instead are simplified or distorted to some extent, often in an attempt to convey the essence of form. We call a work of art abstract when the art has reference to the natural world but does not try to duplicate it exactly. Abstraction is present in varying forms in all works of art, from full representational to complete non-objectivity. Abstraction may be slight or may have little resemblance to the real world

Visual art

Artwork, such as painting, photography, and sculpture that appeals primarily to the visual sense and typically exists in permanent form.

Hatching -

Fine parallel lines drawn or engraved to represent shading.

Ways to interpret works of art

Form, Content, and Context

The two basic types of shapes

Geometric and Organic:

School or movement

Group styles are those of artists in specific organizations, political or artistic movements that share a general outlook or set of values. Examples: Futurist movement and Op Art

The three qualities or characteristics of color

Hue Value and Intensity,

Expressionistic

In expressionistic art, form and color are freely distorted by the artist in order to achieve a heightened emotional impact. Expressionism (with a Capital E) is a modern art movement

Asymmetrical balance

Informal Balance. Asymmetrical is a way of organizing the parts of a design so that one side differs from the other without destroying the overall harmony. Asymmetrical balance is achieved with dissimilar objects that have equal visual weight or equal eye attraction

Cross-hatching -

Intersecting sets of parallel lines used to shade a drawing.

The Elements of Art or Design

Line, shape, form (also known as mass or volume), space, texture, value, and color. In twentieth century art time and motion are sometimes considered elements.

Time Period

Looking at cultures over long periods of time. Period style the works of a certain time period, age or era manifested in shared formal characteristics and content different from earlier or later styles within the culture. Time periods are another major way to classify a period Style. Art historians define time periods on the basis of broad socio cultural identities and often linked them to geographical areas such as the Italian Renaissance

Individual artists

Personal styles of specific artists - constant qualities of an individual artist's work. Example: van Gogh has a distinctive style

Geometric shapes

Regular lines and curves. Usually based on the mechanically drawn line

2. Implied or simulated (visual) texture

Simulated texture in a work of art; the use of line, color, and other visual elements to create the illusion of various textures in flat drawings and paintings.

Form

Visual or formal qualities, specifically the elements and their arrangement or composition the organization or arrangement of various visual elements and subjects into an artistic whole also referred to as a design

Atmospheric perspective

Where forms in the distance are blue, indistinct, and misty. Closer objects have warmer tones and clearer outlines while objects set further away are cooler and become hazy.

Style

a characteristic way in which an artist or group of artists uses visual language to give a work an identifiable form of visual expression. Style is the constant form, manifested in recurring elements, compositional approaches, and content, in an individuals or groups art. Style can be associated with the work of an individual artist, a school or movement, of a specific culture or time period

Shade

a color darker than a hue's normal value. A hue mixed with black

Actual line

a continuous, uninterrupted line. Solid line

Contrast

a drastic difference between elements such as color or value (example: red and green, or black and white)

Plane

a flat surface

Sculpture: In the Round

a freestanding sculptured work that can be viewed from all sides. Page 72

Secondary colors

a hue created by combining two primary colors. Orange, green, and violet

Implied line

a line not actually drawn, but suggested by elements in the work. Impressions of lines created by a series of points or lines perceived by changes in visual texture, value, or color

Cultural styles

are distinctive styles associated with specific cultural or sub cultural groups. We define culture as the attitudes, beliefs, and values of a given people in a given period. We associate culture with entire societies, with social classes, or lifestyle-based groups within a given society, with ethnic or racial groups and with tribes

Contrast and elaboration

are used to create dominance/emphasis and to achieve variety in a composition

Representational, Abstract, and Nonrepresentational

are words are associated with the relationship between the artistic image and the appearance of objects in the natural world. Representational art- Representational or Objective: representing actual objects in recognizable form. Synonymous with objective: having to do with reality and fidelity to perception

Shadow

area of dark created when an object blocks light

Design

arrangement of visual elements in a work of art

Fine art

art produced or intended primarily for beauty rather than utility. Any of the art forms such as sculpture, painting, or music, used to create such art. Something requiring highly developed techniques and skills.

Achromatic color scheme

black, white, and gray with no distinctive hues

Symmetrical Balance

is also known as pure, formal or bilateral balance. It is a way of organizing the parts of a design so that one side duplicates, or mirrors the other. Symmetry in art means that forms in the two halves of the composition on either side of an imaginary vertical dividing line or axis correspond to one another in size, shape, and placement. When the symmetry is so perfect that the two sides of the composition are mirror images of one another it is called exact symmetry. More often than not the correspondence is very close but not exact. Slight differences in the design create a composition known as relieved or approximate symmetry

Visual weight

is the apparent heaviness or lightness of forms arranged in a composition. If the composition seems to be balanced, it is because the visual weights in the two halves are very similar

Realism

is the portrayal of people and things as they are seen by the eye or as they are thought to be without idealization, without distortion. Realism (with a Capital R) also defines a specific school of art that flowered during the mid-nineteenth century in France

Reflected light

light is reflected from the surrounding environment

Value

lightness and darkness, Intensity or Saturation - the degree of purity or brilliance of a color. Also the brightness or dullness of a hue. The colors of the visible spectrum (rainbow) are the most intense, Primary colors - a hue that in theory cannot be created by a mixture of other hues. In pigments the primaries are red yellow and blue

Position (Vertical placement) -

lower figures in the picture are nearer to us than those higher up.

Non

objective or Nonrepresentational- Descriptive of works of art that have no reference to the natural world of images. It does not show people, animals, mountains, or any recognizable object, but simply the basic elements of art. It does not represent anything but itself. These works are composed of lines, shapes, or colors, chosen and arranged for their own expressive potential. Often confused with complete abstraction. Nonrepresentational Art became accepted in the art world in the mid-20th century.

Overlapping

placing one object in front of another.

Figure-ground reversal (positive negative reversal)

positive and negative shapes can be reversed or are ambiguous. See illustrations page 64 - 65

List of complements

red and green blue and orange yellow and violet yellow-green and red-violet yellow-orange and blue-violet red-orange and blue-green