Visual Art Finals Review

Color

derived from reflected light; Color has three properties: hue, value, and intensity. Examples: Warm & Cool, Analogous, Monochromatic, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary/Intermediate, and Complimentary.

Value

describes the darkness or lightness of an object; value depends on how much light a surface reflects.

Hue

is simply the name given to a color in its purest and simplest form, such as red, green, blue, etc. Also called "local color".

Form

objects having three dimensions; like a shape, form has height and width, but it also has depth.

Texture

refers to how things feel, or look as if they might feel if touched; texture is perceived by touch and sight. Two forms of texture are real and implied textures.

Space

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

Balance

refers to the equalization of elements in a work of art that causes the total image to appear balanced; balance can be either symmetrical or asymmetrical.

Intensity

refers to the relative strength or weakness of a color. Colors are used straight from the tube are at their most intense; mixing them with other hues reduces their intensity.

Rhythym

repetition of movement of the elements (colors, shapes, lines, values, forms, spaces, and textures.

Contrast

the differences in values, colors, textures, shapes, and other elements in a work to achieve emphasis and interest.

Center of Interest

The part of a composition first to attract attention.

Proportion

The relationship of one part to another or to the whole.

Chroma

The relative purity of a color. Color intensity.

Shade

The representation of the different values of color or light.

Perspecctive

The representation of three dimensional objects on a flat surface to produce the same impression of distance and relative size as that received by the human eye.

Realism

The technique in which the artist strives to achieve a naturalistic representation of the external appearance of his subject matter.

Primary Colors

Those colors in terms of which all other colors may be described or from which all other colors may be evoked by mixture. Red, yellow and blue.

Secondary Colors

Those colors obtained by mixing two primary colors. Orange, green and purple/violet.

Complementary Colors

Those colors opposite each other on the color wheel, which, when mixed together in equal amounts, produce a neutral color (i.e. blue/orange, yellow/purple, red/green)

Analogous Colors

Those colors situated next to each other on the color wheel.

Shade

A deepened tone of a color achieved by the addition of black. Color Value.

Plane

A flat, two-dimensional surface.

Transition

A gradual change from one thing to another. For example, a transition from light to dark, or a transition from thick line to a thin line.

Palette Knife

A knife with a flexible, spatula shaped blade for applying, scraping and mixing paints.

Vanishing Point

A point on the eye level line, toward which parallel lines are made to recede and meet in perspective drawing.

Portrait

A representation of a person, generally of the face.

Thumbnail Sketch

A small, quick sketch suggesting a larger plan or design.

Highlight

A spot or arena in a drawing or painting which is of the very lightest value

Linear Perspective

A technique of creating the illusion of depth on a flat surface. All parallel lines receding into the distance are drawn to converge at one or more vanishing points on the horizon line. In one point linear perspective receding lines converge to one vanishing point.

Wash

A thin covering of water or watery paint over a surface.

Tint

A tone of color resulting from the addition of white to a basic hue. Color Value.

One Point Perspective

A way to show three dimensional objects on a two dimensional surface, using one vanishing point. One object faces the viewer; the lines defining other objects in the artwork recede at an angle to a single vanishing point on the horizon line.

Two Point Perspective

A way to show three dimensional objects on a two dimensional surface, using two vanishing points and two sets of converging lines to represent forms. These forms are seen from an angle and have two receding sides. Two dimensions appear to recede: width and depth

Contour

An outline or border creating the illusion of mass in space.

Point of View

Angle from which the viewer see an object. The shapes and forms a viewer sees depend on his/her point of view.

2D

Having height and width.

3D

Having height, width and depth.

Monochromatic

Having only one color.

Converging Lines

In perspective, lines that represent the parallel edges of an object are drawn to converge to a vanishing point.

Horizon Line

Point at which earth and sky meet.

Scale

Relative dimensions without difference in proportion of parts, especially proportion in dimensions between a drawing, map, or model and the original thing represented.

Architecture

The art and science of designing and constructing buildings.

Composition

The art of combining the parts of a work to produce a harmonious whole. The way in which areas of a drawing or painting relate to each other.

Shape

a two-dimensional area that is defined in some way; while a form has depth, a shape has only height and width; shapes are either geometric or organic.

Temperature

colors are referred to as being "warm" and "cool". Reds, oranges, and yellows are generally classed as warm, whereas blues, greens, and violets are classed as cool.

Line

the path of a moving point through space; although lines can vary in appearance (different lengths, widths, textures, directions, and degree of curve), they are considered one-dimensional and are measured by length; line is used by an artist to control the viewer's eye movement; there are four kinds of lines: vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and organic

Foreshortening

to reduce or distort (parts of a represented object that are not parallel to the picture plane) in order to convey the illusion of three-dimensional space.

Emphasis

used by artists to create dominance and focus in their work; emphasis places attention on areas or objects in a work of art.

Pattern

uses the art elements in planned or random repetitions to enhance surfaces of paintings or sculptures.

Movement

visual movement is used by artists to direct viewers through their work, often to focal areas; movement creates a flow of your eye through the work.

Unity

visually, unity is one of the most important aspects of well-designed art and is planned by the artist; unity provides the cohesive quality that makes an artwork feel complete and finished.