GLOSSARY OF TERMS
1. Abstract A type of art executed in lines, shapes, and colors
without reference to the appearance of natural objects.
2. Aesthetic Literally, sensitive to art and beauty, generally
used as a philosophy of beauty.
3. Analogous Colors that appear next to one another on the color
wheel.
4. Architecture The art of designing and planning the construction
of buildings, cities and bridges.
5. Area An enclosed limited flat surface.
6. Assemblage A three-dimensional work of art consisting of many
pieces joined together.
7. Asymmetrical A type of visual balance in which two sides of a
composition are different yet balanced. The two sides are equal without being the same.
8. Background Parts of artwork that appears to be in the distance
or behind the objects in the foreground or the front.
9. Balance A principle of design that describes the arrangement
of parts of an artwork. An artwork
that is balanced seems to have visual weight or interest
in all areas.
10. Bi-symmetrical A kind of balance where the things on each side
of a center line are the same.
11. Block Print Any design cut into a linoleum or wood block for
reproduction purposes. A product of this process.
12. Brayer A small roller used for inking type, plates, or
blocks by hand.
13. Center of Interest The part of an artwork which attracts the viewers
eye.
14. Charcoal A soft drawing material made from charred wood or
vines.
15. Collage A work of art created by gluing bits of paper, fabric,
scrapes, photographs or other material to a flat surface.
16. Complementary Colors that are directly opposite each other on
the color wheel.
17. Composition To create, form or design something by arranging
separate parts to create a whole.
18. Contour A line which shows or describes the edges, ridges,
or outline of a shape or form.
19. Cool Colors Colors often connected with
cool places, things or feelings.
20. Crayon Resist A process in which a drawing is made with wax crayon
covered with a coat of paint.
21. Critique To analyze a work of art in a positive manner.
22. Design The arrangement of elements in a work of art.
23. Elements of Design The visual tools used to create art work. They include
color, form, line, shape, space, subject, and texture.
24. Exhibit A display or show of artwork
25. Focal Point An area of artwork that attracts attention.
26. Foreground The part of an artwork that seems closest to you.
27. Form That which gives or determines the shape of an object.
28. Hue Refers to various kinds of colors as arranged on
the color wheel. Also the name of a color.