Arts Abound
Home
Painting
Drawing
Photography
Pottery
Glossary
Painting
Drawing
Photography
Pottery
Galleries
Painting
Drawing
Photography
Pottery
Classes
Painting
Drawing
Photography
Pottery
About Us
Contact Us
Glossary
Galleries
Classes
About Us
Contact Us
Arts Abound
Drawing Terms
[
A
] [
B
] [
C
] [
D
] [
E
] [
F
] [
G
] [
H
] [
I
] [
J
] [
K
] [
L
] [
M
] [
N
] [
O
] [
P
] [
Q
] [
R
] [
S
] [
T
] [
U
] [
V
] [
W
] [
X
] [
Y
] [
Z
]
A
Asymmetry (informal)
Two sides are not the same but still balance each other.
Return to Top
⇑
B
Return to Top
⇑
C
Cast Shadow
A shadow that is cast or thrown by an object or form onto an adjacent or nearby plane. darker than core shadows.
Chiaroscuro
An Italian term meaning, "light-dark", it refers to substantial changes of light in a painting that contribute to creating dramatic mood in a work.
Contour Line
Line that delineates the edges of forms, separating each volume or area from neighboring ones.
Contrast
Juxtaposition of strongly dissimilar elements.
Core of a Shadow
Darkest part of shadow.
Return to Top
⇑
D
Return to Top
⇑
E
Emphasis
Used to draw our attention to an area or areas. Position, contrast, size can be used to create this.
Return to Top
⇑
F
Figure/Ground Relationship (or positive negative shapes)
Figure or positive shape refers to the subject or dominant shapes. The ground or negative shape refers to background areas.
Full Range
Use of values from lightest to darkest in a work.
Return to Top
⇑
G
Gestural Line
Line that shows the movement inherent in the object or figure, usually very fluid looking.
Return to Top
⇑
H
High Contrast
Maximum contrast between light and dark all ten zones of the value scale are used, from white at 0 through gray to black at 10.
High Key
Exclusive use of light or pale values in a work.
Highlight
where the light hits the object portrayed. it will be white of the paper.
Return to Top
⇑
I
Return to Top
⇑
J
Return to Top
⇑
K
Return to Top
⇑
L
Linear Perspective
Based on the fact that parallel lines or edges appear to converge and objects appear smaller as the distance between them and the viewer increases.
Low Key
exclusive use of darkest values in a work.
Return to Top
⇑
M
Return to Top
⇑
N
Return to Top
⇑
O
Overlapping
When one object covers a part of a second object, the first seems to be closer.
Return to Top
⇑
P
Perspective
a means for showing the illusion of 3-dimensional depth on a 2-dimensional surface.
Picture Plane
The surface of a painting or drawing itself.
Placement
Objects that are placed either low or high on the picture plane seem to be closer to the viewer than objects placed closer to the eye level.
Portion
Size relationships of parts to a whole within the composition.
Return to Top
⇑
Q
Return to Top
⇑
R
Reflected Light
Light that bounces up from surrounding surfaces and on the object in areas that are in shadow.
Return to Top
⇑
S
Symmetry (formal) or Bilateral Symmetry
Near of exact matching of left and right sides of a composition.
Return to Top
⇑
T
Return to Top
⇑
U
Return to Top
⇑
V
Value
Transition from light to dark across the surface of the artwork. White is the lightest value, black is the darkest. the value halfway between the two is called middle gray.
Return to Top
⇑
W
Return to Top
⇑
X
Return to Top
⇑
Y
Return to Top
⇑
Z
Return to Top
⇑