Form
referring to visual qualities of: line, shape, color, light, texture, space, mass, volume, and composition.
Line
An attribute of form, line is an element where the length is significantly greater than the width so that the viewer perceives it as only having length. Contour of an image can also be perceived as a line.
Shape
An attribute of form. Two dimensional or flat area defined by the borders of an enclosing outline or contour. Examples of shape are: geometric, biomorphic, closed or open.
Color
include the attributes of hue, value, and saturation.
Hue
wavelengths of electromagnetic energy that the viewer perceives optically as color.
Value
Relative degree of lightness or darkness of a given color and is created by the amount of light reflected from an objects surface. Black and white being the two extremes.
Saturation
Also known as intensity, a color's quality of brightness or dullness. A color with high saturation would appear to be vivid, a color with low saturation would appear muddy.
Texture
the "touch perceived" or tactile quality of a surface, described using words such as smooth, polished, rough, prickly, grainy or oily. Texture is used to describe the surface of the artwork as well as the implied texture of the subject matter.
Space
Space is what contains forms. Space may be actual with artwork like sculptures or it may be implied with artwork like paintings.
Mass
a three dimensional property, solid matter that takes up space. May be illusionistically represented on a two dimensional surface such as in a painting or photograph.
Composition
the organizations or arrangement of forms in a work of art.
Overlapping
Partially covered elements are meant to be seen as located behind those covering them.
Dimunition
In Diminution of scale successively smaller elements are perceived as being progressively farther away than the largest ones.
Vertical Perspective
Vertical perspective stacks elements with the higher ones intended to be perceived as deeper in space.
Atmospheric Perspective
Through atmospheric perspectives, objects in the far distance have less clarity than nearer objects and the sky becomes paler as it approaches the horizon.
Volume
another three dimensional property, volume is enclosed or defined space and may be solid or hollow. May be represented on a two dimensional surface
Orthongonals
the imaginary lines of perspective
Linear Perspective
The rationalization of intuitive perspective that uses mathematical formulas to construct images in which all elements are shaped by or arranged along orthongonals that converge in one or more vanishing points on a horizon line.
Period style
The common traits detectable in works of art and architecture from a particular historical era.
Regional style
Stylistic traits that persist in a geographic region.
Representational styles
are those that describe the appearance of recognizable subject matter in ways that make it seem lifelike.
Realism
Characterizes artists attempts to represent the observable world in a manner that appears to describe its visual appearance accurately.
Naturalism
Characterizes artists attempt to represent the observable world in a manner that appears to describe its visual appearance accurately.
Idealization
strives to create images of physical perfection according to the prevailing values or tastes of a culture.
Illusionism
a highly detailed style that seeks to create a convincing illusion of physical reality by describing its visual appearance meticulously.
Abstract Styles
Consisting of forms and colors that have been simplified, stylized, perfected, distorted, elaborated or otherwise transformed to achieve a desired expressive effect.
Nonrepresentational (or Nonobjective) art
works of art that do not aim to produce recognizable natural imagery.
Expressionism
Refers to styles in which the artist exaggerates aspects of form to draw out the beholder's subjective response or to project the artist's own subjective feelings.
Medium
the material or materials from which a work of art is made.
Graphic Arts
the application of lines and strokes to a 2D surface or support, most often paper. Examples of Graphic art: Drawing, printmaking, cartooning etc.
Photography
Light writing, rendering of optical images on light-sensitive surface, typically recorded by a camera.
Sculputre
3D art that is carved, modeled, cast or assembled. Carved sculptures are created by subtracting media. Common materials include wood, stone, ivory etc. Sculpture is either free standing or in pictorial relief.
Relief Sculpture
Relief Sculpture projects from the background surface of the same piece of material. High-relief sculpture projects far from is background surface, low-relief sculpture is only slightly raised and sunken relief is carved into a surface.
Ephemeral arts
Processions, ceremonies or ritual dances, performance art.
Architecture
3D, highly spatial, functional and closely bound with developments in technology and materials.
Plans
Drawing that depicts a structure's masses and voids. Floor plan.
Sections
Drawing of the interior of a building as if it has been cut vertically from top to bottom.
Isometric drawings
show building form oblique angles either from 'birds-eye-view" or from "Worms-eye-view" which shows in interior structures of a building.
Formal Analysis
process of exploring the visual character that artists bring to their work using the materials and techniques chosen to create them.
Modeling
(aka shading) how painters can simulate the appearance of 3D form
Axis
The implied line which the elements of a picture are organized.
Iconography
Identifies the conventional meaning s associated with forms and figures as bearers of narrative or symbolic content (often specific to a particular time and place.
Allegorical
A symbolic meaning for subject matter in a work of art.
Iconology
Used to identify the conventional meaning associated with forms and figures as bearers of narrative or symbolic content, often specific to a particular time and place. A way to derive meaning from the subject of a work of art.
Still life
Pictures of inanimate objects and fruits or flowers taken out of their natural contexts. (example: painting of a basket of fruit)
Dendrochrononology
The dating of wood based on the patters of the growth rings.
Triptych
A three paneled work of art. (type of polyptych which is a multi-panel work of art)