Abstract art is based on the natural world but the forms might be simplified, exaggerated, or distorted, the colors might be altered, and the space might be flattened or distorted.
Asymmetrical is a composition that is not the same on opposite sides of a central dividing line.
Background is the part of a picture that seems farthest away from you.
Complementary colors are opposite on the color wheel. There are three sets: blue and orange; yellow and purple; and red and green.
Composition is the way objects and the elements of art are arranged in an artwork.
Content is the message or meaning in an artwork. If the artwork is functional, its content is the function of the object.
Depth is the appearance of distance in a picture. Artists use different techniques, like overlapping shapes, size relationships, placement, detail, color, and lines, to create depth in a picture.
Foreground is the part of the picture that seems closest to you.
Form is an element of art that is three-dimensional (height, depth, and width). For example, a triangle, which is two-dimensional, is a shape, but a pyramid, which is three-dimensional, is a form. It can be actual, like a sculpture, or implied, as in a painting or drawing. Another word for form is mass.
Geometric shapes, such as triangles and circles, are angular or perfectly round, and can be described in mathematical terms.
Identity is how a person sees or thinks of himself or herself. Identity can also be how people represent themselves to others.
Intensity is the brightness or dullness of a color. A color's intensity can be changed by mixing it with its complementary color.
Intermediate colors are created when one primary and one secondary color are mixed. Yellow-green is an example of one of the six intermediate colors.
Landscape is a work of art that shows an outdoor scene. This includes the natural world, like plants and animals, as well as seascapes (views of the sea), and cityscapes (buildings and towns).
Line is a mark drawn by a tool such as a pencil, pen, or paintbrush as it moves across a surface. Lines can also be three-dimensional, like a wire, or implied, like the edge of a shape or a form.
Monochromatic means having only one color.
Narrative is a work of art that tells a story.
Negative space is the area around, inside, and between objects, forms, or shapes.
Neutral colors are black, white, and gray.
Non-objective or Non-representational art is not based on the natural world and does not contain objects that are recognizable. The subject of nonrepresentational art might be color, emotions, or the composition of the work itself.
Organic shapes are rounded and uneven, and often found in nature.
Overlapping is a way artists create the illusion of depth. When one object covers part of another object, the first object looks closer you.
Pattern is created by repeating shapes, colors, or lines.
Perspective is a technique used by artists to create the feeling of depth on a flat surface.
Point of view is the angle from which you see something.
Portrait is a picture of a person. It can be any medium, such as a pencil drawing on paper, a painting on canvas, a sculpture, a photograph, or a collage. A self-portrait is a picture an artist makes of him or herself.
Pose is the way the body is positioned in a portrait.
Positive space is the object, form, figure, or shape in a work of art.
Primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. They are pure colors and can not be created by mixing other colors.
Rhythm refers to a regular repetition of elements of art to produce the look of movement. It is often achieved through the careful placement of repeated shapes, lines, or colors.
Secondary colors are created when two primary colors are mixed together. The three secondary colors are orange, green, and purple.
Setting in an artwork is the time and place where the subject is located or the story takes place.
Shade is any dark value of a color, created by adding black to a color.
Shape is a flat, two-dimensional area that can only be measured by height and width.
Space is a word to describe the illusion of depth on a flat surface.
Still life is a work of art that shows a variety of objects that don't move, like fruit, books, musical instruments, or flowers.
Subject is what you can recognize in an artwork, such as things, places, and people. In a portrait, subject refers to the person shown.
Symbol is an object or thing that has a meaning more than the thing itself; a visual sign for an idea or concept.
Symmetrical is a composition that is the same or nearly the same on opposite sides of a central dividing line.
Texture is how a thing feels on its surface. It can be actual surface texture or it can be implied.
Tint is any light value of a color, created by adding white to a color.
Value is the lightness or darkness of a color. A color's value can be changed by mixing white or black to the color.
Visual Realism is the realistic and natural representation of people, places, and things in a work of art.