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direct measurement from front to back or near too far, represented in an artwork by the actual or
apparent distance from bottom to top or front to back. Techniques of perspective are used to create
the illusion of _____ in a two-dimensional painting.
Depth
organized and creative arrangement of the elements of an artwork, including lines, shapes,
textures, spaces, and colors.
Design
using elliptical or rectangular shapes to define the volume or skeletal structure of objects. Drawing the other side without physically seeing the other side to create a transparency of the form as if it were glass.
Diagrammatic drawing
measure of length, with, or depth.
Dimension
part of a design that is most important, most powerful, or has the most influence. A certain
color can be ________, and so can and object, line, shape, or texture.
Dominant
an imaginary horizontal plane at the same height as the average person’s eyes. Also referred to
as the horizon line.
Eye level
a spatial designation used to describe the positive – negative relationship and juxtaposition
of shapes within a composition. Spatially the figure usually takes the forward position and in many
instances the foreground.
Figure-ground
type of art primarily created for the purpose of providing beauty and enjoyment rather than for
commercial use. It is often intended to be uplifting, thought provoking, and life-enhancing.
Fine art
most important part or area in a work of art. All other parts should center around, provide background for, or draw attention to the ___________. It is also called the center of interest.
Focal point
part of a work of art that appears in front. It often represents the bottom portion of the picture plane.
Foreground
technique for producing the illusion of and object’s extension into space by contracting its form.
Foreshortening
the shape and orientation of a picture plane (e.g., rectangular, circular, horizontal, vertical).
Format
irregular, asymmetrical; not formed according to any present rules or standard design.
Free-form
design based on simple shapes such as rectangles, triangles, circles, or straight lines.
Geometric
a spontaneous representation of dominant physical and expressive attitudes of an object.
Gesture drawing
gradual, often subtle change from light to dark, rough to smooth, or from one hue to another.
Gradation
imaginary or real line on which the figures and objects in a painting rest, which forms a base and keeps the figures from appearing to float in space.
Ground line
to center attention on or emphasize through use of color or value. The portion of an object that
receives the greatest amount of direct light, the surface is shine or multiple planes intersect.
Highlight
actual or imaginary line in a work of art representing the point at which water or land seems to end and the sky begins
Horizon line
imaginative expression of objects, feelings, ideas, and experiences in art, depicting both physical and nonphysical things.
Imagery
lines that are not actually drawn, but are seen as psychological visual extensions of an actual
line. The visual extension from one shape to another, line of sight or visual continuation, created by a
person’s gaze in a particular direction
Implied line
way of showing depth and distance in a picture with converging lines. In linear perspective, lines that are parallel get closer together and objects get small in the distance.
Linear perspective
the representation or illusion of an object’s weight, volume, and density
Mass
material an artist uses, such as oil, pen and ink, or chalk; the technique, such as painting, sculpture, or collage, used with these materials.
Medium (plural media)
the area between foreground and background, often represented by the horizontal middle segment of the picture plane.
Middle ground