Art Education: Vocabulary List
Art – creation of beautiful and/or significant things
*Words that are in red are new or expanded
vocabulary as they move up in schools.
**The only exception is the elementary school education list, as all terms will be “new.”
Elementary School Education
Elements of Art
Form – a shape that is given the illusion of 3D
Line – a point moving in space
Shape – a 2D enclosed space; geometric or organic
Form – a shape that is given the illusion of being 3D
Texture – how something feels; how something looks like it feels
Space – the distances or areas around, between, and within components of a piece
Principles of Design
Balance – even distribution of the visual weights within a piece
Pattern – repetition of specific visual elements
Rhythm – suggests movement via repetition of visual elements
Unity – the basic design principles come together to make the piece feel whole; completed through
multiple techniques (ex: repetition, proximity, simplicity, etc.)
Contrast – using opposing elements to break up parts of the work
General Art Terms
Color – refers to hue, value, and chroma; important for understanding emotions in a painting
Primary colors – the three most basic hues; the colors that can be mixed to obtain any other
color; red, blue, and yellow
Secondary – a color resulting from mixing two primary colors (ex: red-orange, yellow-green,
blue-violet)
Tertiary – a color mixed with either two secondary colors or a primary color and secondary color
Form – a shape that is given the illusion of 3D
Size – how big or small the piece is
Symmetry – mirroring portions of an image; identical parts of a whole
Middle School Education
Elements of Art
Form – a shape that is given the illusion of 3D
Line – a point moving in space
Line Quality – the thickness or thinness of a line; used to describe a line’s appearance
Shape – a 2D enclosed space; geometric or organic
Form – a shape that is given the illusion of being 3D
Texture – how something feels; how something looks like it feels
Space – the distances or areas around, between, and within components of a piece
Value – how light or dark something is
Principles of Design
Balance – even distribution of the visual weights within a piece
Proportion – compares the size of an object in relation to other objects in size
Pattern – repetition of specific visual elements
Rhythm – suggests movement via repetition of visual elements
Regular Rhythm – identical elements being repeated with consistent spacing between them
Unity – the basic design principles come together to make the piece feel whole; completed through
multiple techniques (ex: repetition, proximity, simplicity, etc.)
Variety – using elements of art and placing them in various places and ways to create interest
Emphasis – to make an element of a piece more dominant and stand out; highlights importance
Contrast – using opposing elements to break up parts of the work
Art Movements & Artists
Art Movements – cultural movements that caused a change in some aspect of the arts (ex: technique,
symbolism, philosophies, content)
General Art Terms
Color – refers to hue, value, and chroma; important for understanding emotions in a painting
Cool colors – mostly greens, blues, and violets/purples
Warm colors – mostly reds, yellows, and oranges
Neutral colors – mostly browns/tans and greys; can be altered to be warmer or cooler
Primary colors – the three most basic hues; the colors that can be mixed to obtain any other
color; red, blue, and yellow
Secondary – a color resulting from mixing two primary colors (ex: red-orange, yellow-green,
blue-violet)
Tertiary – a color mixed with either two secondary colors or a primary color and secondary color
Form – a shape that is given the illusion of 3D
Perspective – the illusion of 3D on a 2D surface; uses form and distance/space
Movement – how the eye is taken through the piece to focal areas
Size – how big or small the piece is
Composition – organization of elements according to the elements and principles of art
Symmetry – mirroring portions of an image; identical parts of a whole
Asymmetry – lack of symmetry or equality between halves of a design
Exaggeration – altering a piece intensely to communicate feelings and ideas
Medium/Media – the specific material used by an artist; the vehicle used to depict ideas
Subject Matter – topic of interest; primary theme within a work
High School Education
Elements of Art
Form – a shape that is given the illusion of 3D
Line – a point moving in space
Implied Line – lines that aren’t drawn but still guide the viewer’s eyes
Line Quality – the thickness or thinness of a line; used to describe a line’s appearance
Shape – a 2D enclosed space; geometric or organic
Form – a shape that is given the illusion of being 3D
Texture – how something feels; how something looks like it feels
Space – the distances or areas around, between, and within components of a piece
Positive Space – the subject matter; active occupied space
Negative Space – the space around a piece; the passive space; used to set emphasis on positive
space
Value – how light or dark something is
Principles of Design
Balance – even distribution of the visual weights within a piece
Proportion – compares the size of an object in relation to other objects in size
Pattern – repetition of specific visual elements
Rhythm – suggests movement via repetition of visual elements
Regular Rhythm – identical elements being repeated with consistent spacing between them
Alternating Rhythm – created by repeating elements but changing the position, content, or
spacing
Flowing Rhythm – repetition of wavy lines
Progressive Rhythm – a visual rhythm that changes the element each time it’s repeated
Random Rhythm – repetition with no apparent order and no consistent spacing
Regular Rhythm – identical elements being repeated with consistent spacing between them
Unity – the basic design principles come together to make the piece feel whole; completed through
multiple techniques (ex: repetition, proximity, simplicity, etc.)
Variety – using elements of art and placing them in various places and ways to create interest
Emphasis – to make an element of a piece more dominant and stand out; highlights importance
Contrast – using opposing elements to break up parts of the work
Art Movements & Artists
Art Movements – cultural movements that caused a change in some aspect of the arts (ex: technique,
symbolism, philosophies, content)
Surrealism (1920s - 1960s) – movement that wanted to channel the unconscious and/or subconscious
mind; tried to unlock the power of imagination
Salvador Dali
Max Ernst
Man Ray
Impressionism (LATE 1800s) – focused on the visual impression of the moment; emphasis on the shifting
effects of light and color; captured the experience in the moment
Claude Monet
Edouard Manet
Edgar Degas
Realism (1840s) – the beginning of modern art; focused on the everyday life; concerned with how life
was structured
Gustave Courbet
Edouard Manet
Edward Hopper
Abstract Expressionism (1940s) – abstract art that focused on emotional expression; emphasized the
spontaneous actions
Jackson Pollock
Willem de Kooning
General Art Terms
Color – refers to hue, value, and chroma; important for understanding emotions in a painting
Value – how light or dark something is
Hue – refers to the color family (ex: red, blue, yellow, etc.)
Chroma – intensity or purity of a color; saturation
Tint – any pure color that has white added to it
Shade – any pure color that has black added to it
Cool colors – mostly greens, blues, and violets/purples
Warm colors – mostly reds, yellows, and oranges
Neutral colors – mostly browns/tans and greys; can be altered to be warmer or cooler
Primary colors – the three most basic hues; the colors that can be mixed to obtain any other
color; red, blue, and yellow
Secondary – a color resulting from mixing two primary colors (ex: red-orange, yellow-green,
blue-violet)
Tertiary – a color mixed with either two secondary colors or a primary color and secondary color
Form – a shape that is given the illusion of 3D
Perspective – the illusion of 3D on a 2D surface; uses form and distance/space
One-Point Perspective – linear view; uses one point where all lines converge
Two-Point Perspective – relies on atmospheric perspective; converges at two spots on the
horizon
Atmospheric Perspective – illusion of depth moving back into space; goes from close and specific
to far and general
Three-Point Perspective – converges at 3 different vanishing points; aerial
Movement – how the eye is taken through the piece to focal areas
Size – how big or small the piece is
Composition – organization of elements according to the elements and principles of art
Symmetry – mirroring portions of an image; identical parts of a whole
Asymmetry – lack of symmetry or equality between halves of a design
Content – the subject matter within the work; intellectual, psychological, spiritual, narrative, or
aesthetic aspects of a work
Exaggeration – altering a piece intensely to communicate feelings and ideas
Focal Point – the center of interest of a work; the part the eyes are drawn to
Medium/Media – the specific material used by an artist; the vehicle used to depict ideas
Mixed Medium – a combination of at least two mediums used in a single piece
Dry Medium – a medium that is abrasive and deposits particles where contact is made on the
surface (e.g.: pencil, metal point, charcoal, chalk, and crayon)
Wet Medium – any artistic medium that is wet (e.g.: paint, inks); usually takes longer to set up
and clean up
Subject Matter – topic of interest; primary theme within a work