Glossary of Drawing Terms
School of Art and Design,
Endicott College, Fall 2007
Abstract
A term that can be applied to either art that is non-objective relying on impulse and expression rather than
attempting to depict recognizable forms from the exterior world or art that draws its forms from the visible
world but renders them with significant interpretation.
Aesthetics
The study or theory of beauty and of the psychological responses to it; specifically the branch of
philosophy dealing with art, its creative sources, its forms, and its effects.
Blind contour
A contour drawing in which the artist's eye focuses on the object being represented rather than on the
image being created on the drawing surface.
Calligraphy
Fine or beautiful handwriting.
Chiaroscuro
means modeling a form, as in a shaded drawing, in terms of light (clear=chiaro) and dark (obscure=scuro).
As such, chiaroscuro is a generic term and does not describe a particular manner of modeling.
Composition
The arrangement of visual elements such as lines, spaces, tones, and colors in a work of art.
Contour
The perceived edges of any three-dimensional form.
Contour line
In drawing or painting, the line that follows and emphasizes the contours of three-dimensional forms.
Contrapposto
In figurative works meaning the twisted position of a body where the weight appears to rest mainly on one
leg, suggesting a relaxed figure but one in which there is a potential for movement.
Criticism / Critique
The analysis, evaluation, interpretation, and study of works of art. While it is certainly true that disapproving
remarks are sometimes made, it is a common mistake to assume that "criticism" simply means negative
commentary and that to be critical means to be cynical, derogatory and insulting. Constructive criticism
highlights the strengths of the art, and provides encouragement and strategies to the artist for improving
the work.
Cropping
Showing only part of an image, giving enough information that viewers can mentally complete it.
Cross-contour lines
Contour lines that intersect one another at oblique angles.
Cross-hatching
Closely spaces lines that intersect one another and create modulated tonal effects.
Economy
Using only what is needed to create an intended effect, eliminating any elements that might distract
attention from the essence of an idea.
Ellipse
A closed curve having the shape of an elongated circle – visible when true circles are seen from an
oblique angle.
Erasure
A subtractive method used in a working surface.
Expressionist
Art that communicates emotion and feelings.
Eye-level
The imaginary line we "see" when we look straight ahead and from left to right.
Figure
In two-dimensional works of art, the principal form or forms as distinguished from the background. The
human form.
Figure-ground relationship
Relationship of a shape to the material it is imposed upon.
Foreground
In two-dimensional drawings or paintings those forms or figures that appear nearest to the viewer.
Foreshortening
The application of perspective to suggest that a single form protrudes from the the picture plane.
Form
The physical characteristics of an artwork which include line, shape, texture value, and color, in opposition
to intellectual or emotional content.
Genre painting
A representation of everyday life.
Gesture drawing
A drawing technique using rapidly drawn lines to describe and emphasize the essential visual
characteristics of a form or forms.
Gradation
Compositional term referring to the transition from one form to another by changes in value.
Ground
The surface on which a picture is drawn or painted. In two-dimensional works of art those areas that make
up the background.
Hatching
A drawing technique in which parallel lines are placed close together to create tonal areas that model
three-dimensional form.
Highlights
In a drawing or painting those areas that represent the lightest values.
Horizon Line
The distant point at which the sky and ground appear to meet.
Line
A mark whose length is considerably greater than its width.
Mandala
Designs based on a circular diagram having symbolic an dspiritual meaning.
Monochrome
A term used to describe a painting or drawing created in different values of a single color.
Motif
A main element, idea, feature, theme, or subject to be elaborated on or developed, often repetitious.
Negative
Descriptive of areas in a work that appear to be unoccupied or empty, (as in "negative space").
Non-objective
A term referring to art that does not represent or depict any known object; also referenced as nonrepresentational.
Pattern
A repetitive arrangement of certain forms or designs.
Perspective
A system of representing three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface. Forms of perspective
include:
One-point perspective – parallel lines converge at one point on the horizon.
Two-point perspective – parallel lines converge at two points on the horizon.
Multi-point perspective – parallel lines converge at three or more points on the horizon.
Atmospheric perspective – forms in the foreground made clear and sharp and those in the
distance are blurred less distinct.
Empirical perspective – a form of perspective drawing that is guided by direct experience rather
than theory or formula.
Picture plane
The flat surface area of the drawing; sometimes seen as a two-dimensional window looking on to a threedimensional scene.
Realism
The attempt by artists to depict life as it really is, drawing from actual events, with no attempt to disguise
hardships.
Scale
The relative size of an object compared to “normal” or constant size. For example, the scale of a building is
illustrated by the size of a human figure.
Sighting
A means of determining composition through the use of a device that creates a rectangular window.
Still-life
A representation in two-dimensions of inanimate objects.
Tension
Term of composition used to denote strain or pull in the relationship between design elements within a
work.
Texture
Ina work of art, the tactile qualities of a three-dimensional surface or representation of such qualities.
Tone
A term used in art to refer to the lightness or darkness of a color.
Value
The relative darkness or lightness of a color or neutral tone, ranging from black to white.
Vanishing point
In linear perspective the point on the horizon at which parallel lines appear to converge.
Wash
A thin transparent film of ink or watercolor applied to the drawing surface.
Electronic Drawing Terms
Accelerator key
Keystroke or combination of keystrokes that activates a command
Block From AutoCAD, a group of drawing elements gathered into a named mini-drawing;
often has parametric elements
Command
A tool or operation
Component From SketchUp and Revit, a group of drawing elements gathered into a named
mini-drawing; often has parametric elements
Composite drawing A drawing created from combined pieces of other drawing
Context-sensitive menu
A menu accessed by right-clicking on some object, area, or
selection set
Dialog box
A menu which has selections for the user to input
Effects
Export
File format
Filters
Fly-out
Format
Function key
Grid
Grip
Import
Interoperative
Layers
Macro
Mapping
Applying a rater-based image to a vector based object such as a surface, line or
solid
Menu
Modeling – solid
Modeling – sketch
Modeling – Building Information
Options
Photo-realism Rendering a model view using raster-based mappings to achieve a highly
realistic appearance
Pixel A pixel (short for picture element, using the common abbreviation "pix" for "picture") is a
single point in a graphic image
Plug-in
Pull-down menu
Preferences
Radio button
Raster-based graphics
Image construction based on a two-dimensional grid of pixels
Remote back-up
Rendering
Adding color, materials, and typically lighting to a model view
Resolution
Density of pixels per inch (PPI) for an electronic image or dots per inch (DPI) for a
printed image
Rulers
Scaled output
Selection set
Settings
Solid modeling
Tool
Vector-based graphics
Image construction based on a geometrically constructed
drawing elements; scaled drawings
Workflow