Vocabulary

Design: A planned arrangement of visual elements to construct an organized visual pattern.

Line: a mark left by a dot or point moving over a surface. It is often an outline or contour, showing the edge of an object, or figure. They can be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, long, short, straight, curved, thick, thin, solid, dashed, blurred, uneven, sharp-edged and can create patterns.

Contour: A line used to follow the edges of forms and thus describe their outlines.

Shape: An enclosed space defined by line, color, value, or texture. Circles, squares, and triangles are three basic shapes.

Form: When referring to objects, it is the shape and structure of that object. When referring to two-dimensional artworks, it is the visual aspect of composition, structure, and the work as a whole.

Horizon line: The farthest point we can see where the delineation between the sky and ground becomes distinct. The line on the picture plane that indicates the extent of illusionistic space and on which are located the vanishing points. 

Plane: A plane in art and design refers to a flat, two-dimensional surface area within a composition. In three-dimensional forms, such as in sculpture or 3D modeling, a plane is one of the various flat surfaces that define the shape and volume of the object. Planes are essential for depicting the way light and shadow interact with a form, thereby contributing to the perception of depth, perspective, and three-dimensionality in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional works.

Focal point: A compositional device emphasizing a certain area or object to draw attention to the piece and to encourage closer scrutiny of the work. 

Value: refers to the degrees of light to dark white being the lightest value and black the darkest. The term, lighting refers to the degrees of value being created by one or more particular light source such as the sun or a lamp.

Color: the phenomenon of light which creates the visible spectrum helping us to distinguish one form from another. Color has hue, value, saturation (intensity).

Hue: the characteristic quality of a color that separates it from others, i.e. red, blue, etc.

Saturation: the quality or degree of the color content or chroma from low intensity (neutral) to high intensity.

Primary colors: these 3 colors are the base colors for every other color on the color wheel. Cannot mix any other colors to achieve these colors. (blue, red and yellow).

Contrast: Refers to the differences in values, colors, textures, shapes and other elements. Contrast can add interest to the work. Black and white creates the highest value of contrast. is the use of several elements of design to hold the viewer’s attention and to guide the viewer’s eye through the artwork.

Space: In two-dimensional art, space refers to the illusion of depth or three-dimensionality on a flat surface. This concept is achieved through the use of various techniques such as perspective, shading, and the placement of objects within the composition to suggest depth and distance.

In three-dimensional art, space involves the actual area that the art occupies. For instance, in sculpture or installation art, space becomes an integral part of the artwork, with the viewer’s interaction with the space around the piece contributing to the overall experience and interpretation of the work. In performance art, space is not just the physical location, but also the conceptual and emotional environment created by the performance.

Negative Space: Negative space refers to the area that surrounds and defines the positive shape or form in an artwork. It is often described as the background or the empty space, but it plays a crucial role in balancing and emphasizing the main subjects. Negative space can be thought of as the ‘ground’ or ‘void’ that contrasts with the ‘figure’ or positive elements. In effective compositions, negative space is not merely an absence, but an active component that contributes to the overall visual balance, creating a sense of harmony, context, and sometimes, a thematic or symbolic meaning. This concept is fundamental in all forms of visual art, from painting and drawing to graphic design and photography, where the interplay between positive and negative spaces can dramatically impact the artwork’s aesthetic and narrative qualities.

Positive Space: In art, positive space refers to the areas occupied by the main subjects or forms in a composition. These are the focal elements that initially attract the viewer’s attention. The concept emphasizes the subject’s visual importance and presence within the artwork. Positive space is often contrasted with negative space, which surrounds and defines it, in terms like figure/ground or foreground/background. This interplay is crucial for creating balance and conveying the artwork’s narrative and emotional impact.

Ambiguous Space: In art, ambiguous space refers to an area in a composition that defies clear categorization as either positive or negative space. This type of space blurs the conventional boundaries, embodying characteristics of both, and often changes in perception depending on the viewer’s perspective. Ambiguous space challenges the viewer’s visual interpretation, creating a dynamic and often intriguing experience. It encourages a deeper engagement with the artwork, as the interpretation of space and form can shift, offering multiple readings or meanings. This concept is frequently used to add depth, complexity, and a sense of mystery to a composition, playing with the viewer’s perception and understanding of space within the artwork.

Linear Perspective: Linear perspective is an artistic technique used to create the illusion of depth and three-dimensionality on a flat surface. It involves drawing objects in such a way that they appear to recede in space and converge at a single point, known as the vanishing point, on the viewer’s horizon line. This technique relies on the use of straight lines and geometric rules to depict the relative size, shape, and position of objects, making them appear smaller as they get further away, thus mimicking the way the human eye perceives distance. Linear perspective, first developed during the Renaissance, is fundamental in creating realistic scenes and landscapes in two-dimensional art, allowing artists to accurately represent spatial relationships in their work.

• One-point perspective A system of spatial illusion in two dimensional surface based on the convergence of parallel lines to a common vanishing point usually on the horizon.
• Two-point perspective A scene that is viewed through an angle, with no objects parallel to the picture plane and with edges receding on two vanishing points on the horizon line.
• Three-point perspective A scene that is viewed through an angle, with no objects parallel to the picture plane and with edges receding on three vanishing points, two on the horizon line and one above or below the horizon.
• Vanishing point In linear perspective, the point at which parallel lines appear to converge on the horizon line. Depending on the view there may be more than one vanishing point.

Aerial perspective The perception of less distinct contours and value contrasts as forms recede into the background. Colors appear to be washed out in the distance or take on the color of the atmosphere. Also called atmospheric perspective.

Texture: The surface quality of objects that appeals to the tactile (physical) sense. 

Pattern: In art and design, a pattern refers to the repeated arrangement of a visual element or motif in a consistent, predictable sequence. This repetition can occur in various forms, such as shapes, lines, colors, or textures, and is often used to create visual interest, rhythm, and harmony within a composition. Patterns can be simple or complex, and they can convey a sense of order and structure, or, when varied slightly, can introduce dynamism and movement. Patterns are not limited to surface decoration; they can also imply underlying structural principles in both natural and man-made forms, playing a significant role in the perception and interpretation of art and design.

Format: In the context of art and design, ‘format’ refers to the specific shape and size of the outer boundaries of a composition. It encompasses the physical dimensions and the aspect ratio (the relationship between width and height) of the artwork. The choice of format is a crucial initial decision for an artist or designer, as it can significantly influence the arrangement and impact of the visual elements within the work. Different formats, such as portrait, landscape, square, or panoramic, can affect the viewer’s perception and interaction with the artwork, guiding the narrative flow and framing the subject matter in unique ways. The format sets the stage for the artwork’s spatial dynamics and overall aesthetic.

Unity:

In art and design, unity is a fundamental principle that refers to the cohesive quality of an artwork, where all its components – including elements like line, shape, color, and texture, as well as design principles like balance, contrast, and rhythm – are harmoniously combined to create a coherent, integrated whole. A work achieves unity when its diverse parts are skillfully balanced and organized, ensuring that no single element overpowers others, but rather, they all contribute to the overall aesthetic and thematic goals of the piece. Unity often evokes a sense of completeness and wholeness in the viewer, and while closely related to harmony, it also encompasses the effective integration of variety and contrast within the composition, enhancing the artwork’s visual and emotional appeal.

Balance: refers to the visual ‘weight’ of a composition that is the result of either a symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial arrangement of the visual elements. 

Rhythm: refers to the relative repetition and/or variation of visual elements that often leads to rhythm, visual interest, and control of the viewers eye direction throughout a composition.

Proportion: refers to the relative scale of one form in relationship to another form.

Composition: The overall arrangement and organization of visual elements on the two-dimensional surface.

Picture Plane: the surface of a drawing or painting.