CIA Glossary: Art Terms

What is the term for the visual pulling or straining between points in a composition?

What is the term for the representation of natural forms that deals with artistic ideals or conventions more than observation?

What is the term for the actual and visual feel of surface areas?

What is the term for the feeling of equal weight, attention, or attraction of visual elements within an artwork?

What is the term for the contrast between opposing degrees of lightness or darkness?

What is the effect of blending light and shade on objects to create the illusion of 3D?

What is the term for a shaped used to represent something abstract?

What type of balance is achieved when visual units are placed in different positions within the picture, creating a sense of equilibrium?

What is the primary purpose of a critique in the context of art and design?

What refers to the purity or intensity of a color?

What is the term for the circumstances that create the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed?

What is the term for the organizing of elements of an artwork into a unified whole?

What is the result of individual relationships being unbalanced but still creating a sense of balance within the total structure?

What is the term for the ability to produce well-made objects and images?

What type of balance is achieved when each half of an image is a mirror reflection of the other half?

What is the branch of philosophy dealing with art, its creative sources, its forms, and its effects?

What is the term for the art of criticizing or a critical analysis or evaluation of a subject or work?