Art and Painting Vocabulary Words for Artists

Create things with a purpose to beautify is ART, which can be summarized for creation, designing, drawing, painting etc.

Today we are going to talk about vocabulary related to visual art. The elements of visual art include texture, form, space, shape, color, value and line.

We have complied a list of basic art terminology for beginner artists to help them get started for the world of art.

Following are common words related to art along with their definitions.

WORDS MEANING
abstract art Abstract art is more concerned with the expression of the objects through color, texture, shape, form and marks then the actual appearance of the objects.   
acrylics Almost like oils but more durable, quicker to dry and you can paint on any unprimed surface and will not crack over time.
balance An arrangement of parts so that they have equal force.
background The shapes that appear behind the foreground.
baroque Art that was ornately decorated, dynamic and was filled with emotion. 
batik A method of dyeing cloth, where you use wax to repel the dye on parts of the design where you do not wish to use dye
blot When you take an absorbent material to soak up or dry excess paint or water.
brushes Tools used to apply paint and ink to a surface, consisting of hairs, or bristles held in place by a metal ring or cap attached to a handle.
byzantine His art was very religious and mostly created for the Eastern Orthodox Church. 
canvas A prepared cloth surface used for painting. 
caricature An exaggeration or distortion of the subject which makes it comical, satirical, or grotesque. 
collage The technique of building up a picture in two-dimensional form by using newspaper, magazines, wallpaper, and wood. Sometimes drawn or painted sketches where done over a collage background.
color value The color value is the position in reference to the amount of white and black.  
compose To create and arrange the elements of art in an artwork. 
composition The plan, placement or arrangement of the elements of art in a work, usually according to the principles of design. 
contrast Opposites placed next to or near each other in a picture.
cloisonne An object having an enamel coating.
engraving You draw with a steel needle on a metal plate.
emphasis When an artist makes one part of a picture more important than another.
etch To cut into the surface by using chemicals to create a design.
focal point The part of an artwork you look at first. 
foreground The first shapes that appear in front of a picture.
form The shape of an object that has many sides and viewpoints.
freehand Drawn by hand without the aid of tracing or drafting devices
kaolin Fine clay used in ceramics and refractories and as a filler or coating for paper and textiles. 
kinetic Any artwork with parts that move.
lacquer A glossy, resinous material, used as a surface coating. 
landscape Outdoor scenes like city, sea, sky or land.
limited edition The specific amount an artist will print of her artwork

There are different ways to teach Art vocabulary, which is as under:-

  1. Write Them Into Class Objectives.
  2. Make Them Visible. 
  3. Explain both the “Fancy Definition” and the “Teacher Definition”.
  4. Create A Jingle.
  5. Say Them Out Loud.
  6. Use a Cheat Sheet.

Art and Painting are quite significant in every kid’s school life. Through art and painting, children can easily learn to value and appreciate different artwork in cultures and times. They learn to act and think like designers and artists, working intelligently and creatively.

We present you the unique words to describe beautiful art and paintings like astonishing, brilliant, distinctive etc.

75+ Words to Describe Art and Artwork

Following are common adjectives used to describe art and artwork of an artist.

absorbing abstract acclaimed accomplished
adroit aesthetic aesthetically  aggressive
appealing artistic astonishing atmospheric
authentic avant-garde award-winning awe-inspiring

balanced baroque beautiful bold
boundless brilliant candid ceramic
characteristic classic collectible colorful
complementary complex conceptual contemplative

contemporary controversial conversational creative
dazzling decorative deeply thoughtful delicate
dense detailed dimensional disciplined
disruptive distinctive distinguished divine

dreamlike dreamy dynamic eclectic
elevated elevating emergent emerging
emotional emotionally charged enchanted energetic
engaging engrossing enigmatic epochal

ethereal evocative exceptional exotic
explosive expressive extreme fascinating
figural figurative fluid fresh
gorgeous graceful granular imaginative

impassioned impeccable impressionist infused
inspirational inspired instinctive intellectual
intense intensive interesting intuitive
inventive labyrinthine layered lifelike

literal mature meandering mosaic-like
moving mysterious mystical narrative
organic original paradoxical passionate
peaceful personal phenomenal pictorial

playful potent profound provoking
pure radiant realistic refined
refreshing remarkable resourceful revealing
rich saturated sculptural semi-abstract

sensual serene simple skilled
soft spiritual stimulating stunning
sublime substantive supple surreal
symbolic tactile talented tasteful

thought-provoking timeless touching traditional
tranquil unconventional unexpected unforgettable
unique universal unpredictable varied
visionary visual visually stimulating voyeuristic

These words will help you to describe art using the right words and phrases. Everyone can write colorfully about the artwork!

Englishbix will help you in knowing and learning similar words that you can add to your vocabulary list. It will be the best thing as these words are simple to remember and use. 

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