Art Terms & Glossary
Abstract art
Non-representational art.
Acid Bath
Acid resistant plastic container used in printmaking for biting into the etching plates.
Acrylics:
A fast drying synthetic paint media made by mixing pigment and acrylic binder with water, forming a permanent clear film when dry.
Airbrush
A method of spraying paints onto a surface using a compressed air tool.
Aquatint
An intaglio method of printing, used for creating variation of tones in the print. Consists of powered resin particles which is dusted onto the surface of the plate and then heated up.
Artist Proof
The first set of prints indicating the artist A’s approval. These prints are often marked as A.P. and is usually intended for the artist's own personal use.
Background
The portion of a picture or scene behind the focal point that appears to be farthest away from the viewer.
Bevel
In printmaking: The edge of metal plate.
Binary colors
Colors made by the mixing two of the primary colours.
Blot
Blotting is to remove paint. It is considered a useful technique when painting with watercolours.
Board
A flat piece of wood such as hardboard or Masonite. Often used as a painting support.
Brush
A tool used by artists to apply paints to a surface.
Burin
A tool used for engraving on a metal plate
Burnisher
A tool with a metal shaft used for polishing the surface of a metal printing plate
Burr
A ridge of metal caused by scratching into the surface of a metal plate when creating a Drypoint (Intaglio printmaking technique)
Canvas
A fabric support for painting
Collage
Created by pasting various materials such as paper, fabric, cloth, etc. onto a surface.
Collagraph
An Intaglio printmaking process where the materials are assembled on a flat base or plate to form a relief block. Can be printed as intaglio or relief print.
Colour Wheel:
A tool used by artist to see the relationships different colours have with each other.
Complementary colours:
The colours that are placed directly opposite each other on the colour wheel.E.g. green and red).
When complementary colours are mixed together they produce a neutral or brown colour.
Dry brush
Applying dry paints over a surface, leaving an area of broken color
Drypoint
An intaglio printmaking process where the artist scratches directly on a metal plate with a sharp tool and does not involve any use of acid.
Easel
A stand or structure that support and display a painting surface like a canvas or a board.
Edition:
The number of impressions made from a printing plate and authorised by the artist.
Etching
An intaglio printmaking technique where lines are incised in a metal plate with acid
Etching Needle
Needle used to scratch and draw through an etching ground on a plate that will be etched
Etching Plates
Steel, copper or zink plates used for creating etchings
Extender
Colorless ink substance which causes coloured ink to become more transparent and increases volume
Finger painting
Applied and manipulated paints using fingers instead of painting tools.
Gesso:
An Italian word which means a chalky substance. It is used as as ground to seal a surface prior to applying the paint.
Glaze:
A thin transparent gloss or mat coating applied over a painted surface.
Gouache:
An opaque watercolour medium.
Ground:
In printmaking: A layer on which the paint pigment is applied. The preliminary layer is applied to the support to seal the surface for the applied colour.
Generally: The background in two-dimensional works and the surface onto which paint is applied.
Gum Arabic:
Produced from the sap of the acacia tree and used as a medium for watercolour paints.
Hardground:
An acid resistant coating that can be applied to a heated etching plate and then drawn into with an etching needle
Hue:
A different name for colour.
Impasto:
A technique of applying (pasting) a thick layer of paint or texture in a painting, usually applied with a painting knife or a bristle brush.
Intaglio Printmaking
Drypoint, Mezzotint, Etching and Collagraph printing.
Opposite process of relief. The image is drawn or etched into the surface
Life drawing
To draw the human figure from a live model.
Linen
A woven cloth often used as painting support/canvas.
Linocut
A relief printing technique where the marks are carved into linoleum instead of wood
Linseed oil
An oil used in paints.
Magenta
A reddish purple colour. Also known as hot pink.
Manufacture
To create or fabricate a product or process from raw materials.
Masonite
A registered trademark, manufactured mainly as a board for use in insulation and panelling. Also used as a surface for painting.
Matte
A flat non-glossy finish or surface.
Matrix
A Matrix is a surface or an object upon which an image or design has been created, (also known as plate) and which is then inked in preparation for printing. A wood block, metal plate, stone or linoleum are some of the surfaces which can be used as a matrix.
Medium:
1) The type of material used to create an artwork (oil, acrylic, watercolour, pencil)
2) The medium/liquid added or mixed with paint in order to modify the paint A’s consistency.
Mixed Media
Artworks created by combining different painting and drawing materials and techniques.
Monoprint
A combination of monotype and fixed matrix plate such as etching or woodcut.
Monotype
A one off impression made by applying printing ink to a flat surface and then transferring it to paper.
Neutral
A color not included in the colour wheel and not associated with a hue. Include browns, blacks, greys and whites.
Oil Paint
A slow drying opaque paint made of pigments mixed with oil.
Opaque:
Impenetrable by light so you are not able to see through it.
(Not transparent)
Palette:
A board made of wood, glass, a tile or plastic on which paint is laid out and mixed.
Palette also means the range of colours the artist chooses for the painting.
Pigment:
Is the colouring substance which is used in the manufacturing of paint The pigments are finely ground and then added to a paint medium.
Primary Colours:
Red, yellow and blue; Colours that cannot be produced by mixing other hues.
Primer:
Is a substance that is applied to a surface as a ground in order to provide a seal between the support and the paint.
Proof:
A test-print pulled before the regular edition of the print so the artist can see if any more work needs to be done to the plate.
Relief
A form which stand out from the background
RGB
A system for representing the color spectrum using red, green and blue. Used in computer monitor or television.
Scrim:
Wiping canvas - used for inking and wiping a printmaking plate
Secondary Colours:
Colours created by mixing two primary colours: e.g. orange, green and violet.
Shade:
Colour mixed with black.
Soft Ground
Acid-resistant coating used in printmaking to create a ground so textures can be impressed into the plate.
Tempera:
A painting medium where the pigment are mixed with water or egg yolk. It is usually applied to board or panel.
Tertiary Colours:
Created by combining a primary colour with a secondary colour
Tint:
Colour mixed with white.
Tone:
Colour mixed with grey
Value:
Describes the lightness or darkness of the colour. White is the lightest value and black is the darkest.
Varnish:
A protective cover which is applied over the surface of the painting.
Warm Colours:
These are colours like red, orange and yellow. They are called warm colours because they seem warm and remind us of warm things like the sun, sunshine or fire.
Wash:
A thin or transparent layer of paint which is applied to the painting surface.
Watercolour:
A paints made with pigments dispersed in gum arabic, that uses water as a medium.
Woodcut
A relief technique where the areas around each line are carved out below the surface, leaving any raised areas in the block to be printed.
Non-representational art.
Acid Bath
Acid resistant plastic container used in printmaking for biting into the etching plates.
Acrylics:
A fast drying synthetic paint media made by mixing pigment and acrylic binder with water, forming a permanent clear film when dry.
Airbrush
A method of spraying paints onto a surface using a compressed air tool.
Aquatint
An intaglio method of printing, used for creating variation of tones in the print. Consists of powered resin particles which is dusted onto the surface of the plate and then heated up.
Artist Proof
The first set of prints indicating the artist A’s approval. These prints are often marked as A.P. and is usually intended for the artist's own personal use.
Background
The portion of a picture or scene behind the focal point that appears to be farthest away from the viewer.
Bevel
In printmaking: The edge of metal plate.
Binary colors
Colors made by the mixing two of the primary colours.
Blot
Blotting is to remove paint. It is considered a useful technique when painting with watercolours.
Board
A flat piece of wood such as hardboard or Masonite. Often used as a painting support.
Brush
A tool used by artists to apply paints to a surface.
Burin
A tool used for engraving on a metal plate
Burnisher
A tool with a metal shaft used for polishing the surface of a metal printing plate
Burr
A ridge of metal caused by scratching into the surface of a metal plate when creating a Drypoint (Intaglio printmaking technique)
Canvas
A fabric support for painting
Collage
Created by pasting various materials such as paper, fabric, cloth, etc. onto a surface.
Collagraph
An Intaglio printmaking process where the materials are assembled on a flat base or plate to form a relief block. Can be printed as intaglio or relief print.
Colour Wheel:
A tool used by artist to see the relationships different colours have with each other.
Complementary colours:
The colours that are placed directly opposite each other on the colour wheel.E.g. green and red).
When complementary colours are mixed together they produce a neutral or brown colour.
Dry brush
Applying dry paints over a surface, leaving an area of broken color
Drypoint
An intaglio printmaking process where the artist scratches directly on a metal plate with a sharp tool and does not involve any use of acid.
Easel
A stand or structure that support and display a painting surface like a canvas or a board.
Edition:
The number of impressions made from a printing plate and authorised by the artist.
Etching
An intaglio printmaking technique where lines are incised in a metal plate with acid
Etching Needle
Needle used to scratch and draw through an etching ground on a plate that will be etched
Etching Plates
Steel, copper or zink plates used for creating etchings
Extender
Colorless ink substance which causes coloured ink to become more transparent and increases volume
Finger painting
Applied and manipulated paints using fingers instead of painting tools.
Gesso:
An Italian word which means a chalky substance. It is used as as ground to seal a surface prior to applying the paint.
Glaze:
A thin transparent gloss or mat coating applied over a painted surface.
Gouache:
An opaque watercolour medium.
Ground:
In printmaking: A layer on which the paint pigment is applied. The preliminary layer is applied to the support to seal the surface for the applied colour.
Generally: The background in two-dimensional works and the surface onto which paint is applied.
Gum Arabic:
Produced from the sap of the acacia tree and used as a medium for watercolour paints.
Hardground:
An acid resistant coating that can be applied to a heated etching plate and then drawn into with an etching needle
Hue:
A different name for colour.
Impasto:
A technique of applying (pasting) a thick layer of paint or texture in a painting, usually applied with a painting knife or a bristle brush.
Intaglio Printmaking
Drypoint, Mezzotint, Etching and Collagraph printing.
Opposite process of relief. The image is drawn or etched into the surface
Life drawing
To draw the human figure from a live model.
Linen
A woven cloth often used as painting support/canvas.
Linocut
A relief printing technique where the marks are carved into linoleum instead of wood
Linseed oil
An oil used in paints.
Magenta
A reddish purple colour. Also known as hot pink.
Manufacture
To create or fabricate a product or process from raw materials.
Masonite
A registered trademark, manufactured mainly as a board for use in insulation and panelling. Also used as a surface for painting.
Matte
A flat non-glossy finish or surface.
Matrix
A Matrix is a surface or an object upon which an image or design has been created, (also known as plate) and which is then inked in preparation for printing. A wood block, metal plate, stone or linoleum are some of the surfaces which can be used as a matrix.
Medium:
1) The type of material used to create an artwork (oil, acrylic, watercolour, pencil)
2) The medium/liquid added or mixed with paint in order to modify the paint A’s consistency.
Mixed Media
Artworks created by combining different painting and drawing materials and techniques.
Monoprint
A combination of monotype and fixed matrix plate such as etching or woodcut.
Monotype
A one off impression made by applying printing ink to a flat surface and then transferring it to paper.
Neutral
A color not included in the colour wheel and not associated with a hue. Include browns, blacks, greys and whites.
Oil Paint
A slow drying opaque paint made of pigments mixed with oil.
Opaque:
Impenetrable by light so you are not able to see through it.
(Not transparent)
Palette:
A board made of wood, glass, a tile or plastic on which paint is laid out and mixed.
Palette also means the range of colours the artist chooses for the painting.
Pigment:
Is the colouring substance which is used in the manufacturing of paint The pigments are finely ground and then added to a paint medium.
Primary Colours:
Red, yellow and blue; Colours that cannot be produced by mixing other hues.
Primer:
Is a substance that is applied to a surface as a ground in order to provide a seal between the support and the paint.
Proof:
A test-print pulled before the regular edition of the print so the artist can see if any more work needs to be done to the plate.
Relief
A form which stand out from the background
RGB
A system for representing the color spectrum using red, green and blue. Used in computer monitor or television.
Scrim:
Wiping canvas - used for inking and wiping a printmaking plate
Secondary Colours:
Colours created by mixing two primary colours: e.g. orange, green and violet.
Shade:
Colour mixed with black.
Soft Ground
Acid-resistant coating used in printmaking to create a ground so textures can be impressed into the plate.
Tempera:
A painting medium where the pigment are mixed with water or egg yolk. It is usually applied to board or panel.
Tertiary Colours:
Created by combining a primary colour with a secondary colour
Tint:
Colour mixed with white.
Tone:
Colour mixed with grey
Value:
Describes the lightness or darkness of the colour. White is the lightest value and black is the darkest.
Varnish:
A protective cover which is applied over the surface of the painting.
Warm Colours:
These are colours like red, orange and yellow. They are called warm colours because they seem warm and remind us of warm things like the sun, sunshine or fire.
Wash:
A thin or transparent layer of paint which is applied to the painting surface.
Watercolour:
A paints made with pigments dispersed in gum arabic, that uses water as a medium.
Woodcut
A relief technique where the areas around each line are carved out below the surface, leaving any raised areas in the block to be printed.