Art Terminology

Front

Aesthetic

Back

The appreciation of beauty or art.

Front

Medium

Back

The material or technique used by an artist to create a work of art (e.g., paint, clay, pencil).

Front

Texture

Back

The surface quality or feel of an object, which can be real (tactile) or implied (visual).

Front

Line

Back

A mark made by a pointed tool, often defining shape or form.

Front

Shape

Back

A two-dimensional area with a defined boundary, such as squares or circles.

Front

Form

Back

A three-dimensional shape, such as spheres or cubes.

Front

Color

Back

The hue created by light reflecting off an object, including its saturation and brightness.

Front

Hue

Back

A specific color (e.g., red, blue, yellow).

Front

Contrast

Back

The difference between light and dark areas, or different colors and textures in an artwork.

Front

Balance

Back

The distribution of visual weight in an artwork, which can be symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial.