Art Vocabulary and Glossary Terms

Abstract – Can be non-representational subject matter or a simplification of a representational object. Many abstract artists design with color and shape.

Acrylic – A permanent water-based paint containing polymers.

Art Deco – A style of painting popular in the 1920-30s. Art Deco arrived on the scene during the rise of commerce, technology, and speed. The pieces typically included geometric shapes and intense colors.

Assemblage – Three dimensional collage. Art made from found objects, wood, photos, paper, metal … the list goes on.

Found Object – Not to insult your intelligence, but literally an object that was found by the artist. I am always on the look out when traversing parking lots or walking in the woods for interesting object to include in my art.

Impasto – a thick application of paint providing texture to a surface

Glaze – 1. A thin layer of transparent color. 2. An acrylic product used to make colors more transparent and increase the open, working time.

Impressionist, Impressionistic – An art movement and style of painting originating in France during the 1860s. The impressionists were not so concerned with a realistic representation, but tried to capture the essence of their subject. The effects of light were of great interest to these artists: Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, and Pierre Renoir.

Junque – Directly related to the Found Object, usually found in collections of “stuff” from garage sales, a grandpa’s garage, the re-use it center. Essentially it is anything that the artist finds too precious to toss out.

Medium - The liquid in which pigments are suspended. Also a material chosen by the artist for working. Plural is media.

Sheen – Much like wall paint: Gloss, semi-gloss, satin, or matte. Can refer to the finish of medium, varnish, or paint.

Shrine - “The dictionary talks about a receptacle for sacred relics, or a place considered sacred because of its relationship to a holy person or event. That’s the religious definition. Today, artists create shrines to express many different things, often not religious. They may be political, humorous, or satirical. They can be about family, travel, nature, or just about anything that interests the creator. They may express a strong emotion of the moment – anger or joy. They may contain a message or comment on everyday events, or be concerned with the same themes found in shrines from ancient times: mankind’s relationship to the earth, and the mysteries of life and death.” (excerpt from Carol Owen’s book, Crafting Personal Shrines*.)

Varnish – A protective coating applied to finished oil or acrylic paintings.

Wash – A thin, juicy (aka wet) mixture of water and pigment.

Watercolor – A non permanent water-based paint, usually painted on archival watercolor paper.

*Permission granted by the author.