Language of Creativity: Art Vocabulary
Art Vocabulary Builder
Art vocabulary refers to the specific words and terms used in the field of art and art criticism. These terms are often used to describe specific art movements, styles, techniques, and mediums, as well as the elements and principles of art. Some examples of art vocabulary include words like “abstraction,” “composition,” “impressionism,” “oil paint,” “perspective,” “sculpture,” and “still life.” Additionally, there are many specialized terms used to describe different types of art, such as “calligraphy” for handwriting, “chiaroscuro” for the use of light and dark in a painting and “kolam” for a traditional Indian folk art, “mosaic” for an art form that use small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials to create a picture or design.
Here are a few ways to improve your art vocabulary:
Study art history: Learning about different art movements and styles will help you understand the context and meaning behind different artworks, and give you a better understanding of the language used to describe them.
Learn the elements and principles of art: Understanding the basic building blocks of art, such as line, shape, color, and texture, will help you better understand and describe the visual elements in an artwork.
Look at art in person: Visiting art museums, galleries, and exhibitions can give you the opportunity to see a wide variety of artworks and styles up close. This will help you understand the different techniques, mediums, and styles used by artists, and give you a better understanding of the language used to describe them.
Practice art yourself: Creating your own artwork can help you understand the technical terms used in art, and give you a deeper understanding of the process of creating art.
Read art criticism and reviews: Reading articles and reviews written by art critics can help you understand the language and concepts used to analyze and discuss art.
Join a study group or take a class: Joining a study group or taking a class on art history or art appreciation can give you the opportunity to discuss art with others and learn from experts in the field.
Use online resources: There are many online resources such as art dictionaries, websites, and apps that can help you learn and understand art-related vocabulary and concepts.
- Abstraction – an art movement that emphasizes non-representational forms and shapes
- Action painting – an art movement that emphasizes the act of painting itself
- Aesthetic – relating to the study of beauty and taste in art
- Alap – the opening section of a classical Indian music performance
- Alpana – a traditional Indian folk art of floor decoration using rice flour and other natural materials
- Art nouveau – an art movement that emphasizes organic forms and curves
- Assemblage – an art form that uses found objects to create a sculpture
- Baroque – an art movement that emphasizes grandeur, ornateness and drama
- Batik – a traditional Indian textile printing technique using wax and dye
- Bauhaus – a school of art and design that emphasized functionalism and simplicity
- Baul – a traditional Indian folk music and spiritual movement
- Chalk pastel – a type of drawing material made from pigments mixed with chalk
- Channapatna – a town in Karnataka, India, known for its traditional lacquerware toys
- Chiaroscuro – the use of light and dark to create a sense of depth and volume in a painting
- Chitrakala – the Indian art of painting, particularly painting on paper
- Chola bronzes – a type of Indian bronze sculpture produced during the Chola dynasty
- Collage – an art form that uses cut or pasted paper or other materials to create a picture
- Collagraph – a printmaking technique that uses materials such as textiles, sand or found objects to create a textured surface
- Composition – the arrangement of visual elements in an artwork
- Cubism – an art movement that emphasizes the fragmentation of forms
- Deconstructionism – an art movement that emphasizes breaking down the elements of an artwork
- Dhol – a traditional Indian double-headed drum
- Dholak – a traditional Indian double-headed drum
- Dhrupad – a classical Indian vocal music genre
- Dhun – a traditional Indian melody
- Dimension – the quality of having length, width, and depth
- Dokra – a traditional Indian metal casting technique using the lost-wax process
- Emphasis – the effect of drawing attention to a particular area or element in an artwork
- Expressionism – an art movement that emphasizes the emotional content of an artwork
- Fauvism – an art movement that emphasizes bold, bright colors
- Figurative – art that represents recognizable objects or figures
- Flute – a traditional Indian wind instrument
- Form – the three-dimensional aspect of an artwork
- Fresco – a painting technique that uses water and pigments on wet plaster
- Gesture – the movement of a figure or object in an artwork
- Ghatam – a traditional Indian clay pot drum
- Ghazal – a classical Indian form of poetry and music
- Gond art – a traditional Indian tribal art form known for its vibrant colors and bold patterns
- Harmonium – a traditional Indian keyboard instrument
- Impressionism – an art movement that emphasizes the effects of light and color
- Installation – a type of art that involves the physical arrangement of objects in a space
- Jadau – a traditional Indian Jewelry making technique, where gold is melted and poured into small molds and then handcrafted
- Jaltarang – a traditional Indian percussion instrument
- Jugalbandi – a musical duet performance in Indian classical music
- Kalamkari – a traditional Indian art of hand-painting or block-printing on cloth, using natural dyes
- Kalighat painting – a traditional Indian painting style known for its bold lines and bright colors
- Kanjira – a traditional Indian frame drum
- Kantha Embroidery – a traditional Indian embroidery technique from West Bengal, India, known for its intricate designs
- Kathak – a traditional Indian dance form
- Khayal – a classical Indian vocal music genre
- Khol – a traditional Indian drum
- Kinetic – art that involves movement or motion
- Kirtan – a devotional music and singing practice in Hinduism and Sikhism
- Lezim – a traditional Indian percussion instrument
- Line – the visual path that connects two points in an artwork
- Madhubani – a traditional Indian folk painting from the state of Bihar
- Medium – the materials used to create an artwork
- Meenakari – a traditional Indian enameling technique, where designs are painted on the surface of metal ornaments
- Minimalism – an art movement that emphasizes simplicity and minimal forms
- Mix Media – art created by combining different mediums together
- Mohiniyattam – a traditional Indian dance form from the state of Kerala
- Movement – the way the eye travels through an artwork
- Mridangam – a traditional Indian double-headed drum
- Muga silk – traditional silk from Assam, India, known for its natural golden color and durability.
- Mughal miniature painting – a traditional Indian miniature painting style that developed under the Mughal Empire
- Nakashi – a traditional Indian art form of painting on glass and mirrors
- Nattuvangam – a traditional Indian percussion instrument used in Bharatanatyam
- Non-Objective – art that is not based on the representation of objects or figures
- Oil paint – a type of paint made from pigments suspended in oil
- Op Art – an art movement that emphasizes optical effects
- Pakhawaj – a traditional Indian percussion instrument
- Pattachitra – a traditional Indian painting style from Odisha, India, known for its depiction of mythological stories
- Perspective – the technique of representing three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface
- Phad painting – a traditional Indian painting style from the state of Rajasthan
- Photorealism – an art movement that emphasizes the accurate representation of reality
- Pichhwai – a traditional Indian art form of painting on cloth, depicting scenes from the life of Lord Krishna
- Pop Art – an art movement that emphasizes popular culture and consumerism
- Proportion – the relationship of one part of an artwork to another or to the whole
- Pungi – a traditional Indian wind instrument
- Raas – a traditional Indian dance form
- Raga – a melodic framework used in Indian classical music
- Rangoli – a traditional Indian folk art of floor decoration using colored powder
- Realism – an art movement that emphasizes the accurate representation
- Representational – art that depicts recognizable objects or figures
- Santoor – a traditional Indian string instrument
- Sarangi – a traditional Indian string instrument
- Sarod – a traditional Indian string instrument
- Saura painting – a traditional Indian painting style from the state of Odisha
- Sculpture – a three-dimensional artwork made from materials such as stone, metal, or wood
- Shape – the two-dimensional area defined by an object or figure in an artwork
- Shehnai – a traditional Indian wind instrument
- Sitar – a traditional Indian string instrument
- Still life – a type of artwork that depicts inanimate objects
- Surrealism – an art movement that emphasizes the subconscious and the irrational
- Sursingar – a traditional Indian string instrument
- Symbolism – an art movement that uses symbols to express ideas or emotions
- Tabla – a traditional Indian percussion instrument
- Tabla Tarang – a set of tabla drums
- Tambura – a traditional Indian string instrument.
- Tarkashi – a traditional Indian art form of filigree work, where thin silver or gold wires are twisted and bent to form intricate patterns
- Tenebrism – a style of painting that emphasizes the use of strong contrasts of light and dark
- Texture – the surface quality of an artwork, such as rough or smooth
- Thanjavur painting – a traditional Indian painting style from the city of Thanjavur
- Theme – the central idea or subject matter in an artwork
- Thumri – a classical Indian vocal music genre
- Tint – a color made by adding white to a hue
- Tone – the degree of lightness or darkness in a color
- Topography – the study of the surface features of an area
- Ukiyo-e – a type of Japanese woodblock print
- Unity – the sense of wholeness in an artwork
- Value – the degree of lightness or darkness in a color or tone
- Vanishing point – the point on the horizon line where parallel lines appear to converge
- Veena – a traditional Indian string instrument
- Warli painting – a traditional Indian painting style from the Warli tribe of Maharashtra
- Watercolor – a type of paint made from pigments suspended in water
- Woodcut – a type of printmaking made by carving into a block of wood
- Wooden temple art – a traditional Indian art form of wooden sculptures, carvings and architecture found in temples
- Xenography – the study of the writing systems and scripts of other cultures
- Yakshagana – a traditional Indian theater and dance form from the state of Karnataka
- Yarn painting – a type of Mexican folk art that uses yarn to create images
- Zardozi – a traditional Indian art of embroidery using gold and silver thread
- Zen garden – a type of Japanese garden that emphasizes simplicity and minimalism
- Zentangle – a form of meditative drawing that creates repetitive patterns
Whether you’re a student preparing for exams, a professional looking to advance your career, or simply someone looking to improve your communication skills and cognitive function, expanding your vocabulary can have a powerful impact on your life. So why not start today, and unlock the power of vocabulary for yourself?
We also have live online classes where we teach 2 courses which are given below. Please go through them and if interested you can take a Free Trial Class.
