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Words to help sound and be more intelligent when talking about art
Artastic Adjectives Elements of Art/Design
Globular Colour (hue) Shape Value Line Texture Space
Spiny Saturated Regular/ Irregular Contrasted Flowing Abrasive Positive
Serene Pigmented Geometric Faded Delicate Bulky Negative
Silky Analogous Abstract Blended Simple Angular Ambiguous
Blobby Primary Angular Light Thick Bristly Deep
undefined Secondary Curvilinear Dark Thin Caked Shallow
explosive Tertiary Amorphous Chiaroscuro Indecisive Carved Flat
ethereal Monochromatic Organic Subtle blurred Clean/clear Open
welcoming Achromatic Intense broken Coarse Closed
foreign Complementary emphasized controlled Fine Claustrophobic
textured Split- Bright curved Flat 3D/2D
Evil Complementary Dark diagonal Dense Foreground
euphoric naturalistic Grey freehand Tactile Middle Ground
Mountainous Realistic Shadow horizontal Engraved Background
Monstrous Jarring Highlights interrupted actual Spacious
erratic Unified Depressing geometric bumpy Vast
Delicate Warm Ecstatic meandering corrugated Obscured
Sensual Cool Moody ruled flat Nebulous
Ambiguous Pure Luminous short furry Continuous
unique Muddy Form straight gooey cluttered
expressive Tints thick leathery balanced
soothing Shades Distorted Media thin prickly
calming Dull Stretched (materials) vertical rough
inspiring Dominant Heavy Two-Dimensional wide sandy lighting
decorative Earthy Light Chalk reversed shiny
contemplative Subtle linear coloured pencil Motivated simulated Back lit
passionate Ominous Flattened conte Bold smooth front lit
emotional Ablaze Abstract egg tempera Abrasive soft side lit
mesmerizing bleached Continuous found materials Zig zag sticky top lit
decadent Brash Broken gouache Meandering tacky Indirect light
irrational kitschy ink Receding velvet Reflected light
poetic Bold oil Parallel wet No directional light
expressive Vibrant chalk (soft)pastel Directional Feathery source
awe-striking brash Oil Pastel Tentative Fine Natural
personal bright Oil sticks Forceful Glossy Artificial
meditative calm Pencil (graphite) Organic Grainy Cool
special clear photograph Straight Gritty Blue
Unique cool Dry point etching Subtle Hatched Grey
Moving dull Linoleum Print Light Pleated Warm
Elaborate exciting Mono Print Dark Sandy Yellow
Mysterious garish tempera Scribbly Rigid red
Special grayed charcoal Symmetrical Rough Dim
Captivating multicoloured vine charcoal Asymmetrical Runny Faint
Extraordinary muted watercolour jagged silky Gentle
Graphic pale acrylic Curvy Scraped Gloomy
Monumental polychromed broken Sharp Low
Passionate primary Three- Faint Shiny Minimal
Beautiful saccharine Dimensional Sleek Muted
Elegant secondary bronze Stiff soft
Gorgeous subdued clay (ceramic) Tarnished Clear
Vibrant sweet cardboard Uneven Brilliant
Mystical warm fibers Viscous Bright
Abstract Diluted found materials Velvety Glowing
Original Concentrated marble wet Fiery
Intuitive metal Slick Harsh
Rhythmic mixed media Rubbery Intense
Flowing papier-mâché glossy sharp
Swirling plaster
Dramatic stone
Vibrant wood
Primitive
Strong
 Principles of Art / Design Composition Painting Mood/
Atmosphere
contrast Rhythm Emphasis Balance Empty Bold Strokes Calm
When talking about When talking about When talking about When talking Free impasto Content
Contrast, you are the rhythm in a piece a particular about balance in Flowing Layered Peaceful
looking for two of art, you can use emphasis within a a work of art, you Fragmented translucent Relaxed
parts of the work words that would also work, you are talking are describing Formal glazed tranquil
that are quite apply to the rhythms about the main how the objects, Rigid textured Cheerful
different from each found in music. centre of interest, or shapes or forms Upright sweeping happy
other. focal point in the balance each Confined meticulous joyful
Look for: repeating image other out. There Negative space loose romantic
Look for: opposites shapes, patterns, are many types of positive space Viscous Depressed
in the elements of colours Look for: One main balance that Arrangement Swirling gloomy
design, such as point of interest in artist’s use, Layout Flowing miserable
colour colour (dark Staccato the work. Often the formal balance Structure Dramatic Visible sad
vs. light, warm vs. Regular artist will use (symmetrical Position Blended sombre
cool, Flowing contrast (with design), informal Landscape format smooth tearful
complementary Progressive colour, with the balance portrait format Thick unhappy
colours), shapes Repetition of … background) to (asymmetrical square format thin Aggressive
(geometric vs. Slow emphasize one part design), radial circular (tondo) Bold angry
organic), texture Bouncy of the artwork. balance (balance Diptych (2 works Timid chilling
(rough vs. smooth) in a circle) or side by side) Heavy dark
etc. Pronounced unbalanced. Triptych (3 works Light distressing
Clear side by side) Glazes frightening
Pronounced Strong Look for: an triangular Washes violent
Muted obvious division Horizontal Scumbling energetic
Subtle Directional of the image Vertical dry brush exciting
Extreme movement down the middle Diagonal stippling stimulating
When talking about of the page, either Angled hatching thought-
the directional horizontally or Foreground splattered provoking
movement in a work vertically Background Layered Boring
of art, there doesn’t Symmetrical middle ground flat dull
necessarily need to Asymmetrical Centered Precise lifeless
be a moving figure Informal Asymmetrical refined insipid
in the work. Formal Symmetrical regular
Directional Radial Balanced straight
movement is how Unbalanced Unbalanced systematic
you describe the lopsided Quick
movement of your Overlapping Sketchy
Unity Variety eye as it scans the cluttered Uneven
When talking about When talking about work. A work with a chaotic Irregular
unity, it is often variety in a work, the lot of directional Separate vigorous
when elements are work is often many movement will often Spacious
quite similar across colours, shapes, have diagonal lines,
the painting textures, ideas. This curved lines,
Look for: the entire would be the opposite dramatic changes
artwork has the of a work that has from light to dark.
same or similar, unity. The opposite would
colours, textures, Look for: artwork with be a work with many
shapes etc. many different vertical lines (which
throughout elements, ideas all makes the image
Of colour thrown together look strong and
Of Texture Varied stable) and
Of line Diverse horizontal (which
Of shapes A range of ____ gives the work a
Of forms sense of calm)

Look for: shifting

from dark to light,
lines all point or
moving in a
particular direction,
diagonal lines
Flowing
Quick
Diagonal
Meandering

Some Common Language Mess Ups to Avoid

Simple vs. Simplistic: Simple is the word you are looking for. Simplistic has a connotation that it is TOO simple, that
there is something wrong with it because it is so simple
Use vs. usage: Use is the word you are looking For. You only really use the word usage when talking about how much
data you use on your cell phone in a month 