Oil painting -> Oil Paintings Glossary

Paintings Glossary

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abstract: something often based on something from real life, but is represented without realism
acrylic: a plastic, water-based paint that could be use similarily to oils and watercolor
alkyd: a quick-drying oil-based paint
alla prima: an oil painting technique that involves the application of all details of the work in the first layer
aquarelle: a watercolor technique involving translucent colors

background: the area of painting behind the main point of focus
binder: a material that holds together the paint pigments
board: stiff, heavy weight paper
body color: the solid colors that appear unique when compared to the other colors of the painting
bond paper: a smooth-finish paper often used in sketchbooks
bright: a flat paintbrush that consists of still, short bristles
brush pen: a marker with a brush tip

canvas:woven fabric often used in acrylic and oil painting, among others
caricature: a cartoon-like image of a real person
catch light: the "window" of light near the iris of the eye
cartridge paper: low quality drawing paper
charcoal: drawing medium made from carbonized wood
chiaroscuro: technique involving contrasts of lights and darks
chisel brush: flat brush with a wide end that assist in applying a constistant coat of paint
collage: something formed by the cutting and pasting of other images
color wheel: a circular arrangement of colors
complementary colors: colors formed through the mixing of two primary colors, and opposite to the third on a color wheel
conte crayon:different types of charcoal pencil, varying in hardness and color
cross-hatching: a style of shading that consists of intersecting lines

dragging: painting over textured area so the paint only stays on the highest points
brybrushing: painting with slighly moist paint to acheive a certain texture
drying oil: the oil added to oil paints to speed up the drying process

easel: the upright stand for canvases
egg tempera: paint pigments binded with egg yolks
enamel paper: paper with a glossy coating

fan brush: a flat brush whose bristle fan outwards
ferrule: the metal case that holds the bristles of a brush to the handle
filbert brush: a brush whose bristles come to a point at the tip
fixative: a liquid that prevents the smudging of charcoal and graphite
focal point: the part of a painting that stands out the most
foreground: the less significant part of a painting that is in front of the main suject
frottage: a technique that involves placing a piece of paper over a textured surface and rubbing with a pencil

gesso: white fluid made from chalk powder and glue
glaze: a thin, shiny, transparent coat placed over an underpainting
gouache: the use of opaque colors in watercolor painting
graphite: the material found in the lead of a pencil

hair brush: a brush made from animal hair instead of nylon
hatching: shading with parallel lines close to each other
highlight: the part of a paint where the light hits the most
hue: color

impasto: the application paint in thick layers
intensity: brightness of a color

Jamb: The frame in which a door sits and is attached to.

Kickboard: The suspension panel that is below the base cabinets.

landscape: a painting of scenery or orienting the picture so that the horizontal side is longer than the vertical
lay figure: a manikin used in figure drawings
lifting: removing paint by absorbing it, or using a kneaded eraser to remove shading
linseed oil: a drying oil, adds a glossy finish to the paint

masking fluid: a liquid, rubber-like material that is applied on an area to prevent paint from touching that area
medium: refers to the material used in a piece of artwork, or something added to paint to change it characteristics
mineral spirits: a substitute for turpentine
mixed media: use of two or more mediums in one piece
monochrome: a piece of artwork done in one color, often in various shades
muller: object used to grind pigments to make paint

negative space: the area around the paint subject

oil paint: pigment held together with oil
oil pastel: a solid stick of pigment held together by oil and wax
opaque: solid color, not see through
overpainting: the finishing layer of a painting

painting knife: a blunt piece of metal, with a handel, used to apply paint to canvases
palette: the primary colors used by an artist in a painting, or the surface that the paints are mixed on
pastel paper: textured paper, made especially for pastels
pencil: drawing tool made of graphite and wood
pencil hardness: the various tones produce by the lead, ranges from 9H, the hardest and lightest, to 8B, the softest and darkest
pigment: powdered color
pointillism: technique of producing a picture soley ou of dots
portrait: image of the upper body of a person, or the orientation of a painting where the vertical edge is longer than the horizontal
primary colors: red, blue, and yellow
primer: the coating on a surface suitable for painting
putty eraser: kneaded eraser

Quadratura: A technique of illusionistic painting, usually ceiling frescoes that appear to push the confines of the room into imaginary space.

resist: a technique where a surface is convered with a wax or oil based solid, and painted on top

scumbling: applying a layer of paint over another so it appears to blend together
secondary colors: colors made by mixing primary colors: green, #2e8b57 and purple
self-portait: a piece of artwork done by an artist that represents himself/herseld
sepia: a brown, solid medium, much like charcoal
sgaffito: putting scratches in thick paint
shade: dark tones
smuding: a technique used to blend dry mediums in with the color of the paper
still life: any piece of art where the subject is one that does not move on its own
stippling: using dots to produce shades

tertiary colors: colors made by mixing tertiary colors with the secondary color that borders it on the color wheel
tint: lighter variations
tonking: removing oil paints by absorbtion
tooth: the textured surface of paper
tortillion: a device, made of rolled paper, used for blending
transparent: see-through
turpentine: paint thinner

underpainting: a light layer of paint, done before adding tones and actual details.

varnish: a glossy coating to protect paintings

wash: painting with watercolors that have a large water content
watercolor:water based pigments

Yellowing: When a paint or varnish goes yellow over time. Occurs with oil-based finishes.