Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 10.

5
Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 51.2
Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R1 - 16 Pages

Glossary of
Art Terms
Definitions of art-related terms used in Drawspace
Curriculum (updated February 2013)

A Acrylic paints: Water-based, fast-drying artists

paints that are thicker and stronger than tempera or
Abstract: A style of art that may not depict a watercolor paints. Although water is used to dilute
person, place, or thing. In some cases, the subject acrylics, they become water-resistant when dry.
exists in reality but may be unrecognizable in the Acrylics work in much the same way as watercolor
artwork. The subjects of abstract drawings are paints. However, unlike watercolors, acrylics cannot
created with such elements as line, color, value, be rehydrated (i.e., brought back to a liquid) once
form, pattern, and shape. dry.

Abstraction: A movement away from realistic Age progression: The art of rendering individuals
depictions of objects, nature, or living beings. Partial older than they are. Often used in police work, age
abstraction depicts a subject that exists in reality, progression may help update an image of a child
but may be unrecognizable (e.g., using geometric who has been missing for a considerable amount
shapes to render a human face). Complete of time. Although peoples faces change throughout
abstraction employs line, color, form, pattern, their lives in natural and predictable stages, its
and shape to suggest emotion or a non-figurative impossible to accurately determine how an individual
subject. will look at a specific age. For this reason, age
progression and age regression techniques are
Achromatic: Only featuring black, white, or shades generally considered both an art and a science.
of gray (i.e., colorless).
Age regression: The art of rendering individuals
Acid-free: An archival quality, long-lasting paper younger than they are.
product that has had the acid removed from the pulp
in the paper-making process. Ambidextrous: Demonstrating the ability to use
both the left and right hand equally well to perform
Acrylic painting: (noun) An artwork rendered with such tasks as writing, drawing, or playing sports.
acrylic paints. Acrylic paintings look very similar to oil
paintings; however, acrylic paints are considerably Anatomist: An expert in, or a student of anatomy.
more stable than oils, which tend to yellow or
become brittle with age.
Anatomy: The branch of science that studies the
physical structures of living beings.
Acrylic painting: (verb) The process of creating
an acrylic painting.
Anchor: A component of composition in which
a section of a drawing subject appears to extend
outside the edges of a drawing or painting.

ISBN: 978-1-927365-14-4
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
2 Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R1

Angle: The size of the space between two straight Base of a nose: (also called the septum) The part
lines that intersect or meet, usually measured in of the nose between the nostrils that connects the
degrees. nose to the lower face above the upper lip.

Angle line: A line created when two straight lines Basic colors: The six most common colors,
meet or intersect to form an angle(s). Angle lines are including the primary colors (yellow, red, and blue)
used to draw shapes such as squares, rectangles, and the secondary colors (orange, purple, and
and triangles. green.) A box of eight childrens crayons typically
includes the basic colors plus black and brown.
Archaeologist: A person who studies ancient
peoples by finding and documenting the objects Bilateral: Neural responses that occur across the
they left behind. Many archeologists have excellent left and right brain hemispheres.
drawing skills.
Binder: (also called a three-ring binder) A sturdy
Architect: A person who renders building plans folder for organizing hard copies such as reference
and designs. materials, lesson files, printed electronic books, and
small drawings. Small drawings can be sprayed with
Art(work): An artistic creation in any art discipline a fixative and inserted into three-ring, transparent
(e.g. dance, music, theater, writing, or visual arts) by vinyl sheet protectors before they are added to a
an artist who begins with an idea and ends with an binder.
original work of art.
Binding agent: (sometimes referred to as a
Artist: A person who practices one or more art binder) An ingredient in paint that solidifies as it
disciplines (e.g. dance, music, theater, writing, or dries, thereby binding pigment particles together so
visual arts). that the paint adheres to a surface. Binding agents
are also added to powdered mediums such as
ArtSpeak: A fun word used to describe the charcoal so that the particles can be compressed
vocabulary of art. An understanding of art- into solid sticks for sketching and drawing.
related words and terms enhances art curriculum
comprehension. Black: The complete absence of light. In painting,
replicating black requires a mixture of paints that
Asymmetry: An imbalance or lack of equivalence create the darkest possible value. In drawing, soft
(symmetry) between parts of a whole. graphite or charcoal can make a powerful black.

Atmospheric perspective: (also called aerial Blending: The process of gently rubbing a section
perspective) A visual depth of field created by of shading with a blending tool (e.g., paper towel)
various particles in the atmosphere. As an object to evenly distribute the medium over the papers
recedes farther into distant space, it appears to surface.
become lighter in value and its edges seem to
become more blurred. Blending stump: (also called a tortillon, stump,
or blender) A long, thin, cylindrical artists tool that
Avant-garde: The creation and application of new, is pointed at both ends and made of tightly wound
original, or experimental ideas and techniques. paper or felt. Blending stumps are used to blend
charcoal, graphite, and pastel drawings. When the
tips become too dirty or dull to work properly, they
B can be sharpened. Blending stumps are sold in art
supply stores and are available in small to large
Background: (also called distant space) The sizes. Big blending stumps are great for large areas
sections of a drawing or painting that are farthest of shading, and tiny blending stumps work well for
from the viewer. smaller, more detailed sections.

Balance: A stable arrangement of subjects and Blending tool: Any object used by an artist to
values within a drawing composition. blend a medium.

Ball of a nose: The large, central, rounded form of

the lower half of the nose.

ISBN: 978-1-927365-14-4
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
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 Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R1 3

Blind contour drawing: A slightly unconventional Cerebral hemisphere: Either half of the cerebrum
method of contour drawing in which artists look only (left or right.)
at the subject and not at their drawing paper as they
work. By visually following the edges of the subject Cerebrum: The largest part of the human brain,
while drawing, both memory and visual intelligence which is divided into two hemispheres.
are enhanced.
Chalk pastels: A drawing medium available in
Blue: A primary color that represents tranquility, chalk pencil or stick form. Chalk pastels are ideal for
harmony, and peace. Think of a blue sky, a calm blending to create soft, realistic still-life subjects and
ocean, or an iceberg. portraits. The sharp corners and edges of sticks can
be used to draw thin lines and the sides can make
Brain stem: The posterior part of the brain that broad strokes.
connects to the spinal cord and regulates the central
nervous system. Chalk: A drawing medium composed mostly of
calcium carbonate with small amounts of clay and
Bridge of a nose: (also called the nasal bone) silt. Chalk is available in a broad range of natural
The section of a nose where the upper bony part browns and sepias that are ideal for rendering
joins the cartilage. While barely visible on young studies of great masters chalk drawings.
children, the bridge of an adult nose often protrudes
as a noticeable bulge or bump. The contoured Charcoal: A drawing medium made from a burnt
outline of the bridge is most obvious when the nose organic material such as wood. Charcoal comes in
is viewed in profile. various grades and is available in pencil, powder,
and stick form.
Bulls eye: The center of a drawing space. A
composition is weakened when the primary subject Charcoal pencil: A thin, cylindrical wooden casing
is drawn within the bulls eye. filled with compressed charcoal powder.

Burnishing: The process of overlapping layers of Charcoal powder: A powdered form of charcoal
a dry medium (e.g., colored pencils or graphite) to that works well for shading large areas of a drawing
lighten, darken, or blend the colors or values. or preparing a base for drawing with erasers.

Charcoal sticks: A drawing medium made by

C compressing powdered charcoal and a binding
agent into cylindrical or rectangular sticks.
Carbon pencil: A drawing medium that makes
soft, velvety marks that are perfect for sketching.
Chiaroscuro: A drawing and painting technique
that was introduced during the Renaissance in which
Caricature: A type of cartoon, usually based light and dark values are balanced to create the
on an actual person, with the individuals various illusion of a three-dimensional reality.
characteristics and facial features exaggerated for
comic or satirical effect.
Circle: A geometric shape in which all points on the
circumference are an equal distance from the center
Cartoon: A drawing or sketch that is humorous, point.
lighthearted, or satirical.
Circular shape: A shape created when the ends
Cast shadow: A dark section on an object or a of a curved line meet (such as in the letter O).
surface adjacent to a subject that receives little or no Circular shapes are often used to outline the forms
direct light. The values of a cast shadow are darkest of various objects and living beings.
next to the object and gradually lighten as they move
farther away.
Classical drawing: The drawing techniques
invented by ancient Greeks and Romans for creating
Cerebellum: (Latin for small brain) The part of the realistic drawings. Classical drawing was later
brain that controls movement, balance and posture. enhanced by the great masters of the Renaissance.

Cerebral cortex: The wrinkled outer layer of Clay: A naturally occurring material that hardens
the cerebrum that controls functions related to when dried. Clay is mixed with graphite to make
perception, learning, reasoning, and memory. graphite mediums.

ISBN: 978-1-927365-14-4
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
4 Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R1

Clip: A tool usually made of metal thats used to Compound curved line: A curved line that
securely clamp sheets of paper to a drawing board. changes direction to travel in both clockwise and
When artists draw outdoors, clips can prevent their counterclockwise directions (e.g., the letter S).
drawings from falling on the ground or blowing away.
Conservation framing: (preservation framing)
Clockwise: A circular motion that follows the The process of framing an artwork to protect it
direction of the hands of a clock. from long-term deterioration or damage from
environmental pollutants, acid, and light. Special
Cognition: The process by which the brain materials such as museum-quality archival glass are
recognizes and understands information. used in the process of conservation framing.

Collage: An artwork created by affixing a selection Cont crayon: A drawing medium composed of
of objects (e.g., photographs, ribbons, and/or pigments, non-adhesive binders and wax. Cont
colored papers) to paper, board, or canvas. performs like a cross between a chalk pastel and a
childs wax crayon.
Color: The visual qualities of objects based on
individual perceptions of their hues and values. Continuous line: A line that is rendered without
Basic colors include yellow, orange, red, purple, lifting the medium from the drawing surface.
blue, and green.
Contour: The outline or a section of the outline of a
Color wheel: A circular arrangement of colors shape or form.
used to reference primary, secondary, intermediary,
and complementary colors. Contour crosshatching: A classical shading
technique that employs crisscrossing lines to create
Colored pencils: A dry medium created by the illusion of three-dimensional forms.
combining various synthetic or organic pigments with
binding agents and wax. Colored pencils range from Contour drawing: (noun) A drawing comprised
recreational to professional grade depending on of outlines that follow the contours of the edges of
the permanency rating of the pigment, which helps various components of a drawing subject.
determine the quality of the pencils. Colored pencils
are relatively inexpensive, not messy, portable, Contour drawing: (verb) The process of creating
and work equally well for subjects that are soft and a contour drawing.
delicate or bold and bright.
Contour hatching: A classical shading technique
Commercial arts: A diverse range of artistic in which sets of curved hatching lines follow the
careers in which professional artists create artworks outlines, contours, and/or forms of the drawing
and/or typography for the production, manufacture, subject and accentuate the illusion of a three-
processing, promotion, or merchandising of products dimensional reality.
or services.
Contour lines: Real or imaginary lines formed
Commission: An order placed with an artist for an when the shared edges of spaces or forms meet.
original work of art. You can draw everything you can see or imagine
with contour lines.
Complementary colors: A set of two colors that
are directly opposite one another on a color wheel Contrast: The comparison of different ranges of
(e.g., red and green, yellow and purple, and orange values when compared side by side. Contrast is an
and blue). When placed beside one other, these invaluable tool for accentuating various components
colors seem brighter and more vibrant. of composition.

Composite art: The best-known discipline of Cool colors: Blue, green, purple, and mixtures
forensic art in which a sketch artist translates the of any of these three colors with one another or
visual and verbal memories of a crime witness or white or black. Cool colors are usually soothing and
victim into a drawing. calming (e.g., colors that reflect on snow and ice.)

Composition: The arrangement of various parts

of a drawing subject within the borders of a drawing
space.

ISBN: 978-1-927365-14-4
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
 Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R1 5

Copyright: A form of protection that grants artists Distant space: (also called the background) The
the exclusive right to sell, reproduce, or exhibit sections of a drawing or painting that are farthest
their own original artworks. In a country that has away from the viewer.
signed the Berne Union for the Protection of Literary
and Artistic Property (also known as the Berne Divergent thinking: A thought process that
Convention), artists automatically own the copyrights explores various possible scenarios to generate
to their original creations from the moment each is creative concepts.
completed.
Drafting desk: (also called drafting table) An
Cortex: The folded brain matter that makes up the adjustable worktable with a slanted top.
outer layer of the cerebrum and plays a critical role
in consciousness. Drawing: (noun) The image that results from the
application of a medium to a surface. A drawing
Counterclockwise: (also called anticlockwise) A defines an artists choice of subjects from his or her
direction or motion that is opposite to the movement own unique perspective.
of the hands of a clock.
Drawing: (verb) The process of applying a medium
Cranial mass: (also called the cranium) The large to a surface to create an image.
section of the skull at the upper back of the head.
Drawing accessories: Any tools or products that
Cranium: The bones of the skull that cover and enhance an artists drawing experiences.
protect the brain.
Drawing board: An unbendable, portable, smooth
Creativity: The ability to generate unique, surface used to support an artists sketchbook or
original, and functional ideas beyond the familiar or drawing paper.
established.
Drawing paper: Acid-free paper thats designed
Crosshatching: A shading technique in which sets specifically for artists and is available in various
of straight or curved lines overlap or crisscross. weights, colors, textures, and sizes.

Curved contour lines: Lines that follow the Drawing powder: Tiny, loose particles of a dry
contours of a drawing subject and illustrate its three- drawing medium which have been broken down from
dimensional forms. a solid into a powder.

Curved line: A line that curves or bends (e.g., the Drawing space: The area in which a drawing is
letters C and U). Curved lines can be drawn in any rendered within a specific perimeter. It can be the
direction and be any length. shape of a sheet of paper itself or a shape outlined
on paper, such as a square, rectangle, or circle.
Curved-sided shapes: Shapes that are created
with curved lines and have sections where two or Drawing stick: A drawing tool made by
more of the curved lines meet at a point or points compressing and shaping a medium (e.g., cont
(e.g., heart or teardrop shapes). crayon, chalk, or chalk pastels) into a cylindrical or
rectangular chunk.

D Dry media: Non-liquid drawing mediums (e.g.,

colored pencils, graphite, or charcoal).
Diagonal line: A line that is neither vertical nor
horizontal but rather slants at an angle.
Dry mixing: The process of using a dry medium
such as colored pencils to mix two or more different
Diamond shape: A parallelogram in which a colors together to make a new color.
straight line drawn from two opposite points is
perpendicular to a line connecting the second set of
Dry mount: The process of adhering paper artwork
or photographs to a board by using dry adhesive
opposite points.
substances, high heat, and/or a dry mount press.
Diptych: A set of two related works of art (e.g.,
paintings, sculptures, or drawings) that come
Duct tape: (also called duck tape) A strong, flexible,
fabric-backed sticky tape used for a vast range of
together as a single artwork.
artistic, professional, and creative applications.

ISBN: 978-1-927365-14-4
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
6 Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R1

E Facial slope: The slant of a persons face

(excluding the nose) when viewed in profile. The
Ear: The organ for hearing in humans and many angle of the facial slope is measured from the base
animals. of the upper teeth upward to the forehead.

Ear canal: The opening to the inner ear. Feathered line: A series of short lines that appear
to be a single line.
Easel: An artists accessory often made from wood
or metal that can be used to support a canvas when Figurative: The visual depiction of a human body
painting or a sheet of drawing paper attached to a in a drawing or painting.
drawing board when drawing. An easel can be any
Figure: The body of a human being.
size, from a simple tabletop collapsible tripod to a
large, floor-to-ceiling studio type with a large base. Fixative spray: An aerosol liquid that is lightly
sprayed on artworks to adhere a medium to paper
Egg tempera: A water-based paint made with an and lessen the likelihood of smudging.
egg yolk binder.
Focal point: (also called center of interest or
Electroencephalography (EEG): An electrical center of focus) The dominant and/or most striking
brain recording that measures voltage fluctuations
element(s) in an artwork. When there is more than
within the neurons of the brain. EEG recordings are
one focal point in an artwork, they are considered
sometimes used to study creative processing in the
the primary and the secondary focal point(s).
brain.
Folk art: A genre of art that depicts the traditional
Elements of art: The fundamental visual symbols or indigenous lifestyle, customs, culture, and values
found in visual art; including, but not limited to: line,
of a specific society.
shape, form, texture, value, and color.
Foreground: The sections of an artwork closest
Eye: The organ of sight and light sensitivity. to the viewer. Subjects in the foreground are usually
Eyeball: (also called the white of the eye) The rendered with more detail and a greater contrast
entire spherical section of an eye that is safely of values than those in the middle ground or
protected within an opening in the skull (called the background.
orbital socket or orbital cavity.)
Forensic art: Artistic techniques used by police
Eyebrow: An arched group of hairs above the eye. departments and investigative agencies in the
identification, apprehension, and/or conviction of
Eyelashes: Fine hairs that grow from the outer wanted or missing persons.
edges of the upper and lower eyelids.
Foreshortening: A component of perspective
in which objects and living beings appear visually
F distorted when viewed from extreme angles. The
term foreshortening applies to a single object or
Facial expressions: Voluntary and involuntary figure, whereas the term perspective refers to an
movements of facial muscles in response to various entire scene.
emotions.
Form: A component of art that creates the illusion
Facial features: The eyes, nose, and mouth. of a three dimensional space on a two-dimensional
surface, such as paper or canvas. A range of values
Facial guidelines: Proportional guides that and/or colors are used to visually transform shapes
identify the approximate locations of human features into three-dimensional structures.
and ears within specific spaces on an average head.
Fresco: (also called a mural) An artwork painted on
Facial mass: (also called the face or facial area) a thin layer of plaster that covers a wall or ceiling.
The lower frontal section of a human head. Frescoes that date back more than 3,500 years have
been discovered in Greece. The ceiling of the Sistine
Facial muscles: The muscles of a face. Chapel in Rome is also a fresco that was painted by
Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512.

ISBN: 978-1-927365-14-4
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
 Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R1 7

Friable: The extent to which a dry drawing medium Grid: An arrangement of squares of exact sizes
crumbles or breaks. Drawings created with friable proportionately drawn on both a photo and a drawing
mediums are usually sprayed with a fixative to surface.
prevent the medium from eventually falling off the
drawing surface. Gum arabic: A binding agent that is added to
various media to improve the bonding properties of
Frontal lobe: One of the brains four main lobes, their ingredients.
located in front of the central sulcus. It is associated
with such functions as motor cortex (parts of
movement and speech), reasoning, emotions, H
planning, and problem-solving.
Handmade paper: Any type of paper that is made
Functional magnetic resonance imaging without modern technology or machinery.
(fMRI): A scan that measures blood flow and neural
activity in the brain. fMRI scans are the second most Hardcover: A durable type of book cover that is
common tool used to study creativity in the brain, made from a thick and unbendable material.
next to EEG recordings.
Hardness: The numerical rating of H-grade media
(e.g., graphite and charcoal) according to their
G ingredients. Harder mixtures have higher numbers.

Geometric perspective: (also called linear Hatching: A series of lines (called a set) drawn
perspective) A precise drawing technique used to closely together to give the illusion of values.
render a visual depth of field with a horizon line, Depending on the shading effects desired, the
vanishing point(s), and perspective lines. As an individual lines in hatching sets can be far apart or
object appears to recede into distant space, it close together.
becomes progressively smaller until it seems to
Heightening: The technique of applying a light
disappear into a vanishing point.
pigment such as white chalk to a drawing in order to
Gesture sketch: A quickly rendered, simple enhance the illusion of mass, form, and light.
sketch that captures the energy of the past, present,
Hematite: The ingredient in natural red chalk that
or potential movements of living beings.
determines its specific hue.
Golden Mean: (also called the Golden Ratio or Heptagon: A straight-sided shape with seven sides
Divine Ratio) A mathematical formula devised by
and seven angles.
the ancient Greeks and used to create a balanced
composition through the strategic placement of focal Hexagon: A straight-sided shape with six sides and
points. six angles.
Grade: The softness or hardness of the mixture High contrast: Shading that is created by drawing
used in the process of manufacturing drawing the darkest values adjacent to the highlights and
mediums. lightest values.
Graduation: (also called gradient, graduated High Renaissance: (also see Renaissance) The
shading, or graduated values) A continuous, styles and techniques of the early sixteenth-century
seamless progression of values from dark to light or paintings of Florence and Rome characterized by
light to dark. technical mastery and humanistic content.
Graphite: A soft black form of opaque carbon Highlight: A small section of a drawing subject
found in nature that is usually mixed with clay in the that is rendered with white or a very light value to
process of manufacturing various types of drawing identify the brightest area where light bounces off its
tools. surface. Highlights are more pronounced on shiny or
glistening surfaces than dull or matte surfaces.
Green: A soothing, nurturing, and calming
secondary color that is made by mixing yellow and History: A past record of the lives and activities of
blue. human beings and their environments.

ISBN: 978-1-927365-14-4
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
8 Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R1

Horizon line: (also called eye level) An imaginary In-home studio: A personal drawing place within
horizontal line that exists at the viewers eye level or adjacent to an artists home. An ideal in-home
and divides their line of vision. Depending on where studio has adequate space for the artist and his or
an artist chooses to render the horizon line, the her art supplies. It can range from a small section
viewers of that artwork perceive their own vantage of a table to a large, fully-equipped professional art
point to be above, below, or on the same plane as studio.
the subject.
Ink: A pigmented, thin liquid that is applied to a
Horizontal line: A geometric object that is at a surface with a brush or pen to write, paint, or draw.
right angle to a vertical line and parallel to a level Inks have been used by artists for hundreds of
surface. years. Most Renaissance pen-and-ink drawings
were rendered with black and/or various shades of
Horizontal: A flat surface or line that is at a right brown, red, and orange. The most popular inks for
angle to vertical lines and is parallel to a level traditional and classical drawing are India, Chinese,
surface. and Bistro.

Hot pressed: A type of paper that is pressed Inner corner of an eye: A small, reddish,
through hot cylinders during the manufacturing triangular or oval-shaped form in the inside corner of
process. Many smooth watercolor papers are hot the eye close to the nose.
pressed.
Intensity: The brightness or dullness of a color.
Hue: Another word for color (e.g., red, purple, or
teal). Interhemispheric: Pertaining to both hemispheres
of the brain (right and left.)

I Intermediary colors: Colors that are created by

combining adjacent primary and secondary colors.
Icon: A visual image or graphic symbol used to
identify information or a specific task. Icons can Iris: The colored circular section of an eyeball
identify sidebars in books or specific functions on surrounding the pupil.
computer screens.

Illustration: An image used to enhance a book or J

publication and/or to help explain textual concepts.
Illustrations are used throughout many books to Juxtaposition: An aspect of composition that
further the readers comprehension of the text. refers to the close placement of elements in order
to compare or contrast their relationships and/or
Illustrative realism: A style of art often used by enhance the message or meaning of the artwork.
commercial artists such as illustrators, designers, Artists can put two or more objects together that
and graphic artists in which realistic subjects are have opposite associations or interpretations (e.g.,
rendered with techniques (e.g., unrealistic outlines, putting something new and shiny beside an object
stylization, and/or distortion) to help the image stand that is old and weathered).
out strongly in digital and printed documents.

Image modification: An artistic technique used

by forensic artists to modify an image. The process
K
can be as simple as adding or removing a beard Key: The overall amount of light and dark values in
or mustache from a photograph of a suspect, or as a drawing.
complicated as drawing an entire face hidden behind
a ski mask using nothing more than a video image Kneaded eraser: A soft, pliable type of eraser
as a reference. used to erase parts of a drawing or to gently pat a
drawing medium to make a lighter value or line.
Impressionism: A style of painting and drawing
originating in France in the late nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries that sought to capture a visual
impression of a subject rather than its objective
reality.

ISBN: 978-1-927365-14-4
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
 Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R1 9

L Low contrast: Shading with a limited range of

values, such as mostly light values or mostly dark
Landscape format: (also called horizontal format) values.
A rectangular shape with its two longer sides on the
Lower eyelid: The fold of skin that protects the
top and bottom (e.g., an outlined drawing space that
lower section of the eyeball. The lower eyelid cannot
is wider than it is high).
move without help from facial muscles around the
Landscape: A drawing or painting depicting an eye.
expanse of natural scenery that includes some
components of land such as trees, mountains, or
beaches. M
Lateral: A strong neural response on either the left Manga: A Japanese word for comic book that refers
or right brain hemisphere. to a popular style of cartooning which originated in
Japan. Manga also refers to reprints of Japanese
Leadpoint: (Also known as metalpoint) An ancient comics that are translated from Japanese into other
drawing tool made of lead or a lead alloy that left languages, including English.
marks on unprepared paper. Leadpoint produced a
beautiful faint line that could be erased. Manikin: (or mannequin) An accurately
proportioned human or animal model that can
Level: The comparison of one horizontal surface or be bent and contorted into various poses. Many
line to another or others. manikins are designed specifically for artists as
references for practicing figurative drawings and
Life drawing: (noun) An artwork created by using establishing accurate human proportions for a
living beings as references rather than objects. specific pose in an artwork.

Life drawing: (verb) The process of drawing from Markers: Drawing and writing tools with a soft tip
a living being rather than a photo or sketch. often made of felt that are filled with colored or black
liquid or ink. Markers are available with tips ranging
Light source: The direction from which a dominant from fine to thick.
light originates. A light source identifies the light and
shadow areas of a drawing subject, allowing artists Master: A term of respect and honor earned by
to know where to add light or dark lines and values accomplished artists with exemplary skills in their
in their artworks. specific discipline.

Line drawing: An artwork created with only Matte: A surface texture that is dull and lusterless.
lines. A line drawing aims to accurately outline the Many fabrics, rocks, and unfinished wood have a
contours of the various shapes and/or forms of a matte texture.
drawing subject.
Mechanical pencil: A drawing tool with an internal
Line of symmetry: A real or imaginary line mechanism that pushes a thin graphite lead placed
dividing an object or drawing space into two equal in a tiny tube upward through the tip.
sections. In a drawing, the outline on one side of the
line of symmetry needs to be a mirror image of the Medium: An art material, such as clay, paint, or
other side. graphite that is used to make art. Almost anything
can be an art medium, from the burnt end of a stick
Line: A visually identifiable path of a point moving to computer software.
in space. Straight, angle, and curved lines can
vary in width, direction, and length, and are used in Mediums: (also called media) More than one
drawings to visually separate and/or define the forms medium.
of a drawing subject.
Metalpoint: A drawing tool popular during the
Lineweight: (also called the weight of a line) The Renaissance that was made from a relatively soft
value and/or width of a line. metal, such as lead, silver, gold, or copper.

Localized: Associated with a specific area of the Middle ground: The sections of an artwork
brain. located in between the foreground and the
background.

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10 Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R1

Mixed lineweight: A single contour line made up Oil paint: (also called oil or oils) A painting medium
of a combination of different lineweights (e.g., thick, that is made by mixing a finely ground adhesive
thin, light, and/or dark). pigment with an oil binder. Oil paint was the primary
painting medium of the High Renaissance and has
Mixed media: An artwork created with two or more continued to dominate painting for the past 500
different mediums. years. Oil-based paints take much longer to dry than
acrylics but offer a greater ease of manipulation, and
Modernism: A style of art that makes a distinctive their colors change very little when dry.
break away from all previous genres.
Oil painting: A work of art created by applying oil
Monochromatic: A drawing or painting rendered paints to a surface such as canvas, heavy linen, or
with a range of values/tints of a single color. board.
Mummy portrait: A painting of a man, woman, Oil pastels: A dry drawing and painting medium
or child that was attached to the face of a burial made by mixing pigments with a very dense oil
mummy. Many date back to the Roman occupation binder. Oil pastels are available in cylindrical and
of Egypt. rectangular sticks covered with a thin paper. Oil
solvents such as turpentine can be brushed over
Mural: A drawing or painting on a wall, ceiling, or an oil pastel drawing to blend the colors for a more
other large surface.
painterly appearance.

One-point perspective: The technique of using

N a single vanishing point to create the illusion of
a straight-on view into distant space. One-point
Negative space: The area, space, or background perspective occurs when a face of an object such as
that visually surrounds or appears behind an object, a cube is closer to the viewer than its sides.
person, or another space.
Opaque: A medium or material through which light
Neural: Relative to, or located in a nerve or the cannot be detected.
nervous system.
Optical illusion: (also called a visual illusion) An
Neuroscience: The scientific study of the human image that differs from objective reality, but, when
bodys nervous system. processed by the subconscious brain, is interpreted
as reality.
Newsprint: An inexpensive paper that is not acid-
free and is generally used for printing newspapers. Orange: A secondary color created with yellow and
Newsprint is not recommended for drawing because red. Orange is energetic, vibrant, and flamboyant.
it is very thin, tears easily, and quickly yellows due to
its acidic content. Orbital socket: (also called the orbital cavity)
The bone cavity of the face that keeps the eyeball
Nose: The organ of smell and the entrance to the protected.
respiratory tract.
Original: An artwork that was created by an
Nostrils: The two openings on the lower section of artist who was the first to bring the work from its
a nose. intellectual conception to its creative conclusion.
There can never be more than one original;
however, reproductions can be made by the artist or
O with the written permission of the artist.
Occipital lobe: One of the brains four main lobes, Oval: (also called an ellipse) An elongated circle.
located at the back of the brain behind the temporal
and parietal lobes. It processes various aspects of Overlapping: A perspective and composition
vision. technique in which subjects are rendered in front
of or behind one another to create the illusion of a
Octagon: An eight-sided shape with eight angles. three-dimensional reality on a flat surface.

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 Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R1 11

Paint: An art medium (e.g., watercolor, oil, or Perspective: (also called geometric or linear
acrylic) made from a mixture of pigment and a thick perspective) A technique comprised of a precise
or thin liquid. Paint is applied to a surface such as series of rules that makes subjects in drawings
paper, fabric, or board with a tool such as a brush, appear to recede into distant space.
palette knife, or fingers.
Perspective lines: Imaginary straight lines that
Painter: A person who paints. extend from the edges of drawing subjects back to a
vanishing point (or points) on the horizon line.
Painting: An artistic composition created by
applying a liquid medium such as paint or ink to a Photorealism: A genre of drawing and painting
surface. based on photographs that are used by the artist as
references to create a highly realistic artwork with
Parallel: Two or more straight lines that slant in photographic qualities.
the exact same direction and can extend to infinity
without ever intersecting. Pigment: The material that is mixed with dry or
liquid mediums to create the colors in a colored
Parallelogram: A four-sided shape with two sets artwork.
of parallel sides that are equal in length and in which
the opposite angles are identical. Plotting and dotting: The process of visually
measuring distances and marking small dots along
Parchment: (also called vellum) An ancient the sides of grid squares or drawing spaces to
drawing or writing surface made from calf, sheep, help artists outline a subject that is proportionately
or goat skin that was widely used before paper was correct.
easily available. Contemporary artists generally
prefer synthetic parchment paper as its much less Pointillism: A method of drawing or painting
expensive and more readily available. with several layers of small colored dots, strokes,
or individual brushstrokes. When viewed from
Parietal lobe: One of the brains four main lobes, a distance, the dots in pointillist paintings and
located behind the central sulcus. It processes such drawings appear to blend together to create
stimuli as pain, pressure, touch, and temperature. the illusion of depth, visual masses, and forms.
Nineteenth-century French impressionistic artists
Pastels: Dry drawing mediums available in either including George Seurat and Paul Signac helped
sticks or pencils that are manufactured by mixing this genre to become a highly respected style of
dry, powdered pigments with binding agents. painting, and more recently, drawing.
Pattern: The visual arrangement of the different Polychromatic: An artwork created with several
values of a drawing subject as represented by lines different colors.
and/or shading.
Portable studio: Drawing or painting materials
Pencil: A broad category of writing and drawing packed into an easily transportable container and
tools that have a medium inside a holder. It wasnt used to create art at locations beyond ones home.
until the end of the nineteenth century that the word
pencil specifically referred to a stick of graphite Portfolio of work: A body of work (i.e., drawings,
encased in a cylindrical piece of wood. paintings, and designs) created by an artist for
self-promotion and/or to supplement applications
Pens: Disposable, refillable, or rechargeable for career advancement opportunities, such as
drawing tools used for commercial art, sketching, educational applications or gallery exhibitions.
and drawing.
Portfolio: A hard-sided case in which artists
Pentagon: A straight-sided shape with five sides transport and store such items as paintings,
and five angles. drawings, sheets of drawing paper, and other
artworks.
Perception: The manner in which you understand
and process sensory information. Portrait format: (also called vertical format) A
rectangular shape with its two shorter sides on the
Perpendicular: A real or imaginary straight line
top and bottom (e.g., an outlined drawing space that
that meets or intersects another straight line to form
is higher than it is wide).
at least one ninety-degree angle.

ISBN: 978-1-927365-14-4
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12 Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R1

Portrait: An artwork depicting a likeness to the Pupil of an eye: The dark circular shape within the
face and sometimes the entire body of a person or iris that constricts or expands under different lighting
animal. conditions.

Positive space: The space in a drawing or Purple: A secondary color that is spiritual,
painting that is occupied by an object or living being. mysterious, exotic, and represents royalty, nobility,
and enlightenment. Some shades of purple that
Post-mortem reconstruction: Artistic feature more red than blue fall into the category of
techniques used by forensic artists to sculpt a model warm colors.
of a three-dimensional head and face based on the
measurements of the skull.

Pouncing: A technique that was most popular

Q
during the Renaissance for transferring the outlines Quill: A pen made from a feather. The hard,
of an image to another surface (e.g., transferring hollow straw of the feather is dipped in ink and then
a drawing on paper to a canvas or wall). First, the scratched across a surface. Quills were a popular
outline of the image is perforated with a series of tiny drawing tool during the Renaissance and were
holes and placed on or taped to the final surface. A usually made from goose, swan, or turkey feathers.
fine powdered medium such as charcoal is sprinkled
or gently rubbed over the image outlines causing
some of the powder to fall through the holes onto
the new surface. The original image is removed to
R
reveal guidelines on the new surface for creating Realism: A style of art in which living beings and
another drawing or painting of the image. objects are represented in an artwork as they appear
in real life without stylization or distortion.
Powdered: A drawing medium such as graphite
that has been ground into a fine powder. Realist: An artist who creates artworks in the style
of realism. A well-known realist is Canadian painter,
Prehistoric: The time period that pre-dates Robert Bateman (b. 1930).
recorded history. Prehistoric humans drew pictures
on many surfaces, including the walls of caves. Realistic sculpture: A three-dimensional art
form that portrays recognizable shapes, objects, or
Prepared paper: A paper coated with a substance people.
that seals, colors, or alters its absorbency and/or
tooth. The surfaces of many drawing papers used Ream: A unit of 500 sheets of paper used to
during the fifteenth century were coated with several calculate a papers weight.
layers of white lead and ground bone that was tinted
with a pigment and then tempered with glue sizing. Rectangle: A parallelogram with four straight sides,
four right angles, and unequal adjacent sides.
Primary colors: Yellow, red, and blue. All
other colors originate from primary colors and no Red chalk: (also called sanguine) A drawing
combinations of other colors can make primary medium made from a combination of clay and
colors. Primary colors are high-intensity and go well hematite or iron. Leonardo da Vinci is thought to
together to create a drawing that looks incredibly be the first artist to use red chalk extensively for
bright. By mixing the primary colors with other colors drawing toward the end of the fifteenth century.
in various combinations, millions of different colors
can be created. Red: A primary color considered to be the warmest
and most energetic color. It is associated with
Primary focal point: The single most important love, energy, and danger (as in a red traffic light or
center of interest or focus in a drawing. For example, warning sign).
in a drawing of an animal, it may be the eyes. The
face itself or an interesting section of the body may Reflected light: A faint light reflected or bounced
then become the secondary focal point. back on an object from nearby surfaces.

Proportion: The relationship in size between two

or more components of an artwork.

ISBN: 978-1-927365-14-4
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
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 Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R1 13

Renaissance: (from the French word for rebirth) Sculptor: An artist who creates sculptures.
A period in European history from the fourteenth A well-known sculptor of the Renaissance was
century to the seventeenth century. The era is Michelangelo (14751564) who created the statue of
defined by great advances in education and David.
intellectual pursuits and great social and political
upheaval. During these centuries, visual art Sculpture: A three-dimensional artwork that is
developed more than at any other time since the made of a material such as wood, bronze, rock, or
beginning of history. Between 1480 and 1527, during marble.
the period known as the High Renaissance, many of
historys most renowned artists created some of the Secondary colors: The colors orange, green,
greatest masterpieces in the history of art. and purple, which are created by mixing two primary
colors together.
Render: The process of making or creating
something. For example, an artist can render a Secondary focal point: One or more centers of
sketch by drawing lines on a sheet of paper. interest in a drawing composition that are significant
but not quite as important as the primary focal point.
Resource files: (also called resources) A
collection of information (such as books, articles, Sepia ink: A thin, brown liquid medium used for
photos, and digital images) used by artists as painting, writing, and/or creating drawings with
references for writing about or creating art. refillable or rechargeable pens.

Right angle: A geometric object that is formed Sepia: The popular brown colors used in various
when two straight perpendicular lines meet at a media. The word sepia (derived from Latin and
ninety-degree angle. Greek words for cuttlefish) was used in the
Renaissance to describe an artists brownish-gray
Romanticism: A genre of art during the late pigment made from the dried ink sacs of cuttlefish
eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries that and squid.
celebrated nature rather than civilization.
Set of lines: A grouping of several lines used to
Rough sketch: A quickly rendered visual notation create shading.
of an image or idea that illustrates the important
elements of a subject using very few details. Rough Set of straight lines: A grouping of two or more
sketches can capture a pose or gesture, establish vertical, horizontal, or diagonal straight lines often
values, suggest proportions, and/or arrange the drawn parallel to one another.
major components of a composition.
Shading map: (also called a value map) A plan
Rough: The surface texture of abrasive, lumpy, or blueprint for adding shading to a drawing. The
irregular, or jagged objects. shapes of various values are identified and lightly
outlined on the drawing paper before the shading is
Rule of thirds: A compositional formula that added.
identifies four ideal locations within a rectangular
drawing space for a focal point. The rule of thirds is Shading: The process of adding values to a
a variation of an old traditional compositional formula drawing to create the illusion of texture, form, and/or
known as the Golden Mean. three-dimensional space.

Shadow: A dark area on an object or living being

S that receives little to no light.

Shape: A two-dimensional geometric object that

Sandpaper block: A block with tear-off sheets can serve as the outline of a three-dimensional
of fine sandpaper used to sharpen the points of
object. For example, a circle is the shape of a
pencils.
sphere.
Score: To cut slightly but not sever. Cardboard or Sharpener: A tool for sharpening pencils. An ideal
matboard should be scored less than halfway into its
sharpener for artists is hand held, made of metal,
total thickness.
and has two openings for regular and oversized
pencils.

ISBN: 978-1-927365-14-4
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14 Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R1

Shiny: A texture that has highlights reflecting off Square: A parallelogram with four straight sides of
its surface. Shiny objects can be glossy or highly equal length and four right angles.
polished, such as the surface of a new coin or
polished brass. Squirkles: Randomly drawn, overlapping curved
lines and shapes that are used to create a shading
Sidebar: A section of text in a document that technique called squirkling.
provides additional information about a topic. Many
instructional art books have sidebars that provide Squirkling: A shading technique in which randomly
readers with definitions of art-related words and drawn, overlapping curved lines and shapes
terms. (squirkles) create values.

Single curved line: (also called a simple curved Sticks: A type of drawing tool in which a medium
line) A curved line that curves in only one direction, is compressed into rectangular or cylindrical sticks.
either clockwise or counterclockwise. Sticks come in various sizes, which make them
highly adaptable for diverse mark-making styles
Sketch: (noun) A simple representation, outline, and techniques. Large sticks are great for large
or drawing that captures the integral aspects of a sketches, and smaller sticks work well for smaller
subject quickly and efficiently. works.

Sketch: (verb) The process of rendering a sketch. Still life: An artwork that depicts representational,
inanimate objects such as fruit, flowers, and/or
Sketchbook: Several sheets of drawing paper that bottles.
are bound together and contained within a soft or
hard cover. Stippling: (also called stipple or stippled) A shading
technique in which a series of dots are arranged in
Skull: The skeletal part of the head made up of the groups to create the illusion of values.
bones of the face and cranium.
Storage portfolio: A hard-sided foldable case in
Smooth: A texture with very few surface features. which artists store drawings and sheets of drawing
A hand run over a smooth surface feels little or no paper to protect them from damage.
unevenness or roughness.
Straight line: A geometric object that provides the
Softcover: A flexible book cover that is usually shortest connection between any two points. Straight
made of paper. lines can be rendered thick or thin, long or short, and
drawn in any direction. They are categorized into
Softness: The numerical rating of B-grade media three basic types: vertical (straight up and down and
according to their ingredients. Softer mixtures have at a right angle to a horizontal line), horizontal (level
higher numbers. and at a right angle to a vertical line), and diagonal
(slanting or sloping at an angle).
Sphere: A perfectly round geometric object (e.g.,
a three-dimensional circle) in which all points on the Straight-sided shape: A geometric object such
surface are equal distance from the center point. as a square, rectangle, or triangle that is created
Balls and globes are examples of spheres. when three or more straight lines connect to form a
shape.
Spinal cord: A cord of nervous tissue that
extends from the bottom of the brain through the Stump: A pointed, solid stick of soft paper or
spinal column, transporting coordination and reflex leather used for blending and shading drawings.
impulses.
Style: An artists individual approach to his or
Spiral line: A curved line that can never meet itself her own art. An artists style is defined by an
to form a shape. It can continue in either a clockwise accumulation of her/his inherent preferences, life
or counterclockwise direction and simply becomes experiences, artistic philosophy, personal goals, and
larger (or smaller) and less (or more) curved the academic background. When an artists personal
longer it gets. style is critiqued and/or examined by others, the
resulting label may focus more on a particular
Spray fixative: A transparent aerosol coating historical period or artistic movement than the artists
that is sprayed onto an artwork to help prevent
true style.
smudging.

ISBN: 978-1-927365-14-4
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
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 Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R1 15

Stylus: (also called leadpoint or metalpoint) A Thumbnail: A preliminary sketch that is typically
thin metal stick used for drawing that was popular smaller than the planned size of the final drawing.
before the invention of pencils. It was typically cast Thumbnails are rendered before an artist begins
with a fine point at one end and a blunter point at a drawing and designed to work through potential
the opposite end to provide artists with the creative problems with composition, values, perspective, or
freedom to vary the width of their lines as they proportions.
worked. A stylus leaves a thin deposit of metal on
the surface of paper producing a very fine line. Silver Tone: (also called value) The degree of lightness or
was very popular with Renaissance artists because darkness of an area in an artwork. Tone varies from
it eventually tarnished and took on a beautiful, the bright white of a light source through shades of
luminous, brown tone. gray to the deepest black shadows.

Subject: Any object or living being that an artist Tooth: The surface texture of paper. Paper with a
chooses to capture in an artwork. smooth tooth is flat with a silky texture; a medium
tooth is uneven with a slightly rough texture; and a
Surrealism: An artistic style and movement that coarse tooth is bumpy with a very rough texture.
began in Europe during the early twentieth century in
which the subjects of artworks are stylized, distorted, Torso: The primary structure of a human body to
or reinvented. which the head, arms, and legs are connected.

Surrealist: An artist who creates artworks in Traditional realist: An artist who prefers to draw
the style of surrealism. One of the most famous subjects as they exist in reality.
surrealists was Salvador Dali (1904-1989).
Trapezoid: A four-sided shape in which only two
Symmetry: An arrangement of lines, shapes, and/ sides are parallel.
or values on opposite sides of an often imaginary
Triangle: A shape with three straight sides and
center line that appear to be duplications or mirror
three angles.
images of one another. Both sides are said to be
symmetrical. Triptych: An artwork consisting of three related
paintings or drawings.

T
Talent: A process of self-discovery throughout
U
which artists acknowledge their interest and Underdrawing: A loosely rendered sketch or
motivation to become exceptional in a specific area. drawing created as a guide for a final artwork.
Technical pens: Drawing tools available in both Unity: A balanced composition in which the various
refillable and pre-filled (disposable) holders that work components of a subject come together to create a
beautifully for creating the sharp, even lines used sense of harmonious integration.
for detailed drawings, drafting, graphic design, and
commercial art. Upper eyelid: A fold of skin that opens and closes
automatically (blinks) to protect the eyeball.
Technique: A well-known method of accomplishing
a particular activity or task (e.g., a specific way to
render shading).
V
Temporal lobe: One of the brains four main
Value map: (also called a shading map) A plan or
lobes, located below the lateral fissure. It processes
blueprint for adding shading to a drawing.
memory and hearing.
Value scale: A range of different values that are
Texture: The surface details of an object that can
drawn in order from light to dark or from dark to light.
be identified by sight, touch, or a general knowledge
of the subject. Values: The various shades of gray in an artwork.
A broad range of values can be achieved by using
various grades of a medium and by varying the
density of the shading lines and the pressure used

ISBN: 978-1-927365-14-4
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
16 Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.R1

when applying the medium to a surface. invigorating (e.g., the colors of fire).

Vanishing point: (also called VP) Imaginary Weight of paper: The thickness of individual
point(s) on the horizon line where perspective lines sheets of paper. Thin paper weighs very little but
converge. is easily torn and damaged. Thick paper is more
durable than thin because it weighs more.
Vertical line: A geometric object that is straight up
and down and at a right angle to a level surface. White of the eye: The large visible section of an
eyeball that is light in value and color but is not really
Viewfinder frame: An adjustable, see-through white.
frame that allows artists to look at a subject from
various viewpoints. A viewfinder frame is invaluable Wings of a nose: The two softly rounded (often
when planning a composition for any type of drawing triangular shaped) forms extending from the sides of
or painting (e.g., portraits, figures, and landscapes). the ball of the nose.
An easily constructed viewfinder frame consists of
two adjustable L-shaped pieces of heavy paper, Wood-encased pencil: (also called a wooden
cardboard, or matboard that are held together with pencil) A drawing or writing tool with a thin cylindrical
paper clips. stick of medium held inside a wooden casing.

Vinyl eraser: A soft white eraser with a plastic Woodless pencil: A thick cylindrical stick of
texture used for erasing sections of drawings. graphite wrapped in a vinyl casing. Woodless pencils
are ideal for large graphite drawings that require
Vision: (1) The sense of sight which enables you to wider strokes than regular pencils can provide.
see objects and living beings. (2) An artists creative When sharpened, they can also make thin lines.
aspirations.

Visual art: Artworks that can be appreciated with

the sense of sight (e.g., drawings, paintings, and
Y
sculptures). Yellow: A primary color that is bright, cheery, and
powerful. It is the color of happiness, sunshine, and
Visual intelligence: (also called spatial
many flowers.
intelligence and seeing as an artist) The ability to
visually interpret and mentally store and retrieve
visual information. Individuals with highly developed
visual intelligence, such as Leonardo da Vinci and
Steven Spielberg for example, are better able to
retain information about what they see and then
transfer these images to a visual art discipline.

Visual perception: The ability to use ones

eyesight to interpret information in ones
surroundings.

Visual-object intelligence: Ones ability to

process the visual properties of an object, such as
texture, shape and color.

Visual-spatial intelligence: Ones ability to

process the ways in which objects are spatially
oriented and relative to one another in space.

W
Warm colors: Yellow, orange, and red, as well
as mixtures of any of these three colors with white
or black or with one other. Warm colors are usually

ISBN: 978-1-927365-14-4
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.