Glossary of Art Terms

General Art Methods and Styles

Abstract: Abstract art edits real-life images and uses shapes, colours, and lines to show feelings or ideas instead. It’s about representing things, not depicting them. In a portrait it would only usually be the background that is abstract.

Background - The area of a painting that appears to be furthest from the viewer, behind the subject. It can take as long as the main subject, so may cost more to include.

Blocking in - Roughly establishing the composition and structure of the subject.

Caricature - a portrait that can be a sketch, cartoon or illustrative style that exaggerates and stylises the main features of a subject but still shows a recognisable unique image.

Commission: An art commission is a custom artwork requested and paid for by a buyer

Composition: Composition is just how everything in an artwork is arranged. It’s like the layout—how the artist places things to make the piece look balanced

Contrast: Contrast is the difference between things in art—like light vs. dark or big vs. small. It makes certain parts stand out and helps create drama or focus in the artwork.

Digital art – in the case of PPAUK members this means artwork drawn or created from scratch, using digital art programmes with a stylus that recreates brush or pencil styles.

Expressive – This can refer to a work that is looser, more painterly and interpretive in style.

High Resolution Photograph/HD - An artist will prefer to work from high resolution photos, so they can zoom in and see fine details. If it is low resolution the picture becomes blurred very quickly. HD images are photos with a higher concentrations of pixels or dots, resulting in better clarity. Photos copied from facebook will be Low Resolution. A photo taken by your own smart phone or digital camera will be High Resolution.

Impasto – a method of painting with thick paint, or over a textured base, giving a highly textural finish.

Medium/Media – the type of mark-making equipment and product used by the artist, e.g. watercolour or charcoal. Mixed media work is when several products are used within a piece.

Opaque - Paints through which light cannot pass, therefore hiding the underlayers or paper.

Painterly - Referring to the application of paint in a 'loose' or less than controlled manner.

Palette – Either the surface on which an artist mixes colours or used to describe the range of colours used within a painting.

Perspective: Perspective makes things in art look like they’re going back in space, creating a 3D effect on a flat surface.

Portrait - Any art where facial features are the primary subject. Also used to describe vertical orientation rather than horizontal, or landscape, format.

Profile - A side view, normally of a head.

Proportion - Proportion is all about the size relationships between different parts of an artwork. It’s making sure things look just right so everything feels balanced and in harmony!

Realism – As suggested it is a work that accurately recreates a subject or photograph.

Scale - The ratio between the size of the subject and its artistic representation.

Sketch – A quick or less detailed drawing or painting of a subject.

Style/Technique: Style is the way an artist creates their work that makes it unique to them. It’s like their signature whether they use bold colours, detailed brushstrokes, or a specific tool or method.

Stylised - A way of representing something using a style other than a natural depiction.

Subject - The primary focus of a piece of art.

Tone - The intensity and strength of colours in a painting.

Translucent - Paints which allow light to pass through them.

Value: The relative lightness or darkness of colour.

Varnish - Varnish can be used on a finished painting to protect the surface and create a more uniform appearance. Mostly used on oil paintings.

WIP – Work in progress or progress shots of an artwork.

Medium/Media - is the material or technique an artist uses to create their artwork. eg. Watercolour, acrylic, pastel, pencil. Media is the plural.

Oil Paint - is a rich, slow-drying paint made by mixing pigments with oil. It’s smooth, blendable, and great for creating detailed, vibrant artworks. It does take longer to dry, which can be an issue if your portrait is needed in a hurry. The finished painting does not necessarily need framing behind glass.

Watercolour - A type of pigment that’s mixed with water to create soft, transparent layers. It’s light, flowy, and blends well. It has a very unique look. Paintings will need framing behind glass.

Pen & wash - A drawing marked out by waterproof pen and then tinted with diluted ink or watercolour.

Acrylic Paint - Acrylic paint is a fast-drying paint made with pigments and plastic-based binders. It’s bold, versatile, and can be used thick like oil paint or thin like watercolour. It dries quickly. Finished painting does not need framing behind glass.

Charcoal - This is a dry, black drawing material made from burned wood. It’s great for bold lines, deep shadows, and soft effects. Finished drawings will need framing behind glass, or varnishing.

Coloured pencils - Pencils made of pigment bound in wax (or a little oil too). A popular medium for pet portraits as it gives sharp detail and control.

Gouache - A water-soluble paint that appears denser and opaque, so other colours or the white of the support does not show through.

Pastels - These come in many different types, Soft pastels, hard/oil pastels, to name a few. Soft Pastels are colourful sticks or pencils of pure pigment held together with a little binder. They create rich, vibrant colours with a soft, chalky texture. Finished paintings need framing behind glass, usually with a mount surround to keep the glass from touching the work. Correct handling of them is important to minimise smudging or shedding of powder.

Ink - is a liquid pigment used for drawing, painting, or writing. Artists use it with pens, brushes, or even by splattering it for effects.

Pencil/Graphite: A pencil is a drawing tool made of a graphite core inside a wooden or mechanical casing. It’s perfect for sketching, shading, and fine details.

Scratchboard - A board coated with white china clay and covered with a layer of black ink. The image is produced using a drawing technique where the ink is scratched away using a variety of sharp tools to reveal the white beneath.

Canvas - Canvas is a sturdy fabric surface that artists paint on, usually stretched over a wooden frame. It’s the go-to choice for painting with oils or acrylics because it’s strong, durable, and does not necessarily need framing.

Wood Panel - A flat, solid surface made from wood that artists use for painting or creating art. It’s smooth, sturdy and great for both oils and acrylics.

Paper - Artists use many specific types of paper to enhance the different mediums eg. Watercolour paper, pastel paper. Acid free or archival grade is best to prevent yellowing or marks over time. Any painting done on paper will need framing.

Paper Sizes – In the UK we use the ‘A’ format of paper sizing. A4 is a standard sized letter (210 x 297mm). A5 is half the size of A4, A3 is double the size of A4 and so on.

Many thanks to Samantha Greenhill for help in compiling this glossary.