HKDSE Visual Arts flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Reserved white space

In watercolour and Chinese ink painting, unworked paper left to represent light, air, water or void; it must be planned before pigment is applied because white paint cannot restore it.

Chiaroscuro

Strong contrast between light and dark used to model volume and heighten drama, characteristic of Baroque painting and later adopted in photography and film lighting.

Six Principles of Xie He

Sixth-century Chinese criteria for judging painting, including spirit resonance, bone method of brushwork, likeness of form, suitability of colour, composition and transmission by copying.

Slip and scoring

Ceramic joining technique: scratching both surfaces and applying watered clay slurry so parts bond securely at the leather-hard stage before firing.

Complementary colour pair

Two hues opposite each other on the colour wheel; placed side by side they intensify contrast, mixed together they neutralise towards grey or brown.

Semiotic triad

Peirce's classification of signs as icon (resemblance), index (causal or physical link) and symbol (convention), used to analyse meaning in images and design.

Linear perspective

System using a horizon line and vanishing points so parallel receding lines converge, producing measurable illusion of depth on a flat surface.

Bisque firing

First kiln firing that removes water and carbon and hardens clay into a porous body, ready for glazing and a second, higher glaze firing.

Visual hierarchy

Ordering of elements by size, contrast, colour or position so a viewer reads information in the intended sequence, essential in posters, interfaces and publications.

Tint, shade, tone

Three colour adjustments: tint adds white to lighten, shade adds black to darken, tone adds grey to reduce saturation while keeping the hue recognisable.

Intaglio printing

Family of processes such as etching and drypoint where ink sits in incised grooves below the plate surface and transfers under high press pressure.

Multiple viewpoints

Cubist strategy of depicting a subject from several angles within one image, fracturing single-point perspective to suggest time and simultaneous observation.

Description before interpretation

Critical rule that observable evidence is stated first, so later claims about meaning or value can be traced to specific visual features rather than assumption.

Registration in printmaking

Alignment system of marks or pins that keeps each colour layer of a multi-plate or stencil print in the correct position across successive passes.

Leather-hard clay

Stage when clay has stiffened enough to hold shape but still accepts joins, carving and trimming without collapsing or cracking.

Four frames of artmaking

Analytical lenses - subjective, structural, cultural and postmodern - used to discuss how an artwork's meaning is produced and received.

Rule of thirds

Compositional guide dividing the frame into a three-by-three grid, with key elements placed near intersections to create dynamic balance.

Icon, index, symbol

Three sign types: icon resembles its object, index is physically connected to it, symbol relates through learned convention such as language or flags.

Gouache versus watercolour

Gouache is opaque, water-based and can be layered light over dark; watercolour is transparent and works from light to dark, relying on reserved paper.

Focal point

Area of greatest visual interest, created by contrast, isolation, convergence of lines or sharpest detail, guiding the viewer's eye first.

Sketchbook as evidence

Developmental record showing research, trials, annotation and revision; assessment looks for visible thinking and iteration rather than only polished final pieces.

Negative space

Area around and between subjects; treated as an active shape it strengthens silhouette and balance rather than functioning as leftover background.

Pop Art imagery

Movement drawing on advertising, comics and mass-produced goods, using bold flat colour, repetition and screen printing to question originality and consumer culture.

RGB versus CMYK

RGB is additive light colour for screens; CMYK is subtractive pigment colour for print, so saturated screen colours may shift or dull when printed.

Formal analysis

Examination of how elements such as line, tone, colour and space are organised by principles like balance and rhythm to produce an effect.

Lossy versus lossless formats

Lossy compression such as JPEG discards data and degrades on repeated saving; lossless formats such as PNG or TIFF preserve detail for archiving and print.

Expressive coherence

Judgement criterion asking whether handling of medium, composition and subject consistently supports the stated intention rather than contradicting it.

Subtractive colour mixing

Pigment mixing where each added colour absorbs more light; mixing all primaries approaches black or dark neutral, unlike additive light mixing.

Grid system in design

Underlying structure of columns, margins and baselines that aligns elements, creating consistent spacing and readable hierarchy across multi-page layouts.

Impasto

Thick application of paint so brush or knife marks stand proud of the surface, catching light and emphasising the physical act of painting.

Photographic framing choices

Decisions about crop, angle, distance and depth of field that determine what is included, excluded and emphasised in the final image.

Originality in assessment

Judged by personal inquiry and resolved decision-making rather than novelty alone; direct copying of an existing work without transformation is penalised.